Changing from circs to DPN, How?

[stretchmark]

I am almost finished with Dhs hat which calls for circular needles until the top where the circs are too long. I was wondering if I could just go to doing that magic loop thing (which I don't even know how to do).
I'm really here though because I don't know how to go from circs to DPN.
Can you expain this to me?

[Dragonfly]

I haven't done magic loop, but changing from circs to DPNs is pretty straight forward. Instead of knitting onto the right needle of the circ, you knit onto the first DPN. Then, when you've knit all the stitches you want on that DPN, go onto the next one. I usually divide stitches evenly (as evenly as possible, anyway) onto 4 DPNs, because I buy in sets of 5.

Does that help?

[stretchmark]

Yes, that does help. The sets I bought came in 5s also. Can I do it with just three? I am going to end up with just 18 stitches total and am at 72 now, hmmm, maybe 4 is better. I have never worked with DPN before so it ought to be a learning experience all ways around, my first hat too.

[ChattyCat]

Depending on how many stitches you have and the size of the project, you can use different numbers of dpns. Most dpns are sold in sets of 5, but some only have 4. That way you can have either 3 or 4 needles holding the stitches, and one needle with the working yarn. Whatever you find to be the easiest!