Before I write about double pointed needles (DPNs) I must post a picture of some cupcakes I've made in the past. These cupcakes were my first venture into using 4 DPNs to knit.
The pattern for these extra large cupcakes is available for free (just click on the word pattern), and they are seamless which means there's no messy sewing up to do when you finish. The biggest trick is to be sure you put in the stuffing, batting or fiber-fill before it is too late.
The instructions direct one to start at the bottom of the cupcake with very few stitches and increases to the ribbing which represents the cupcake paper. There's a couple of rows of stockinette for the cake and then the billowy frosting is done with the purl stitch adding a bit of texture. I love the fact there was freedom to decorate the tops as I pleased. The cherry pattern can be found on the Knit and Crochet Now website, the heart was a quick little pattern Mom gave me and the flowers are actually wrapped and not knit at all. (The sources for the last two are unknown.)
I decided to show you this pattern before the DPNs discussion for two reasons. First, note the cupcakes are formed as a cylinder. The cylinder is actually closed on both ends, but there is a circle in there, thus requiring this project be made using DPNs.
Second, there's one problem this work illustrates rather strikingly that comes about when using multiple needles. Since these were some of my first ventures into DPN knitting there is something especially evident on the white-frosted cupcake, it's called laddering. If you look at somewhere between 7-8 o'clock there a vertical row of stitches that seem wonky, long and just plain sloppy because you can see the batting right through them. That is laddering in action and if I'd been a bit more improved knitter then, I'd have realized it was a mistake and fixed it. Laddering comes about because there isn't enough pull on the stitches when I moved from one needle to the next.
Here's a photo of the Ribbed Socks on 3 knitting needles (the needles are clear so they're a bit hard to see), needle number 4 is used to actually knit and not shown.
As you can see from the completed socks, my laddering problem has been resolved. Additionally, you can also see the ribbing clearly along the entire top of the sock.
So now you're primed for the DPN discussion. It will be next, I promise.
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| Three different cupcakes with a cherry, heart and flowers on top |
The instructions direct one to start at the bottom of the cupcake with very few stitches and increases to the ribbing which represents the cupcake paper. There's a couple of rows of stockinette for the cake and then the billowy frosting is done with the purl stitch adding a bit of texture. I love the fact there was freedom to decorate the tops as I pleased. The cherry pattern can be found on the Knit and Crochet Now website, the heart was a quick little pattern Mom gave me and the flowers are actually wrapped and not knit at all. (The sources for the last two are unknown.)
I decided to show you this pattern before the DPNs discussion for two reasons. First, note the cupcakes are formed as a cylinder. The cylinder is actually closed on both ends, but there is a circle in there, thus requiring this project be made using DPNs.
Second, there's one problem this work illustrates rather strikingly that comes about when using multiple needles. Since these were some of my first ventures into DPN knitting there is something especially evident on the white-frosted cupcake, it's called laddering. If you look at somewhere between 7-8 o'clock there a vertical row of stitches that seem wonky, long and just plain sloppy because you can see the batting right through them. That is laddering in action and if I'd been a bit more improved knitter then, I'd have realized it was a mistake and fixed it. Laddering comes about because there isn't enough pull on the stitches when I moved from one needle to the next.
Here's a photo of the Ribbed Socks on 3 knitting needles (the needles are clear so they're a bit hard to see), needle number 4 is used to actually knit and not shown.
As you can see from the completed socks, my laddering problem has been resolved. Additionally, you can also see the ribbing clearly along the entire top of the sock.
 |
| No laddering to be found, OK maybe one stitch there on the left sock, maybe |
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