I have tried and tried and tried to knit in the round on double pointed needles. Finally, I got IT! Yay, yay, yay! Does anyone else have trouble with this seemingly simple and elementary knitting skill?
Every time I would try, I’d have needles going every which way; I couldn’t make out what was what, it was a mess, but no more! Look!
Just in case someone else is having similar difficulties this is what worked for me, or should I say my DPN story. Ha ha!
Yesterday morning I purchased a Craftsy class called, New Directions in Lace Hats, by Kate Gagnon Osborne and Courtney Kelley. Courtney was showing a lesson on how to start a hat from the top down which meant using double pointed needles. I was following along with her method and realized that I had never tried casting onto one needle and then moving the stitches to four. This was really easy to do and she shows us how. This eliminated the click clackety mess of needles while casting on, and spreading out my stitches onto four needles instead of three gave more space around and made it easier for me. (The fifth needle is for knitting the stitches on.) I did need to go to You Tube and watch Very Pink’s video on Getting Started with DPNs to go from here, but these two videos together made it all work for me. Thank you so, so much Courtney and Staci!!!
Here are a few more things about this Craftsy class, just in case you are interested. It comes with three lace hat patterns which are quite pretty. I am not a hat person, but my dolls are. There are also a few more things that I think I can learn from this class. I need to go back to study (and practice) Courtney’s invisible cast on for starting hats from the top down. It looks like a great technique. If you crochet, it’s like the adjustable ring or loop. She also goes into how to increase and decrease within a lace pattern. I’ve always wondered about how that works while keeping the pattern flowing. In my opinion, this class was well worth the $14.99 (on sale!) I paid for it.
Now, I want to get back to knitting and finish my hat! BTW, who knows what this will be?
Do you have a DPN story?
Bye for now and thanks for reading!
Cindy Rice Designs 
Your little knits are works of art. Love the white mohair yarn and am inspired to try some winter hats – can you tell me where to buy the yarn?
Thanks so much, Sue. It’s from Knitpicks.
Thanks so much Cindy. So pleased to have found your blog – although I love to knit I have never mastered the art of sewing but your lovely work inspired me to try and
embroider on my knits ~ something I had never tried before.
Off to knitpicks now for some wool for some Christmas hats !!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
You’re welcome. Thanks for letting me know and good luck with embroidering on knits.
Thanks for the tips!! I will most definitely look this up. My grand-daugther wants your pretty outfits that I buy and put on my dolls and that is not going to happen, so I am trying to figure out how to knit things. I can hardly wait to see what you have knitted in your photo!
Hi Pennie,
So wonderful that your granddaughter shares your passion for dolls and tiny knitted things! How old is she?
I stopped what I was working on in the photos; I wanted to try starting at the top.
My granddaughter is 8 years old Cindy, so not quite ready for an Amelia doll, or the beautiful dresses you make, but she gets to hold Amelia when she comes over every week. She loves doll clothes too and we do play redress on other dolls less fragile, and clothes not so nice as yours LOL. She has taken home from my house Betsy McCall, Ann, Estelle, and bigger Tonner dolls. It is a joy to play dolls with her. Keep knitting and sharing! I do so enjoy your photos and info.
Oh, how fun and magical. She must LOVE her grandma! She will always remember these special moments she’s sharing with you. Thanks for sharing your story with me. Maybe someday I’ll get to do the same with my granddaughter.
Hi Cindy, I don’t have a clue about anything knitting… but it still seems interesting to me. I am glad you mastered it!!!
You are doing such a good job on your posts…I can’t keep up. I especially liked the one where you said things were a bit out of order or there was no reason why so.e things were the way they were. I LOVED seeing your seeing room again
You asked if we were neat or messy sewers….well normally I am pretty neat but lately I have been running at brake neck speed so my room is a bit of a mess right now. I can’t seem to take the time and straighten it up. Every time I think I have the time…I find myself sewing on something…
Maybe soon…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I feel like a “real” knitter now that I am working on DPNs. Ha ha.
I often go to sleep having no idea what I will write about the next day, but something always comes out. They’re not award winners, but it is something, at least.
When you come to a resting point, you can take a deep breath and straighten up a bit. You are helping so many people by making sure they look beautiful.
I went to that class site and signed up for two. I thought I should do the beginner first.
Thank you for the tips. I did go and get DPN’s now to go work on them.
Hi Judi,
I hope they help you. I don’t follow the classes and make what they are making, but I am sure that is the best way to learn everything that they are teaching. I simply view them and pick out what I need to learn. I hope learning to knit on DPNs is easier for you. I am not the most coordinated person, so that’s probably why it took me so long to pick up the technique. Thanks for your reply.
Well, I’m not very coordinated either. Would you mind telling me what yarn you used to make the
“Fall mauve sweater”? I tried the knit picks palette yarn. I find it is to dry and just don’t like the feel. I wish it were softer because they have so many colors.
Judi
Hi Judi,
I used Palette for the sweater. I did respond yesterday to your comment about this yarn. Did you see it? It is under my post showing Gina’s last fall ensemble. I added some alternatives choices for you to maybe try.
Hi Cindy, no I didn’t see your response yesterday. But will try to find your alternatives.
I do look forward to your blog everyday.
Thank you, Judi
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