Cat Bordhi - Part 2 of Knitting on Two Circular Needles

[wizardskunk]

This is great and all, but why use two circular needles, when it would seem like you could do the same thing more efficantily with one pair of circs?

[sharnkay]

@wizardskunk : You would use 2 circs when knitting small-diameter projects like gloves, fingers of gloves, socks, etc. One pair of circs, even the smallest length available, is usually too big to use effectively.

[loveleopardprint]

you are a goddess. i love your udder explanation :-)

by the way - i knit holding the yarn in the right hand (Brit), i just tried the left hand - now *that's* awkward lol - hehe, each to their own though x x

[stelli78]

I have been doing this all afternoon, and continue to only work one side.

What is wrong with me? Why am I not getting this? I even went to a metal and a wooden set so as not to confuse them. Have'nt joined anything in a while..

Aarrgg!

[proudrn1]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

I just have to purchase a second set of circulars so I can start knitting socks. I really dislike DPN and really want to knit socks. Can't wait to try this :)

[Bloodyhelloffer]

Thank you so much! I think you've saved my sanity. Ive been trying to knit some fingerless gloves on dpns ALL day and I was about to give up on knitting in the round.. I never want to see a DPN again! Theres just too much going on for my liking.

I'd heard of this method but didn't understand really. Thank you for explaining it so clearly! Im going to get my credit card out and purchase some decent circulars. :)

I WILL have gloves this winter... *shakes fist*

[loveleopardprint]

@Bloodyhelloffer - you mean - *shakes gloved fist* :-D

[eepe27]

ha ha...I'm having to use two circulars because my children jumped on the couch while I had my needle sitting in just the right place to fall into a crack at the time they jumped...and the couch ate it ... and the craft store here didn't have any US 11 DPNs when I went to replace it today.

[xyberq]

I must say thank you so much for the video. It's yet by far the easiest video to follow. I can now knit in the round with 2 circular needles. Thanks Cat for the video and you are a great tutor.

[LHXung]

Thank you so much for a wonderful tutorial:I have knitted on DP and always disliked it because of the unnatural awkwardness of my grip but on the other hand,using a single circular doomed me to wrestle with unmanageable decreases!I will attempt magic loop next but for now this method is wonderful!!

[kathy772]

do you have a video on knitting socks??

[catbordhi]

@kathy772 

[kskc1234]

Cat, I think you are wonderful, I just ordered two of your books, can't wait to receive them. I've only knitted one pair of socks and that was on four DP needles. Came out great and am ready to do your method. My MAIN problem is (and I've done this 6 times now) after I do my cast one and go round and round I'm getting ladders on the side with my working yarn and tail end. Can't seem to get past it. Help!

[catbordhi]

@kskc1234 The solution is actually easy and effective: As you begin a new needle, work the first stitch without concern, then as you work the second stitch, yank the yarn really tight. The second stitch will secure the tension in the first stitch.

[gingacurlzalicious]

thank you so much for this video, it has helped me greatly, keep up the great work!

[freeaza7]

i cant wait to try ......im ready to do socks

[razzydoolpi]

hi- last year I gave up dpns on a snowman family trio and a hat.. this year I HOPE to knit 2 stocking caps (r+w striped) by Dec 1. wear and enjoy thru the month of Dec. Let me know if I "got it" the concept. The longer cir - the outside..is to stay and will be the final place for the stitches of the brim of the cap. The inner cir, shorter will be the ones to knit and move out the upper tippy point of the cap. Am I right? I hope to win .. the yarn is sitting there since last year ! Thanks

[CaritaPaulina]

Cat, you saved my life! I hate knitting with 4 needle because I'm not good at it. Next time I knit socks I try circular needles! Absolutely. I have only three socks in my whole life. Your tips are supergood! Thanks so much..

[otrasventanas]

Thank you so much.

This video is amazing, i will remember you for ever :)

Kisses from Chile :)

[emmmmaxoxo]

Thanks! What a great, and well-explained video!

