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Hi Norman, thank you for this video. You are a brilliant teacher. I'm 70 years old and started knitting when I was 10. I stopped in my early twenties. I only learned very basic things. I tried on and off to learn continental style, which I wanted to learn so badly, but I could never figure it out. I started watching videos on RU-vid. I tried a few different teachers, but when I found you, I felt like I hit a pound of gold. I've only been watching you for a short time, and I got continental knitting and purling down in short order, and knitting and purling backward, too. Now, I am learning to knit in the round. The first day, I couldn't do anything right, so I watched the video over and over. Today, I put it together the first time out, and I only ended up with two stitches that looked wonky at the end of the round. No ladders. I kept forgetting to tug on the second stitch. I'll be back at it again, tomorrow. I'm going to do all your videos up to and including making a sock. But I won't stop there. I intend to learn everything I can from you. I saw a listing of your videos on your website and it floored me. Thank you again, Norman. You have the mind of a genius. Eva
Thank you so much, Norman! I’ve been struggling with DPNs and this morning I learned more from you than I have by watching a dozen other videos trying to understand it. Although I’m an English knitter, it’s not difficult to apply your techniques to my knitting. I’m particularly trying to start with a pinhole cast on to knit flat in the round and hope you’ll do a video on that soon too. I love your work! ❤
I love that in many of your videos you give reminders that it will take practice before things starting looking and feeling right! It's helped me have faith in the process and in myself, so I've been practicing using DPNs and making random swatches/tubes on them between other projects, and finally it recently stopped feeling awkward and the results looked better... getting closer to being ready to try to make socks.
Very nice dear I am 15 years old boy and use to feel trouble while using dpns but after watching this video, I feel like it is very simple. I am glad to have this tutorial Thank you so ooooo much 😊 And keep it up dear !😊😊🥰
awesome! I do believe that the trick is just having a little bit of patience. It was very awkward for me as well, at least at first (all those year and years ago).
Finally got my DPN's in the mail woot! One thing I found interesting after rewatching this video is you explain the setup with the needle with the working stitches on top of the two needles to the side of it at around the 7:06 mark of the video but at around the 26:46 minute market you actually move the right needle in front of the needle with the working stitches. I find you can really seal up the gap/ladders and actually tighten up on the first stitch between needles by doing it the way at the 26:46 marker.
I wondered the same thing. But it seems that once that section starts the needle holding the stitches really ends up parallel horizontally to the previous needle and not so much in front or behind.
Hi Norman, I love watching your beginner videos! Even though I've been stitching for a while, your beginner tutorials always show me how I can improve upon my skills. Thank you so much, your videos are a treasure trove of wonderful information. 🤟💜✌️🧶
I'm a beginner knitter and I like to do a lot of thorough (maybe too thorough) research before doing anything new, so I appreciate all the variations and options you present. I made a swatch for socks yesterday following mostly your tips on working on DPNs. It was slow, uncomfortable and clumsy until about 20 rows in (not perfectly smooth sailing after that, though definitely easier), but the results are very good and I feel confident enough to start an actual sock now. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
Something that really helped me with my initial DPN struggles was even though I normally am perfectly comfortable knitting on the couch or whatever, I always do the first dozen rounds or so on DPNs sitting at a table or desk, that way the inactive needles are nicely supported and not flopping about so much during that awkward phase before I've built up enough fabric to keep them under control even hanging free...
