One sock on four double pointed needles tutorial
To make it easier for you to find your directions, if you're using
sock weight or fingering weight, your directions will be in purple
for sport or double knitting weight, blue
and for worsted weight, green.
Supplies Needed
If you're using:
Sock weight or Fingering weight yarn - approx 420 yards, and either size 2 or size 3 Double Pointed Needles
Sport or Double Knitting weight yarn - approx 350 yards, and either size 4 or size 5 Double Pointed Needles
Worsted weight yarn - approx 285 yards, and either size 6 or size 7 Double Pointed Needles.
You will also need a tapestry or yarn needle, a ruler or measuring tape, and PATIENCE.
Step One
On ONE needle, cast on 64 48 40 stitches LOOSELY. If you can not cast on loosely, cast on to a larger needle, OR hold two dpns together and cast on to them as one.
Help casting on, from knittinghelp.com
My yarn is multicolor (Marks & Kattens Clown Sock Yarn in colorway #1722) this is all one strand of yarn, even though it looks like a strand of white and a strand of purple. Also, I've cast on using the long tail method, but you can cast on any way you want to.
Step two
Now divide the cast on stitches evenly between three needles, by slipping each stitch purlwise:
DO NOT KNIT OR PURL THEM.. only slip (or move them) from one needle to another.
For 64 stitches, divide to 22, 20, 22 stitches.
For 48 stitches, divide to 16, 16, 16 stitches.
For 40 stitches, divide to 14, 12, 14 stitches.
Step three
Once you've cast on and divided your stitches between three needles, now it's time to join and begin working in the round.
Join by taking your working yarn and knitting into the first stitch you cast on.
Be very careful that none of the stitches are twisted around a needle.
To verify, lay the needles flat to check for twists:
Now, that you're certain there are no twists, begin a knit 2 purl 2 ribbing using your fourth needle as your working needle. Your first few stitches will be the most awkward on DPNS, especially the first join stitch. Please, hang in there. You can do it!
Joining in the round:
Join detail
Beginning the K2P2 ribbing
When you have knit all the stitches on a needle and that needle is now empty, that needle now becomes your working needle. When knitting the first stitch on a needle, be sure to pull your stitch tight to minimize any gaps between the needles.
Moving to the next needle. I find it easiest if the next needle's tip rests on top of the last needle, then I bring my working needle up from under the last needle.
Continue your K2P2 ribbing for a length of 8 inches, or your desired length. This is the leg/ankle or cuff potion of your sock. Knit it to your own preference. Be careful about knitting it too long. You may not have enough yarn for the second sock.
IMPORTANT: While working your ribbing, be careful not to create yarn overs on accident by not moving the working yarn between your needles in between a knit and purl stitch. Also you must be careful not to create a yarn over when moving from one needle to the next. (A yarn over is when you accidentally create an extra loop on the needle.) Count your stitches periodically to be sure you still have what you started with.
A word about DPNS.
Try not to become discouraged when you feel like all the needles are doing is threatening to poke you in the eye, nose or hand. While knitting, concentrate on only two needles, the needle holding the stitches, and your working needle. Ignore the other two, and try not to worry about them. The longer you work with them, the easier it becomes.
PRO TIP: Here's a tip for those of you working with a self striping or multi colored yarn: Take note of how the strand of yarn starts off... what color and how much of it does it start with. This way, when you start the second sock, you can cut the yarn and start it with the same color so both socks will start with the same pattern.
PRO TIP: When joining the round, the LAST stitch is the stitch with the working yarn coming out of it. The stitch on the far end of the furthest needle is the FIRST stitch. Join the last and first stitches to complete the circle.
If you used the long tail cast on method, the yarn tail will be next to the last stitch.
If you used the knitting on cast on method, the yarn tail will be next to the first stitch.