Double-Pointed Needles (DPN)
Double-pointed needles (DPNs) are short needles with a point at each end, used in sets of four or five to knit narrow tubes like socks, mittens, and hats.
Explanation
Double-pointed needles, often abbreviated DPNs, are short knitting needles with a point at both ends. They are used in sets, usually four or five needles, where the stitches are divided across three or four needles while you knit with the last one. This makes it possible to knit narrow tubes in the round, such as socks, mitten fingers, and the top of hats, where even a short circular needle would be too large. Many find DPNs tricky at first because stitches can slip off easily, but Magic Loop and short circulars are popular alternatives for those who prefer them.
Also known as: DPNs
Distributing the stitches
Double-pointed needles come in sets of five: four hold stitches and the fifth does the knitting. Some knitters prefer three holding and one working. Either is fine — what matters is that the division does not put a needle change in the middle of a cable or a decrease.
The classic uses are socks, mittens and hat crowns: anything too small in circumference for a circular needle.
Ladders at the changeover
Where two needles meet, the stitch tends to loosen, and over time that shows as vertical lines up the fabric. Counter it by snugging the first stitch on each needle, and by shifting the changeover point by a stitch now and then rather than always working it in the same place.
Working with DPNs without the awkwardness
DPNs feel unmanageable at first because you are holding four or five needles at once. In practice you only ever work with two of them; the rest are simply holding stitches and can be ignored.
Distribute the stitches over three or four needles and work with the free one. As with magic loop, the joins between needles are where ladders form, so pull the first stitch or two on each needle firmly. The one genuinely fiddly moment is the first round after casting on, when there is not enough fabric to hold anything in place — working the first round flat and joining on the second is a legitimate way around it.
Common mistakes
- Letting a needle change fall in the middle of a pattern element.
- Working the changeover stitches loosely, which produces laddering.
Keywords
- double-pointed needles
- DPN
- DPNs
Frequently asked questions
DPNs or magic loop?
Personal preference. DPNs are faster for many knitters and give good control; magic loop needs only one needle and has no changeovers to tighten.
How long should DPNs be?
6 inches suits socks and mittens. 8 inches gives more room for hats but becomes unwieldy on small circumferences.
How many double-pointed needles come in a set, and how many do I use?
Sets come in fives, occasionally fours. With a set of five you hold the stitches on four and knit with the fifth; with a set of four you hold on three. Four working needles distribute the stitches more evenly for larger circumferences; three are quicker for narrow tubes such as sock toes.