Thank you so much, Norman! I’ve been knitting for 1 year and 8 months. After watching your video, I am ready to try knitting socks on DPNs again. The first time I tried, I think my brain was trying by to lean to many skills at once. Now that I have sock knittting on 9” circulars down and knit sleeves on DPNs, I am ready to try knitting socks from start to finish on DPNs again. Thank you for including how to have an invisible join in your video. I know how to do that on a circular needle. And I was clueless on how to transfer that skill to DPNs. I found your video to be super clear and helpful. Thank you for your excellent tutorials. ❤️
Norman, your tutorials are fabulous! Though I have been a "yarnie" for over 50 years, I always learn something new from you. Your thoroughness is incredible, visuals clear and explanations very informative. Thank you. 😊
Hi Norman! I am three rows in on my first pair of socks and my first knit project and I needed to stop by and tell you thank you!! Your videos have taught me so much and I'm so proud of the progress I've made in such a short amount of time :))
It’s always good to get a refresher! Good tip on the slightly tagging on the second stitch at the beginning of every needle! I much prefer DPNs than than the magic loop I might have shared last time but you know what? Thanks to your video on the magic loop tutorial, I’m actually trying traveling magic loop technique you kindly shared in the video. I’m actually knitting a hat right now! And I can do traveling magic loop now I already knit about half the hat using the traveling magic loop, Yay! 🤗 Thank you Norman! ❤ As I was relatively new at DPNs last year, I advise a very new knitter to try DPNs knitting a pair of fingerless mitten as a start. It’s not as fiddly as knitting a hat entirely using DPNs with 100 stitches (my grandma knitted a hat only using DPNs 😅, not me though lol ) and you get to practice DPNs with 30-40 stitches (easy!) and only two thumbs you have to work on. Varieties of increase (M1R, M1L or KTB etc) and decrease you can learn too if you’re trying mittens too and you can see the effects immediately. It would only take a few days to a week and it’s very satisfying. 😊 Last year I made about 5 pairs myself only using DPNs, easy once you get used to them. 🙂
Thank you, Norman! I’m going to try using two dpns to cast on next time. I’ve always used one in the past. It’s interesting you have your ‘start of row’ at the end of the previous needle. I may give that a try as well. Your tutorial was helpful, as always!! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your clear and clearly visible instructions. I was never going to learn DPN knitting because they were overwhelming to me. Unfortunately, as I was trying to learn sock knitting with my interchangeable circular needles, the two sizes I needed both failed in the same way and my resolve to never learn to knit with DPNs dissolved. I took a deep breath and watched this video on .5 speed and listened to your encouragement that it's going to feel awkward and like juggling for a while. Other than the fact that I failed to knit in pattern, I managed to cast on and knit 3 rounds without losing a single stitch or a needle falling out. My anxiety was reduced enough to be overcome by your wise encouragement. I am so grateful for your approach to teaching. For a recovering perfectionist, your words were exactly what I needed to hear. Learning to trust the process is so freeing.
Hi Norman. Great video. While I’ve been knitting with dpns off and on for quite a few years it’s mostly just to close up a hat, lol. I definitely consider myself to still be a beginner with dpns but much less afraid. Your video has so much great information that I may just try something a bit more advanced for my skill level. Thank you for sharing all of your wisdom and I look forward to your next video!😊🤗❤️
Brilliant, thanks Norman, I always struggle with sleeves in the round on a top down sweater. Magic loop is good for some things but not everything. Just ordering my bamboo needles right away ❤️
Very nice tutorial. For me, I like doing the magic loop. But, when I do use double pointed needles I use only 4. I find it to be less “fussy”. Norman, you are the very best at explaining how things work! Thank you.❤️ 🧶
Thank you Norman! I bought DPNs to try knitting socks. When I used a larger set to finish a hat, it felt very awkward. Now I can use your tips to get a good foundation for working with them! ❤
How fitting 😊- I’m just casting on for a pair of gloves ( yes I’m one of the crazy knitters that enjoy knitting finger gloves ) and your tutorial came up on my feed - vielen Dank ! Always enjoy your tutorials to refresh my memory 🧶happy knitting
Earlier this weekend, I had hoped you would release a new video, and low and behold this video appeared in my updates. I have no fear of knitting in the round using double pointed needles and like using the German cast on method for hats and headbands. I will try using two needles to cast on for comparison. As always, your clear instructions and tips are invaluable. Love from America.
Great and informational video. I really enjoyed learning about the smaller DPN needles for finger making in mittens. I'm pretty much sold on DPN after I just finished my first hat using magic loop. Dealing with the cord was a nightmare. I think I want longer DPN's cause I have 7" hands. I need to find a knitting circle in my area so I can hopefully try out someone else's needles before I make a purchase.
Thank you Norman! I’ve always wanted to learn this skill because of its versatility. It was especially helpful to learn joining the round and then knitting two stitches to avoid stressing the beginning of round. I already see a great improvement.
Thank you Norman. As always very helpful and informative. I recently started knitting socks on dpns and I made every mistake you described. I wish I had seen this first. Thanks again.
well, for me it IS easy. I can do that without watching :P but..i have been doing this for 30+ years. So, one is expected to see some benefits. Always remember that it took me ages as well :)
I didn't even know this was an option for knitting in the round when I bought my circular needle set, however after only working for like a half an hour I'm so sold on this method. Not having to deal with the cables is such a quality of life improvement. I'm never going back and am considering selling my circular needle set. Unless you can give me a solid reason to keep it.
Thank so much Norman! I’m so in love of my DPNs…the best way to my mind for knitting small circumference: my grandma tought me this way, and it so efficient and confortable…I’ve tried a lot of other way to knit socks and sleeves, but I definitely chose DPNs ❤❤❤ my stitches are so even, well defined without any ladders and my speed and pleasure are at their best!
I haven't seen all your sock videos, but I would like to see how to knit with DPNs using the toe up method. The beginner one I saw used circulars. Thanks for all your hard work creating these videos!
hm...i don'T see that coming anytime soon. It would be the exact same video and I am not even sure where you believe the difference would be. Needles are just a tool that never change the actual pattern.
