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How to use double pointed needles and do a crossover join

Double Pointed Needles (DPNs)
Double pointed needles are necessary for knitting in the round when the number of stitches around is few to fit on a regular circular needle.

*Pro Tip! When knitting with double pointed needles, always have the two needles you are working with positioned 'on top' of your work, so the other needles are out of your way.

Crossover Join
My favorite method for joining stitches in the round is the crossover join. I originally learned it from Ann Budd's Knitting Socks book.  A crossover join is where you swap the places of the first and last cast on stitches for a round, thus creating a 'cross'. This action also joins the two ends of your round.
As with any join in the round, be sure your stitches are not twisted before you perform your join.
Start by slipping the last cast on stitch, as if to purl, to the right hand needle, so it will be next to the first cast on stitch. Next, slip the first cast on stitch up and over the last cast on stitch, keeping both stitches on the needles. The action is similar to performing a bind off, or doing a pass slip stitch over.

How to switch to DPNs from circular needles
switch to dpns
How to switch to double pointed needles (DPNs) from circular needles
Switch to double pointed needles (dpns) when your round gets too small for circulars.
Next Step >
Alternate Step: How to join in the round on circular needles
join on circular needles
How to join in the round on circular needles
Learn to join in the round on circular needles. 
Alternate Step >

DPNs (double pointed needles)
dpnsDouble Pointed Needles (DPNs)
Double pointed needles (dpns) come in sets of 4 or 5 needles so you can use them to knit in the round.

< Previous Step

Advanced Step: How to knit in the round on 2 circular needles
knit round circular needlesHow to knit in the round on two circular needles
Sometimes you can knit in a round that is too small for one circular needle by using two. Knit each half of stitches using the needle they are on.

Advanced Step >

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icordHow to knit an Icord
How to Knit an Icord
Knitting an icord is like knitting a tiny tube. Start each row of 3 or 5 stitches from the same end to form the tube. Slide the stitches across a double pointed needle.

Discover the Icord
long tail coHow to long tail cast on with two tails trick
Long tail cast on with 2 tails trick
Tired of measuring the yarn for a long tail cast on? Try this technique for using two tails of the yarn and never measure for a long tail cast on again.

Learn long tail co tricks

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