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Learning how to knit with double pointed needles (DPNs) can be a bit fiddly to start with, but practice makes perfect and you’ll soon be able to knit hats and socks with ease! Working in the round on double pointed needles uses the same techniques as working on a circular needle, plus a few more.
Our examples will show you how to use five DPNs. If you’re working with a set of four DPNs instead, the same techniques apply. No matter how many DPNs you’re working with, you’ll always need to use one as the working needle (like the right needle in row knitting) and the others as the holding needles (like the left needle in row knitting). Use the working needle to knit all the stitches from another DPN, leaving that needle empty. The empty needle then becomes the working needle. Continue knitting with each DPN in this manner, all the way around and back to the start of the round.
You might notice ‘ladders’ of looser stitches forming where the different DPNs meet, and particularly at the end of the round. When you work the stitch that joins the round, make sure you pull the yarn a bit tighter (but not too tight, as this could distort the surrounding stitches). This will make sure the join in the round is neat and not visible. Whenever you change to a different DPN, you’ll need to pull the yarn a bit more tightly again, to avoid gaps.
When learning how to knit with double pointed needles, the first few rounds might feel awkward or like you’ve done it wrong, but don’t give up! Once you’ve knitted a few rounds, it will become much easier and you’ll be able to see the results. So grab your yarn and DPNs, and we’ll begin…
In this guide we’ll show you how to knit in the round with double pointed needles. Here’s what you’ll learn:
Casting on double pointed needles
When casting on to knit with double pointed needles, you don’t have to cast directly on to three or four DPNs. Many knitters find it easier to cast on all the stitches onto one straight needle, as usual, and then transfer them to DPNs. We’ll show you how to do this below. If you don’t have too many stitches, you can cast on to one of the DPNs – you can always use a point protector if you’re worried about losing your stitches.
Our steps shown below describe casting on double pointed needles if you’re using a set of five DPNs. If you’re working with a set of four DPNs instead, cast on 27 stitches and follow the steps below until you have all your cast-on stitches on three DPNs.
However many DPNs you’re using, you’ll need one empty DPN after you’ve cast on, to act as your working needle. As with casting on to circular needles, just be careful not to twist the stitches!
