Learn to knit: How to knit in the round with double pointed needles

Double pointed needles can be intimidating - how do you knit with so many needles? Knitting in the round on double pointed needles creates a seamless tube of fabric, and allows you to work small circumferences such as socks and mitts that don't have enough stitches to fit around a circular needle. 

Working in the round on DPNs is similar to working on a circular needle, except that the stitches are distributed over 3 or 4 rigid needles rather than one flexible cable. You are still knitting with just two needles at a time - the other needles are simply holders for the stitches you haven’t worked yet.

Although your first time with double pointed needles (DPNs) might feel a bit like wrestling a porcupine, with a little practice you will be sailing along and impressing everyone with your skills. You might also find that, like many knitters, you prefer to work small circumferences using the magic loop technique.

What are double pointed needles?

Double pointed needles, as the name suggests, have points on both ends of the needle (rather than one, as for straight needles), and come in sets of 4 or 5. One needle is always empty as your right-hand needle, and the remaining 3 or 4 needles hold the worked stitches.

DPNs come in all sizes and materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and bamboo. They also come in a few different lengths. Short DPNs are 4–5” long, and won’t hold very many stitches each, so are best suited for small projects with few stitches. Medium length DPNs are 6–7” long, and are useful for most projects, including sleeves and slippers. 

Long DPNs also exist, and are sometimes used for knitting whole colourwork sweaters without circular needles!

Knitting in the Round on DPNs

The steps are similar to knitting in the round on one circular.

Cast on all the stitches 

Use your favourite cast on method to cast on all the stitches to one needle.

Distribute stitches

Working from the first cast-on stitch, slip about 1/3 or 1/4 of the stitches to one double pointed needle, being careful not to drop or twist the stitches.

Then take up another needle and slip more stitches to this second needle. Repeat for a third needle if necessary. Then leave the last 1/3 or 1/4 of the stitches on the cast on needle. 

Some patterns include directions for how many stitches to arrange on each needle. For example, many sock patterns will distribute the heel stitches on one needle. 

Whether you distribute your stitches over 3 or 4 stitches is personal preference. You might prefer to use 3 needles for smaller projects, and 4 for larger.

Join, being careful not to twist

Arrange your 3 or 4 needles with stitches on them into a triangle or square - this is the outline of your knitted tube. Work your way around the stitches and make sure that none of them are twisted around the needle, or twisted between the needles. The working yarn should be attached to the last cast-on stitch, and this needle should be on the right-hand side of the triangle or square.

Knit in the round 

Tips and Tricks

• You can rearrange stitches so that the beginning of the round is in the middle of a needle (with a stitch marker) rather than between needles.
• If you find you are dropping stitches off the ends of your non-working needles, you can try double pointed needle stoppers (or elastic bands) on the ends. You can also try different needle materials, such as wood, that are less slippery than metal.
• If you find that suddenly your work is inside out, with the right side on the inside of the tube, you’ve probably picked it up and started knitting in the opposite direction! You should knit with the needles closest to you, with the tube of fabric growing below the needles.
• Laddering refers to a slight gap in the stitches where you have changed needles; keep it in check by making sure the first and last two stitches on each needle are tightened a little extra. You can also slip stitches between needles at each needle junction so that the needle changes aren’t all in the same stitch column. Some knitters also find that using 4 needles (plus a 5th to knit onto) helps to prevent ladders of loose yarn between the needles. 

Looking for an alternative to double pointed needles? Learn to knit in the round on one circular or Magic Loopwith our other knitting in the round tutorials!