@@NimbleNeedles I am new to DPNs and somewhat to knitting. I did find another YT video that used them and that helped. I re-watched your beginner sock video and what confused me was using the circulars at the cast on. It doesn't appear to be in the round, but of course it is! Us beginners are a pain, sorry and thanks for responding!
Thank you for the video, Norman. They're very sensible tips and it feels like common sense but so helpful at the same time. I feel a bit more confident about trying your headband pattern again (for the 4th time haha).
definitely give it a try. But hey, there's nothing wrong with magic loop either. I do feel both techniques have their pros and cons and you can pretty much knit 90% of all projects with either of them.
I am a beginner intermediate sock knitter and love wooden double pointed needles. Will be adopting a few of your methods here, specially the one that starts the sock with a loop instead of the knot. And the joining in the round, love it. My wooden needles are becoming dry and once in awhile I get a small sliver. If there is anything you do with yours to avoid this, I would love to learn how to take care of that issue. Thank you 🥰
well, you can use an emery board to get them smooth again. other than that, you can use special wood oils/wax to get them smooth again..but not sure if that is advisable for needles.
Thank you, Norman! I really appreciate the DPN in the round review. I am currently working on my first pair of knitted mittens. I am trying out several of your tips from before. I did a ribbed cast on. I was able to get the join ( I had to review that a bit). I still find that I am having a hard time with the purls on the outside for a while and have to turn it around. I will be back for this one again when I start changing colors in the round. I am using variegated yarn for this project so it doesn't require changing.
Thanks for this great tutorial, I will revisit the double pointed needle knitting. I just rewatched yesterday ,your old video about best knitting books, is there any updates on that? Finally , I watched your video, a month ago about, how Covid changed your profession, from traveler, to professional knitter, then I had a thought yesterday, for the knitters ,who love to travel, love opera - classical music and your lectures/ teaching about knitting, why not combine it? Just a thought, Looking forward for your next video/patron blog, Judit
Hi Norman, you are so knowledgeable are you self taught or was this talent passed down from elder relatives ? I have a very very long way to go to be up to your standard , keep up passing on your knowledge .😊
Love your tutorials. Will you please explain why you may prefer DPN's vs magic loop? I don't want this to become a battle ground for magic loop vs DPN's, but I am just wondering what the pros and cons are for either method. If you already have a video on this subject, please let me know which video to watch. Thank you.
it's just easier and faster and I hate wasting all that time on pulling the cable through. But..i mean..at the end of the day I do both - depending on the project.
Hi, thank you so much for your tutorial. It’s absolutely perfect in every way. Could you tell me please the type of stand you are using to videotape. And are you using your phone as a camera also, your microphone could you tell me about that. I am wanting to send my granddaughter how to do this, and I’d like her to see me and hear me.
Norman I have been knitting socks for 10 years, but always for gifts. Because of this I only have a shoe size. Do you perhaps know of a graph that can help me to more or less get a good fit. Every RU-vid video thinks that you are knitting the sock for yourself and you have your foot handy. The recipients of the socks are happy, but I would like info so I feel certain that the socks will fit properly. I'm sorry this is not about your videos, but your method of teaching is so thorough, I hope you could help. Wish I knew you 10 years ago when I tought myself out of a book.
Here's the thing. Feet shapes vary greatly and a chart will only be based on shoe size. And most charts don't come with a gauge. So, I personally would just measure the feet of all loved ones, put it in a folder or booklet along with the actual cast-on, etc, . My grandma did that, I do that...🤷
Is it your new recommended way to join with DPN? I mean, having two extra stitches on your first needle, and knitting two stitches after joining. I always have a weird gap or stretched out edge when joining with the old method, but I'm really pleased with how it turns out with this new method.
Hello Norman, your videos are really great, thank you! I would like to start knitting a sweater that is worked in the round up until the armholes, then it is worked flat. But how do I avoid dropping stitches when working in the round when the are so many?
you can work these big circumferences with circular needles without a special technique. No need to go for dpns. and then there is no risk of dropping stitches either.
When you distribute the stitches, is it best practice to start from the other side of the working yarn? At 4:25, the yarn tail and working yarn is on the left, and you started to distribute on the right.
