When you knit with double-pointed needles, is the pretty side of your work on the inside of the tube? People are able knit successfully this way, but most often new knitters end up flipping the work back and forth, which causes problems. Here is how to turn that frown upside-down and turn your work around.
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I remember reading a book last year, when I was learning to knit and the author wrote that if you knit in the round you work would be inside out.
I couldn’t figure out how this could be – since all you had to do was turn your work the right way etc and it would be the right way out.
I thought I was doing something wrong since this seemed to be a pretty obvious solution to me! LOL!
First I have to say I love watching your videos. Your videos are easy to see and the instructions are simple to understand. I’m also very jealous of the way you knit. I’m a thrower and I have watched your video on your knitting technique but can’t get it. Too clumsy, I guess. The reason I’m sending you a note is, I’m thinking of purchasing a set of DPN’s. I’ve never used them, but thought I’d like to purchase them for circular knitting when projects are too small for circular needles. I was wondering what you would consider the best length for all around knitting? When I use straight needles, I do not like very long needles so I tend to buy around 10″. What do you suggest? Thanks, Bev
Hi Beverly, thank you for the note. I personally like to use the longest DPNs I can find, so I stick with 7 or 8 inches. Anything shorter, and I worry about my stitches slipping off the ends.
Hope that helps!
S t a c i
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I have been knitting for years and I could never figure out why my hats, plushies and mittens were always inside out! I have been searching for an answer for a long time and your video is the only one I have found that makes PERFECT sense.
Oh lord! I’m a new knitter and I’m also new to DPNs. I have to admit, as soon as you flipped the work right side out and changed the orientation of the needles I had an “Ohhhhh!” moment followed by laughter. That makes much more sense! This is what happens when you teach yourself to knit with a book. Thanks for the video!
Shazam…mind blown…why didn’t I think of that?!?! New knitter here struggling with making a baby hat and this tidbit was the answer to my prayers! Thank you!!
Hi Staci! first I have to thank you for teaching me to knit! I love your videos and tutorials,they helped me a lot! 🙂 now,i bought my first circular and double pointed needles and started practicing simple knit stich all the way around but that just doesnt look the same as if i knited it with straight needles.i don’t know what i’m doing wrong 🙁 it’s not twisted but my ‘v’s keeps leaning in one side.i think to the left and i want them to go straight like when I knit with two needles.can you help me with this? if you understand what I’m trying to ask 🙂 my english is not the best,my native language is serbian so I will understand if you dont know what i’m saying :)) feel free to laugh 😉 again thanx for sharing your skills! means a lot 🙂
Hi Snezana – the first thing you want to do is to make sure you’re working the knit stitch properly. Since your knitting looks different from knitting flat to in-the-round, there is a chance that you’re a “combination knitter”, and that you typically knit through the back loop (and then correct that twist on the purl row). Watch this video carefully to make sure you’re putting the needle into the right spot: https://verypink.com/2010/03/13/video-the-knit-stitch/
If you are working the stitch correctly, then it’s probably just a tension issue. Washing and blocking your work after you finish knitting it will improve that.
Good luck!
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Yes..I was knitting through the back loop!! 😀 😀
Thanks Staci. I KNEW you’d have a video that would address this issue. I do sometimes find myself knitting a sock inside-out. To me, it looks like I’m knitting the wrong direction. You’ll laugh when I tell you that my fix one time was to employ a wrap-and-turn. Bad idea. Next time I’ll just play your video.
I love your site. You’re the best teacher on the net, and your patterns are excellent.
Gillian
Thanks so much! I’ve been knitting for several years but it’s been a while for DPNs for me. I didn’t even realize I was knitting on the ‘back’ DPN instead of the ‘front’ DPN until about 5 rounds later, I noticed all the purl bumps instead of nice knit stitches! Wow! I am so glad I found your video. I was just going to rip out my work and start over but now you saved me from that. I love watching your videos.
Hiya staci! I want to get Signature dpns…6 or 8 inches? Does it really matter? I want the most versatile size. I can see you using the wood 8 inches but would it be alot different with the metal? Btw I love your vids.
blessings! Kat xox
Kat – it’s really a personal preference. I prefer longer DPNs to shorter ones, but you may want to try out a single set of each before you invest in a full set!
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OMG so that’s what I was doing wrong! I came across your videos a few months ago and have gradually been working through them – I just finished my first sock with your video as visual help. Somehow I managed to get the right side of the heel on the inside and everything else on the outside, and I couldn’t figure out why… Until I found this video! I think I must have started the wrong way, done the heel and ended up the right way when I picked up the stitches for the gusset. I’m onto my second sock and this was exactly what I was doing.
Thanks so much for your videos, they are the best on YouTube I reckon and even better than some teacher lessons I’ve had (weaving in ends for example) – polished, very well explained and easy to follow.
Thank you, I’m using circulars, making a Harry Potter scarf. I made one a few years ago and had no issues. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. I seriously thought i was going to lose my mind. So basically all I was doing wrong was the needles need to be pointing more toward me instead of away from me,actually they are sort of pointing up and toward me. I’m not going crazy anymore lol.
Is it OK to switch the way you are holding the needles so that the right side is on the inside after you have started the project?
Tina – yes and no. If you’ve made the mistake and started knitting inside out, it is likely that turning the work like that left a big hole where you turned. Turning back will do the same thing…probably a good idea to rip back to before you made the first mistaken turn.
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