Double Pointed Needles – A Guide To All Your Options

By Jodie Morgan

| Updated:

| Published:

Double Pointed Needles look intimidating at first but fear not. They’re the best needles for knitting hats, sleeves, and other projects in the round. “DPN” means Double Pointed Needle. Here’s what to know about Double Pointed Knitting Needles.

DPNs Feat Img

Note: If you click a link on this page and make a purchase, I may receive a commission, but at no extra cost to you. Learn More.

Don't Know What To Knit Next?

I’ve got just the thing! Subscribe for hand-selected pieces of knit-worthy inspiration delivered to you every Time-Saving Tuesday.

Table Of Contents

The Best Double Pointed Needles

KnitPicks Double Pointed Needles

KnitPicks Nickel Plated Double Pointed Needles Set

A set of 6″ long DPNS in various sizes, with a smart, clear snap case. These are a great selection if you’re planning on knitting socks, as this set contains the most common needle sizes used for making them.

Features

  • 6 Needle Sizes – US 0 (2.00mm), US 1 (2.25mm), US 1 (2.5mm), US 2 (2.75mm), US 2 (3mm), US Size 3 (3.25mm)
  • 5 Needles Of Each Size
  • All needles are 6 inches long.
  • A clear vinyl case categorizes your needles and keeps them neat and tidy.

Pros

  • The needles are nickel-plated, with sturdy and durable construction
  • All sizes are also available separately if that’s what you prefer
  • Very affordable
  • Lasts very well and stands to lots of use
  • Smooth and easy to slide the yarn across

Cons

  • All the needles are the same color, so it might be hard to differentiate between them
  • They don’t have the needle size etched on the needle.

Knitter’s Pride Double Pointed Knitting Needles

Knitter's Pride Double Pointed Knitting Needles Check Price On Amazon

Designed to withstand lots of knitting, these Knitter’s Pride needles look lovely while feeling great in your hands. Made of smooth aluminum and available in a wide variety of lovely shades. The tips are smooth, not too sharp, and tapered perfectly for intricate knitting.

Features

  • 1 Needle Size – Choose between many different ones
  • 5 Needles In One Set 
  • Notions – 10 colorful stitch markers

Pros

  • Available in a few different nice colors
  • Sizes are etched on the side of each one
  • Lightweight and very smooth
  • Affordable, an excellent price to suit any budget

Cons

  • Some found they were too slippery, and the stitches slid straight off the needle.

ChiaoGoo Red Ribbon Double Point Knitting Needles

ChiaoGoo Red Ribbon Double Point Knitting Needles Check Price On Amazon

Designed for serious users of DPNS, these are high quality, long-lasting needles with a manufacturer’s guarantee. It comes in a lovely case with six different sizes, an excellent investment for your future projects.

Features

  • 6 Needle Sizes – US 0/2mm, US 1/2.25mm, US 1.5/2.5mm, US 2/2.75mm, US 2.5/3mm, US 3/3.25mm 
  • 6 Needles Of Each Size
  • Notions – Handy case, stitch markers, and a needle gauge.

Pros

  • Comes in a lovely black case with a white flower print
  • Made with smooth stainless steel
  • Has sharp tips for delicate or intricate designs
  • Sizes are laser etched on the sides
  • Even the smallest needles in the set don’t bend.

Cons

  • There’s no way to tell the needles apart, as they aren’t different colors. One user suggested painting a little line, each of a different color for each different size.
  • A little expensive, but worth the investment.

Z-Color Double Pointed Needles Set

Z-Color Double Pointed Needles Set Check Price On Amazon

A jumbo set including 5 needles of 11 different sizes. True value for your knitting if you’re going to do a serious amount of projects. The investment is will be worth it in the long run.

Features

  • 11 Needle Sizes – 2mm, 2.5mm, 2.75mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm. 
  • 5 Needles Of Each Size
  • All Needles Are 20cm or 8″ long.

Pros

  • Made from high-quality stainless steel
  • Very affordable and doesn’t snag the wool.

Cons

  • Some found one of theirs was rusted or had a few nicks or manufacturing defects, but they can be easily replaced.
  • Clean thoroughly before use as sometimes they come with manufacturer’s residue
  • The tips are quite blunt, so not very good for tight knitters

FAQ

What Are Double Pointed Needles?

A double-pointed needle, or DPN, is a knitting needle with points and both ends, so you can slide the stitches off either side and knit from either side too. Designed for knitting socks, hats, sleeves, and tubular items. Learning to use these can be tricky, but with practice and some effort, it becomes easier.

How To Knit With Double Pointed Needles

Here are is a simple, basic tutorial on how to get started knitting on DPNS.

Casting On

Casting on double pointed needles is probably the most challenging part of the process for beginners, so give yourself some time and cut yourself a bit of slack. It’s going to be hard and take a while.

  • Cast on all your stitches for the project onto one needle.
  • Once you’ve done that, slide the needed number of stitches onto the other ones. Make sure you don’t lose any during this process.
  • If you’re working from a pattern, they’ll usually tell you how many to have on one needle. If not, distribute them all as evenly as possible.
  • Now you’re ready to join the round.

Joining the Round

  • Make sure the needle where the first stitch is is in your right hand. 
  • Place all the stitches to make sure they aren’t twisted and are all facing the same way.
  • Put the empty needle in the first stitch on the needle in your left hand. 
  • Knit it firmly.
  • You’ve joined in the round.
  • If you want to use a stitch marker, slip it on the same stitch with the cast on tail. 

How Do You Knit In The Round?

It’s very similar to knitting on straights, except you join in the round first before continuing to knit. Stitches also look different, and you never have to turn your work around. You just keep going.

