Casting on stitches is the first step of knitting any project. You need to lay the foundation of stitches that you will work into. There are many methods to cast on stitches. The technique depends on the knitter and the project they would be making. Stitches (basically loops) are made on one needle tip and then they are worked into the later rounds and rows. The number of stitches is always mentioned in a knitting pattern and for a project designed on its own, the calculation of stitches can be made with a gauge swatch and the width of the project.
Now, to get to the topic of how to cast on using double-pointed needles (DPNs). Unlike single-pointed and circulars- both fixed and interchangeable, double-pointed needles (DPNs) come in a set of five that work together to knit in the round. Here you do not cast stitches on one needle but three or four according to the project’s circumference. It may feel scary to use the many double-point needles to knit a small circumference, but slowly it develops into a habit. The needles hold the project well and can actually create wonders.
The purpose of the double-pointed knitting needles is not to replace a circular knitting needle. It is to knit when you may not have room for a circular needle, or you may need more needles than two in your work - it does justify itself when you think about the purposes of this strange-looking needle when you stop to think about it.
Knitting with DPNs
The first rule of knitting with DPNs is to not get intimated by the four of five needles and take up the knitting as a normal project. After all, you will be knitting with only two needles at a time.
Casting on
Probably the most challenging part for beginners, casting stitches requires time and practice. It’s going to be hard and take a while. There are many ways to cast the stitches. The knitted cast works best for beginners. Many knitters prefer the long tail cast-on method for its stretchiness. In fact, it is the first method most knitters are taught to cast stitches.
● Start with a slip knot. Make a loop and place it on the needle tip. Tighten the knot with both yarn tails. Some knitters and knitting patterns count the slipknot as the first cast-on stitch while there are many who do not count them. So, make sure to read the instructions carefully.
● Cast on all your stitches for the project onto one needle tip of the set. This way your tension won’t be disturbed and all stitches will be of the same size. Advanced knitters can very easily cast stitches individually on all needles but do not attempt trying this until you have enough experience working on these.
● Once you’ve all the stitches on the needle tip, slide the needed number of stitches onto the other ones. Make sure you don’t drop any during this process. If you’re working from a pattern, they’ll usually tell you how many to have on one needle. If not, distribute them all as evenly as possible. Say, for instance, you have 30 stitches to work with. You can choose 3 DPNs and distribute 10 stitches on them but if you are working with 4 DPNs you can choose to have 8, 7, 7 and 8 stitches. A trick to smooth knitting with double points is to cast an extra stitch. You won’t be working the stitch but simply slip it on the other needle.
● The next step is to join the round. You simply knit the cast on stitches and you have joined the round. But, a useful knitting hack is, to slip the last stitch to the DPN and move the last stitch on the previous DPN above the extra stitch causing an invisible and sturdy join.
● Also, last but not least, never twist your stitches if you want to avoid problems in your completed project.
Double-pointed knitting needles are not that hard to work with. They do look scary to an inexperienced knitter, but with patience and determination, these needles will seem more of a challenge to overcome than anything else. Smooth stainless steel knitting needles from the Mindful Collection offer needles in options of 6" & 8" with pointy tips that work with all kinds of yarns.
If you find it fiddly to work with and have the right circular knitting needle (in size and length) transfer the stitches on them. Double points do not replace circular knitting needles, they work best for projects of small circumferences. Sometimes a circular needle is longer than the circumference of the project which is a problem. Your stitches will be stretched and you won’t enjoy knitting. A rule of knitting is that the circular needle length must be smaller than the project circumference. For example, a 20-inch hat can be knit on a 16" needle. But, then knitters also have the magic loop technique that allows knitting the smallest circumference with a long circular needle of lengths between 40 - 47" which would require a little homework.
So, the next time you need to knit a small circumference hat, socks, or fingers of a mitten, cast on stitches on your double-pointed needles.
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