This method is especially useful if you're knitting in a crazy pattern; you can get into more of a 'groove', because you have to switch needles half as often.

You rock Cat!

[evieryan2007]

Fantastic!! What a great demo. I can't wait to try it out. Thanks.

[littlepinkkiwi]

Thank you so much for doing this fantastic demo. I have heard of knitting on two circular needles but after looking at written instructions was none the wiser. This looks so easy and much less trouble than DPNs which I have used to knit gloves before. I am about to try my first pair of socks and after watching this I can't wait to get started :-)

[paulyknit]

I have to try this. I want to make socks with size 3 or smaller needles. I find it hard to get the DPN's doing. Is there a tutorial for the whole sock pattern?

[spankses]

this is fantastic. i taught myself to knit at ten and always hated dpns...though i can use then well. this make soooo much more sense to me...i'm off to the store, yippee!..and yes i'm in australia and have milked a cow...;) and, oddly, a rabbit....

[catbordhi]

A rabbit. You win the contest! I had someone who had milked a horse, but no one who had milked a rabbit.

[spankses]

yeah, i had to milk my rabbit to encourage her babies to feed, they all got the idea after that and soon got very fat and soooo cute.

[ladyray713]

you explained it so well, thank you! and can you even milk a whale?

[TheRealLadyDisdain]

Do you have any videos or anything on making two socks at one time? I keep hearing about this, but am lost. Love your vids!!

[peepla7]

I love all methods, i have made socks on as many as 5 dpns, 2 dpns...usings a tubular rib, and 2 circs....2 circs work best when i am on the go. I drive a school bus and socks are the perfect layover project, but with 2 circs you just start knitting, you dont have to arrange 3 other needles, find that darn working needle and hey my pattern...etc. and since it always feeds to the right...speed. its too cool. dont be scare of circs, try it. its them dpns that'll drive you crazy.

[konefka]

I love knitting on DPN but I want to try this method. I have a question, I have some circulars with a long cable. I want to knit a smaller hat so I can't really use the circular with the long cable but is it possible to use two circular needles that are the same size but with different cable lengths? It looks that that will work...but would it be difficult?

[catbordhi]

Two different lengths is no problem. My preference is for two 24" needles, but I sometimes use two different lengths if that is what I have available.

[oberin]

I'm hoping to do arm warmers! This really helps! I'm sort of self-taught so this is very helpful! I'm looking forward to it now!

[ranaprinces]

Hi Cat, thanks for your reply. Double knitting is the UK term for light worsted wool. What I meant was, to save buying another circ needle of the same size, could I use them both (4mm + 4.5mmt ogether)? Maybe not, as I read your comment to a previous query. Love the video instructions - very clear + easy to follow.

[catbordhi]

You most probably can use these two different needles together - using the smaller one for the sole as mentioned above. Whether or not the sizes are appropriate for you as an individual knitter can be determined only to you. There is a huge variation in gauge produced by different knitters with any given size yarn and needles.

[ranaprinces]

Will it make a big difference if I use 4mm and a 4.5mm circular needles together when following a double knitting sock pattern?

[catbordhi]

If by double knitting you mean using 2 circs, the answer is that it won't make a great deal of difference. Just use the smaller needle on the sole and it will even wear a little longer.

[altanotte]

Ms. Bordhi, thank you! I love knitting your moebius patterns, and I have recently purchased your book "Socks soar on two circular needles." Unfortunately, I misunderstood the directions in the book and did the opposite of what you showed here, with the "udder" needle being the needle in the back and the active needle being the front one. This video has certainly cleared up this confusion for me.

[Ariellahoffman]

Cat...you are so awesome! I have never seen this method before, and I just completely gave up on DPNs and 1 pair circs. You won me over!! Thank you so much for making this video for all of us.

[Medusa65567]

Thanks I was a little scared to try socks. the circular is what I use for hats. I am so grateful thank you for making this look so easy. As a farm girl totally get the udder method.