Note: While you can knit in the round on circular knitting needles as well. Still, the instructions for that type of needle is slightly different. Find a tutorial designed explicitly for circulars if you want to learn that.

Knitting The Rest

  • Doing the first few rows will feel awkward and confusing, so go slowly and be patient with yourself.
  • Hold the needle with the first set of cast on stitches and knit as you normally would.
  • When it comes to switching needles, be sure to knit the first stitch from the new needle very tightly to avoid laddering (creating an unwanted gap in the knitted fabric.)
  • The pattern will tell you how to cast off.
  • Congratulations, well on your way to doing your first project using DPNs!

Staci at Very Pink Knits’ video tutorial on using them is excellent!

Tips & Tricks For Using DPNs

I know using these looks hard, and at the beginning, it certainly is. On my first time using them, it was very cumbersome and awkward to use them. It’s also quite tricky to keep track of multiple needles at the same time!

  • If you’re a visual learner, there are lots and lots of tutorials on Youtube. A wealth of information, so make sure you make use of it.
  • They’re usually used to knit things in the round too small to fit on circular needles. Like the toe of a sock or the crown of a hat. You don’t have to use them for anything else that could be knitted on circulars.
  • If you’ve never knitted in the round, remember you never have to turn your work around. Just keep going.
  • Also, stitches turn out differently when you knit them in the round. For example, to create stockinette stitch, you just knit, never purl.
  • Most DPNs come in a pack of 5, but most projects only require you to use four. Three hold the stitches. The fourth does the knitting. Of course, some require five, but these are rare.
  • To keep track of your needles, some knitters suggest painting each one a different color.
  • You don’t have to use stitch markers, as the cast on tail acts as a stitch marker. However, you can use one if you want. Just remember the last stitch before the marker is the last stitch in the round.
  • If you need to decrease, and there’s only one stitch left on the current needle, slip it to the next one and reduce on that one.
  • If the first stitch of a new needle is a knit stitch, make sure the one you’re currently knitting is under the last one. If you do this, you avoid creating a vertical line of loose stitches.
  • Be mindful of laddering. This is where you have a slight gap together between the stitches where you changed needles. To avoid this annoying thing, be careful to minimize the gap between the needles when you switch. This will help prevent laddering.

Now all you need to do is find the best sock yarn for stretchy and longevity. Please read my post.

Double Pointed Needles Vs Circular Needles

It’s hard to know which ones to use for any given project. Here is a list of instances you should use DPNs.

  • Small projects like baby hats, fingerless gloves, mittens, baby socks, or headbands.
  • When you started on circular needles, but the project is too small, like a sock toe or the crown of a hat.

For other instances, you can use circular needles.

Choosing The Best Double Pointed Needles

Here’s a list of things to remember when choosing the best double point needles.

  • Are They Made Of Durable Materials? – You want something lightweight, strong, and has some grip while still being smooth.
  • Do They Have Sturdy Construction? – You don’t want them to fall apart after the first use.
  • What’s The Material? – Anything from bamboo, metal, plastic, wood, or glass.
  • Is There A Warranty Or Manufacturer’s Guarantee? Important as sometimes DPNs are prone to breaking after prolonged use.
  • How Many Needles Are In The Set? – This is essential because you need a certain number of needles to complete a certain project.
  • What Are The Reviews Like? – This is important to help you decide whether it’s worth it or not.

How Do You Switch To Double Pointed Needles?

Here is a short video tutorial explaining how to switch to double pointed needles by Davina from Sheep & Stitch on Youtube.

Can I Use A Circular Needle Instead Of Double Pointed Needles?

Yes, of course! If you knit something like a hat, you’ll probably need to switch to these to make the very tip of the hat or the crown. This is because there won’t be enough stitches to fit around the cord.

What Length Double-Pointed Needles Do I Need?

It depends on how many stitches you need to hold and how long needles you’re comfortable with holding. For guidance, check the pattern you’re using.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this helped you be introduced to the world of this often confusing but very helpful and useful needle.

Are you ready to dive in and try to use these? Did you find a DPN from my recommendations to get you started on your new project? I’d love to hear about your latest knitting adventures, comment below.

Pin For Later

DPNs Pin

About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Knit Like Granny

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

jodie@knitlikegranny.com | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate knitter and blogger with 40+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother and wonderful grandmother “Mama”, she fell in love with crafting from a young age. When she’s not knitting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online knitting community. Get to know Jodie and the team on our meet the team page.

Crunchbase | Flickr | LinkedIn | MuckRack | Ravelry | Twitter

Don't Know What To Knit Next?

I’ve got just the thing! Subscribe for hand-selected pieces of knit-worthy inspiration delivered to you every Time-Saving Tuesday.

Comments

  1. Good Morning Jodie. I have a question. When making a hat, you need to go from circular to dpns, Do you do size for size. If so, I need a size 8 and all I can find and have are up to #3. Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Cindy. Yes, you would use the same size DPNs. Do you mean 8.0 mm Double Pointed needles when you mention Size 8? What brand and size circular are you using? If you use smaller diameter double pointed needles your gauge will change and the stitches will be smaller hence tighter around the top. Cheers Jodie

      Reply
    • Hi Elsa

      Thanks for your comment on my site Knit Like Granny below:

      Hi Jodie
      My pattern calls for dpns US size four how can I find out the Uk equivalent please
      Kind Regards E McCormick

      Look for 3.5mm double pointed needles

      Here’s a link to a set of DPNS on the UK LoveCrafts site or check your local yarn store if you have one nearby.

      Cheers
      Jodie

      Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.