stitch marker with dpn???? need more help - post 10

[christianmomof3]

I am trying to knit my first hat. I started with the large size on circs, but it was too big so I took it apart and am trying the smaller size which says to do it on dpns - I have never used dpns before. So, how do you use a stitch marker on dpns? doesn't it just fall off since your first stitch would be at the end of a stick? do you stick one of those rubber cap things on the stick end or is there some other solution?

[fallriverfox]

If the begining of the round is at the end of one of the needles, then no, I wouldn't use a stitch marker, just keep track of which is the right needle. Or you can shift where the begining of the round is and set it in the middle of a needle so you don't loose the marker. Because you are right, you have to have stitches between the marker and the end of the needle ( I speak from painful personal experience). Good luck with your hat!!

[moondiapers]

Are you wanting to mark the begining of the round? If so you can use a bit of yarn to mark the actual stitch instead of the needle.

[lovesdaffodils]

I remember which needle is the beginning of the round by my cast on tail. You can always mark the actual stitch with something (a marker, yarn, safety pin) that stays on the stitch instead of the needle as well.

[christianmomof3]

Originally Posted by lovesdaffodils

I remember which needle is the beginning of the round by my cast on tail. You can always mark the actual stitch with something (a marker, yarn, safety pin) that stays on the stitch instead of the needle as well.

i should have thought of that. now i can start working on it again.

[crunchycrafts]

i put the marker before the first stitch

[lnupermom]

I try to avoid DPNs but when I use them, I put the marker between the first and second stitches.

[gingerstar]

I use a loop of extra, contrasting yarn, which I can tie on tightly enough that it doesn't slip off the dpn. That is the only thing I have been able to work with.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I do use stitch markers with DPNs, but that's becuase I do not keep the first stitch at the beginning of the needles. In order to avoid the dreaded "laddering" from DPNs (where you get a loose line of stitches where each needle intersects becuase of the stretching) I always knit the next two stitches from the next needle at each intersection, so that the stress point is always changing. So, for me, the beginning of the round isn't at the beginning of a needle.

[christianmomof3]

ahhh, help!

Well, about half of the stitches fell off one of the dpns so I gave up and ripped out the whole thing. I will start over - again.
According to this pattern, if you do the large size with 84 stitches you use a circular needle - it starts with the brim and then goes to dpns when you do the top, but if you do the smaller size it is 76 stitches and it starts on dpns and is on dpns the whole way but I have a tough time managing that many stitches on dpns since I have never used them before anyway - can I just do the smaller size of 76 stitches on a circular needle and then decrease on dpns like the larger size says to do?

[Twinklefae]

You can try it, but they may not fit. It is really hard to begin with dpn. I'm dealing with 96 stiches on mine for a hat right now, and it's driving me crazy. If you think it will make it easier, you can buy another set of needles and add it in. So that instead of 20+ stitches per needle, you'll have like 15. HTH!

[christianmomof3]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

You can try it, but they may not fit. It is really hard to begin with dpn. I'm dealing with 96 stiches on mine for a hat right now, and it's driving me crazy. If you think it will make it easier, you can buy another set of needles and add it in. So that instead of 20+ stitches per needle, you'll have like 15. HTH!

That is an idea. My set came with 5 needles so it is a possibility, but I am not sure I can do that yet. I want to knit a hat for my dh. The pattern I have is a knit two purl two ribbing that goes from the brim to the top. Maybe I can find one that goes the other way or something or is somehow easier.

[lovesdaffodils]

What length circ are you wanting to use? I make baby hats on 16" circs so surely you could make an adult hat on one?

[moondiapers]

you can use 2 circs of any length to knit anything in the round. just google "2 circular method"