Getting Started Knitting on Double Pointed Needles

Mine looks just like the pictures (Finally!!)

Greetings Friends!

Well, I'm feeling pretty darn good about my knitting progress! I can (usually) recognize the difference between a knit stitch and a purl (even though they are the same thing when you turn them around!).  I'm comfortable casting on with the long tail method.  I've stopped poking myself and no longer fear putting an eye out.  I'm still leery of dropping stitches and I'm not very skilled at fixing mistakes, but I know that with practice I'll get better.  My tension seems to be fairly consistent in all areas except binding off.  I think that I pull a bit too snugly because I'm afraid of dropping a stitch and not being able to fix it!

But again, in time I'm sure that it will come.  It only seems natural that the next step is knitting in the round.  Especially since I don't like seaming anything - at all.  But that means double pointed needles.  Have you seen what this looks like?  There are points sticking out hither and yon just waiting to skewer you.  And there's nothing to stop the stitches from sliding off those smooth needles except for tension and gravity.  I'm pretty sure that both of these things can work against you just as easily as for you!! 

I did what I always do and headed for the books.  I also watched a hand full of videos where everyone assured me that it's really not as hard as it looks. (Did I mention that it looks like you're performing a magic trick?)  With my resources in front of me and a simple project in mind (leg warmers) I got to it.  At first I tried casting onto one needle and then sliding the stitches onto the other two.  It didn't work too well because my tension was too tight.  After a few tries I was able to cast on to all three needles.  I laid them out in a little triangle and then tried to pick the whole thing up to knit the first stitch. Ha! They swiveled and rocked and rotated about causing a fair amount of frustration and a bit of flowery language.  I resorted to keeping them on the table and gently lifting the needles to join them. Success!! And it wasn't even twisted.  Can you hear the halleluiah chorus? 

The Legwarmer

and the Wrist Warmer - Do I sense a theme?

Ever so carefully I picked up the fragile contraption and started knitting.  Imagine my surprise when it worked!  I was doing it.  I struggled some when it was time to go from one needle to the next and again resorted to laying the whole thing down.  But just like everyone promised, after a few rounds it gained stability and the whole matter was so much easier!  Woo - hoo!! Now we're cooking.  I was cruising along like no tomorrow. Then I remembered a post by my friend Pumpkin. Pumpkin is an accomplished knitter who creates beautiful garments. After years of knitting, she recently learned (and admitted!) that she has been doing it wrong.  Doing what?  Knitting in the round inside out.  That is to say the front of her work was inside the tube.  What?  I panicked!  Where was the front of mine? Was I doing it wrong too?  Of course you know the answer is yes! It was so easy that way, so natural.  How was I supposed to fix it?  I pushed and turned and flipped it around eventually getting things to where they should be.  Thanks goodness!  And thank you Pumpkin for sharing your story. Otherwise I might never have known.  I suppose it really doesn't matter that much, but I'd rather learn the right way from the start than have to fix a bad habit somewhere down the line.

Look! I'm getting organized!

I was excited about my new skill and anxious to cast on again.  I figured I would give the pattern for fingerless gloves that Jean had given me a try.  This one had fewer stitches to start with, but was a little harder.  It's a ribbing pattern that uses a fancy (for me!) stitch.  I don't know what it's called, but you K2tog and instead of slipping the stitch off the left needle you knit it twice by putting your right needle into the middle of the two stitches and knitting it again.  I took a few deep breathes and after a few false starts I was on my way!  Could it be that all those people were right?  Is it true that it really is easier than it looks?? 

Yes!  Yes it is easier than it looks!  Once you get the first few rows started and are able to accept that part of your work is just going to hang there it really isn't that hard!  I'm convinced.  But what about circular needles?  So many bloggers sign their praises - for working in the round and back and forth.  Not wanting to miss anything I decided to move my legwarmer from the dpns onto a 16 inch circular.  Making the transition was a breeze and after just one round it was clear to me why people love using these. 

It doesn't look too messy - yet!

For now, I can live with the "jog".

I was even brave enough to go ahead and try stripes.  The "jog" is there, but I can live with that if it means no seaming.  I'm still struggling with carrying the yarn up the inside and I'm fighting with a little gap when I change colors.  There are all kinds of techniques that I have yet to try so I'm not too worried about it.  Plus I think that's a story for another day!

Hooray - all most time to bind off!

One down, one to go!

Are you still with me?  I know this is a long one and I've been rambling on, it's just that there's so much to tell!!  Legwarmer number one is all most finished.  I switched back to the smaller dpns and only have a few rounds left.  Did I tell you that I'm just making this up  (the pattern that is) as I go along??  Something I never would have imagined a few months ago.  Mitt number one is finished.  I needed help with the thumb.  Attaching the yarn and picking up stitches to close the gap are new and different from crochet.  Once Jean showed me I realized that I was making it more complicated than it needed to be.  Hopefully I'll remember what to do when I get to number two!

One last thing (promise!)  I'm always working on several projects at the same time ( it's crafting A.D.D.) and recently discovered a great way to keep organized.  Each project gets it's own plastic storage container (shoe box size).  In it goes the yarn, the pattern, the needle(s), stitch markers, a pencil and anything else specific to that project.  The scissors and tape measure stay on the table.  Now everything is in it's place and there's a place for everything. Brilliant, right?!

Phew! That's it.  All done for now.  Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

P.S. : Don't Forget - There's still time to win these awesome books!

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