DPN Hell

I learned how to knit socks on two circular needles. I love that method, but you can't always find the smaller sized needles. I've only been able to find size 1's. So, I purchased Double Pointed Needles. They were packeged as a set of "sock needles" which started at 000 and went up to 1's and you got 5 of each which is way better then just getting 4.

So last night I decided to take these puppies out for a test run. I cast on the required amount of stitches on the size 1 needles (yeah - another pair of socks on the go), split them onto 4 of the 5 needles and then started to knit in a 2x2 rib. I think it took me 20 minutes to knit those 56 stitches.

I resisted the urge to pick up my circulars and knit onto them and off the DPNs. This is a learning experience I told myself. You've never done this before. I put the DPNs down and tended to the laundry. I went back to my knitting when that chore was done. I picked up the meager one row I knit on the DPNs and started row 2.

This one will be easier. The stitches will be easier to knit into because they aren't the cast on stitches. There will be a little more give.

And there was a little more give, but I had all these needles in the way. Poking at me and slipping in between the needles I needed to use. I was getting extra wraps around the needles I didn't need. I had to slow down to a crawl to make sure I wasn't messing up.

It's all part of the process. This is new to you.

Geeze, I would have had at least an inch knit on my circs.

So I braved on. I kept knitting on the DPNs. Then it happened. I put the empty needle in my left hand and shifted the knitting so I could knit on the next needle. I pulled the empty needle out of my hand and in a moment of horror realized that I pulled out one of the needles with live stitches.

I took it as an omen, frogged and cast back onto the 2 circs. At least the set of DPNs was only $10. I'll try again. Eventually.