October 26, 2004
Socks Soar on 4 Double Pointed Needles
If there's one thing you've heard me whine about probably more than anything else on this blog it is my utter aversion to knitting in the round on double pointed needles. My first ever attempt at sock knitting involved double points. It wasn't a very successful experience (ladders, ladders everywhere) and after discovering first socks on two circs I decided that I would probably never purchase a set of double points again in my life. More than that, I decided that I would say disparaging things about double pointed needles at every possible future opportunity.
Ahem.
Never diss an innocent tool, Ladies and Gentlemen, unless you actually know how to use the tool.
Here to present you with my current serving of humble pie, is the toe of a new sock project. My problem with double points seems to come primarily from one thing: I wasn't using enough of them.
You see, my first sock project was worked on three needles. This one is worked on four. I know the picture isn't close-up for you to see, but there is no laddering going on here, my friends. None whatsoever.
What prompted me to go back in search of my inner double pointed sock knitter? Lucy Neatby. The quest for a beautiful short-row heel. And the nagging feeling that perhaps I had left an important tool out of my sock knitting arsenal. But mostly it was Lucy Neatby.
If you like socks, and you love to read about technique, then Cool Socks, Warm Feet really should already be in your library. I constantly find myself being drawn back to it. And not just for the patterns, but also for her excellent explanations of the hows an whys of sock knitting. The book is geared towards making nifty socks in self-patterning sock yarn, but most of what she describes can be applied to any pair socks. But all her instructions are geared to those who are happiest with double points.
And I am terribly lazy when it comes to converting pattern instructions.
So when this lovely tutti-fruiti neopolitan sock yarn arrived from Knit Picks recently, the first thing I did was pick up the book and look at all the patterns. I wanted to try something new, but not something too hard that required a lot of attention. The Crenellated Toe Up Socks seemed like a good option: I've never made toe up socks before and the picot edging on the cuff combined with the Bosnian toe and a Turkish (Afterthought) heel seemed like the right combination. I picked up a set of size 0's and got to work.
And while I won't admit to being completely in love (it's still early yet, and I haven't quite mastered the process of maneuvering 4 needles and the yarn), I will admit that double pointed needles are acceptable sock knitting tools. Watch out world bamboo stocks...
Are you actually knitting with 4 or 5 dpns?
A total of only three is hard to imagine to me!
Greetings from Switzerland
Katia
Me too! I used to hate DPNs after a disappointing first attempt at sock knitting. Recently I got sick of pulling the excess circular through stitches, and happened to be wandering passed a set of bamboo DPNs ... now I like them better. Who would have thought!
Hello from Hong Kong! I've similar experience, shunned dpns, learned two circular method, finally tackled dpns and now prefer dpns to circulars. Dpns are so much less 'floppy'.
I am currently learning dps and I can say that so far I agree with your old way of thinking. But I was using 3 needles so maybe I will try 4. I feel like I am Edward NeedleHands will all these things flailing around!
Absolutely! Down with chintzy US sets of 4 DPNs! Five is the only way to go. And if you **like** four and buy a Euro set of 5, you'll have a spare. [grin]
Seriously, most of the people who detest DPNs do so because they knit on four and get corner ladders. Most of them would eliminate corner ladders if they added an extra needle. But many of the DPN-adverse won't try that, thinking that an extra needle makes it harder instead of easier. As you've seen - if you can get them to try it, often they're pleasantly surprised.
I've tried the two circ method for socks. It works nicely but I find it too fussy for so few stitches at such a small circumference. I do however use it now for sweater bodies, and for knitting two sleeves in the round and the same time. For socks and hats I still prefer DPNs - five (or more) please!
-K. (all my sock patterns at www.wiseneedle.com are toe-ups, written for sets of 5 DPNs. They also work well for the two circ method.)
Double points rule! Love 'em.
I'd better stock up. Theresa is shopping....
I love that Lucy Neatby book--I'm particularly smitten with the toe of the crenellated sock. Yours looks much better than mine. Emma also knit (and finished!) these socks. Cool!
Converting a 3(4)-needle DPN sock pattern to 4(5)-needle pattern on my very first sock probably saved my sock life, too!
tersacrafts@LJ
Yeah! A dp convert! Well, you know about my great love for the dp's. I use all five too, I think my first sock was knit with only 4 and I got those awful ladders. I figured that there were 5 in a package for a good reason and have never used 4 again. And I've always used Brittany's, but when I was at ThreadBear on that trip we took with BonneMarie I got a set of Bamboo's (crystal palace maybe?) and I really do like them a lot.
Dpns don't give me any problems but size 1 dpns sure feel skimpy! I want to try circs though...in fact, I want to do 2 socks on circs because my 2nd sock always take forever to join its buddy!
Welcome back to the world of extreme knitting on dpn's! (Hey - that's 10 needle points for potential impalement. It's like knitting with a porcupine.) :)
Welcome to the dark side. I started with 3 needles because those 4 needle sets were the only ones I could find. Once I discovered sets of 5 I was off and running.
I also love the Lucy Neatby book--it has everything a sock knitter needs. The crenelated topped ones are my current favourite though the garter stitch in the round got icky after a bit.
I love your scarf! And hopefully, you will find a newfound appreciation for the DPN's - I think I just like them because my husband's initials are DPN. :)
I like 5, too and Lucy's book is the best!!
I'm with the 2-circs crowd. I have actually made quite a few things with DPNs (sets of both 4 and 5, though I strongly prefer 5 for socks--it just makes sense to divide the parts in evenly), but once I discovered the 2-circs method, I won't go back. I just hate how the DPNs always FALL OUT. But then I'm a loose knitter, so I'm more prone to that. Anyway, glad you're enjoying them! BTW, I LOVED the photos of Diva you linked in your last post. What a gorgeous job you did on that sweater!
I've always used 5 needles with great success. It not only eliminate ladders, it also makes the sock fold flat for easy travel, and socks are a great take-along.
Recently, I was stuck away from home with a sock and only four needles. I redistributed the stitches and tried to make do. When I got home, I had to rip out all the progress I had made; it looked awful. Only five needles for me.
I love using DPN...either 4 or 5. I have never tried circulars. The sock yarn looks good enough to eat!
A five needle set really does seem to make all the difference in the world -- and I really did think that adding an extra needle to the three I was already working with would only make it worse instead of better.
It definitely pays to try new things.
I don't mind knitting with dpns, but they always make me feel like I'm playing a game of pick up sticks!