[raidmaxx]

Cat,

Your a genius! You've given me confidence that now I too can finally knit a pair of socks.I've been struggling with dpn's forever and have yet to make my first pair of socks.

Thanks to your video I will finally make my first pair of socks using circular needles.

Your my hero..

Thanks a Mil

Alice

[snf2784]

See, that's what I would want to know. How do you customize how you want to knit up a pattern? What if i wanted to knit up a pair of socks with two circulars and the pattern called for double pointed needles? How would I do that? Or can you not do that? How do you translate a pattern for DPN's to two circs or magic loop? Does that just come to you after more experience? IT'S SO OVERWHELMING SOMETIMES! Help!

[catbordhi]

Just replace every 2 dpn's with 1 circ.

[lillyanka]

I'm sold!! The only problem is, I'm trying to use two circs to make a pair of gloves that are supposed to be made on DPNs. Hopefully I'm not nuts and it'll go well. ;)

[buckfastbee]

*ggg* I saw the first seconds of the first video and yelled "GREAT", picking up the idea immediately and it was crystal clear to me how this works.

This is really a revolution in knitting!

I'm in knitting socks since I was 14 but always hated the struggle with the dpns at the start and the toes - thank you so very much!

Some days before I ordered the "New pathways" book but it will take always at least 2 weeks to get it (living in Germany and purchased at amazom/US) -I just can't wait to start

[Mariangello]

awesome. this will totally change the way i knit.

I have a strong distaste for straight needles in general..really..is there anyway they're better than circular ones?

they poke you, they can be large, not easy to store unfinished work...etc..etc.

thanks!

[kingkandyfromkl]

This is so cool! I also love the yarn on the needles. (are they addi turbos?)

[catbordhi]

Yes, they are Addi Turbo needles - wonderful needles!

[Minishadowlover]

Hello Cat! I am currently knitting a pair of leg warmers-- how would you finish off the stitching while using the rounded needles( the needles you're using in this video)

[catbordhi]

Just bind off - and make sure your bind off is elastic and loose enough to fit the leg well. Using 2 circs won't make any difference in how you bind off.

[largerer]

is this the same effect as the magic loop? is this a finishing move?

[glassanddiaphane]

I think it's very cool you are usind 2 needles, but i'm getting a little confused when you change from needle to needle. I'll have to try it...

[ochagirl]

I'm thinking of starting knitting, and I think you're making a very compelling case: easier, neater, and more efficient than dpn. I'll buy that sells pitch!

One reason I'm thinking of taking up knitting is because I'm losing my mind crocheting with complex yarn. I'll crochet a base, then I'll be unable to find my stitches in which to put my hook. *sigh*

Great lesson!

[taterflowers]

Thanks!! This really helps! How do I know when my row starts and ends? I'm a new to knitting in the round.

[catbordhi]

The intersection between the first and second needle mark the end/start of rnd. To know which is the first needle - just clip a marker onto the knitting near the start of that first needle. Enjoy yourself!

[wendiloo]

I love this!!! I just can't follow the directions in the books so I'm so happy I found this. Thanks!

[nuts4fiber]

Thanks Cat! I've got your book and have been meaning to try this, but your description of losing a DPN on a train track has totally convinced me! I switched to continental and circs so I wouldn't keep dropping my straights on a plane, so this analogy really resonates with me! P. S. LOVE your storytelling method!

[HeyPearly]

NOW I get It!! Thank YOU!

[scottishgypsy]

Great example of how to knit socks with 2 circular needles but the constant references to udders is annoying. I'm definitely going to make my socks this way from now on. Thanks for your demo.

[WNanette]

Really great, thanks again Cat. ^_^

I wish it were a bit more in focus, but your choice of bulky yarn helps - thank you!!

(I have your book.) ^_^

[scarsmom]

Wonderfully informative, great teaching style, a must for first timers! :) Beats trying to learn this out of a book!

[blackcat138]

"Ding ding ding, wake up other needle"

I like your circular needle knitting, I purchased one and I am doing pritty good..thank you :)