Hi! I'm completely new to knitting in the round, and a beginner to any kind of knitting. Just started in February. As far as I can tell, you're knitting stockinette stitch... Is there a way to prevent the fabric from rolling up at the beginning? Maybe for the first several rounds, alternating a round of knit, a round of purl, when starting a new round in the spiral? Would that have the same effect as garter stitch in flat knitting?
yes, you got that right. If you don't want things to start rolling in, you can do a couple of rows in garter stitch (as you said, switching between knit and purl rows). Or ribbing (so k2,p2) will also work.
thank you for this video norman! i'm a beginner and was able to follow this and make a little tube to practice :) something that is stumping me is i'm trying to do k2p2 ribbing for a mitten so i'm confused whether to cast on 36 or 37 stitches. for my pattern i would need to cast on 36 to have a number cleanly divisible by 4 but if i cast on an extra stitch to join in the round then the number isnt evenly spread over 4, my question is does the extra stitch we cast on continue to be a part of the work? should i just cast on 36 to do the ribbing correctly?
nvm i figured it out! somehow i was doing the join incorrectly before where it was leaving an extra stitch but im not doing it anymore so im able to create my ribbing without any issues :)
Ah. I was able to zoom up on the video and count that you had 12 on 1st needle, 9 on 2nd and 3rd needles and 7 on 4th needle 😊 I really appreciate your video! ❤ 37 stitches total. 36 ÷ 4 = 9. So one extra cast on stitch. It just takes me a minute because I'm brand new to knitting 😂 Thank you so much for posting! ❤
i am not sure I understand this question. After you've slipped the stitch and passed it over, you can continue in any pattern you want. Of cours,e you could purl two, knit two... Or knit two and then purl two. It doesn't matter.
Is it possible to knit a sweater in the round, using 5 dpns (20 cm)? I plan to try it but I'm not sure it will work. I don't like round-cables, they don't feel as sturdy as dpns.
What to do on every corner of every needle when my knots get looser automatically? I tend to have tighter handwriting, so it bothers me that every end of a needle has 1 loosened knot. How do I fix it?
well, I can explain the causes but I don't know why you get them :) E.g. on patreon, i have a masterclass on ladders: www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-really-in-63533111
Norman, I need your help! I've been knitting for a few months now and was really interested in Eastern and Combination knitting. The thing is, I really don't know which to choose! I like knitting through the front loop and Norwegian purls, but I've noticed that I'm really slow with western knitting. I like combination, but front purling isn't really my thing and I'm scared of how I should decrease ribbing. I love eastern purls through the back loop, but I don't like knitting clockwise. What should I do?
@@NimbleNeedles I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off as rude. I thought that there were some easier and faster styles for beginner and intermediate knitters, since another RU-vidr said that Western is slower than Eastern knitting
@@raffa4792 as a rule of thumb: if anyone says XYZ is better/faster, it's a fail-safe indicator they know little or not enough about knitting. Except for classic English throwing, all other styles can be done at about the same speed.
@@NimbleNeedles Ok, thank you so much!! I think I'm still not ready to switch knitting styles yet, and honestly, now that I think of it, I like western style knitting so I think I won't change as of now :)
Hi Normam. I hate to ask but don’t know who to ask. I’m stumped in a pattern. I did what it says but it doesn’t seem right. Its a summer knit tank top. Its to prepare the underarm cast on and it goes like this. ( k3, slip 3 back to left needles) 3 times, k3 puk3 from the new icord K across front to end ( slip3 back to left needles, knit 3) repeat 3 times Am I making an icord cast on? Im so confused as to what im doing. I would appreciate it if you could make sense of this for me. Thank you. Kim
Personally I prefer the 3 flexible needles to knit in the round (crasy Addi trio). Less movements and changes (=faster), no needles falling and no ladders. Perfect for socks and mittens on the go 🧦🧤🧶
Hi Norman! Love your videos as usual. I do have a question I hope you would have answered in this video though. Can you please tell us why you prefer DPN to magic loop. I find DPN hard even though I started knitting socks with DPN and have not tried magic loop yet. You say in this video that you prefer DPN because it enables you to have more possibilities but why is that ? How to choose between DPN and magic loop depending on the project (or yarn?). Bonus : can you do a video on mending socks or other stuff?
seee...each body works differently. And if you feel that magic loop is easier for you, then nothing happens. It won'T really limit your choices at all. I personally prefer to knit with small needles (2mm) and small diamter projects, and here magic loop just is very awkard as the small circumferences means there is a lot of pressure on the gaps.
I've been knitting for 5 years now,and been overwhelmed,intimidated,and yes,I'll admit it~a little scared of trying to use DPNs😂 I have a gorgeous set of the Knit Picks Caspian wood,,sizes 2.00mm-3.25mm and have finally found the courage to give it a try😂Only after I watch this video at least 3 or 4 times lol...... Wish me luck,I'm gonna need it hahahaaa
Can you show how to transfer from circulars to dpns? Such as when decreasing the top of a hat? If there is already a video please direct me to it. Your style of video makes it so easy to understand.
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