The Difference Between Knitting Socks on Double Pointed Needles and Knitting Insoles

What’s the difference between knitting socks on double pointed needles (circular) and knitting socks on a double knitting needle (double point)? You probably have noticed that the former requires less pressure to produce a tighter stitch, and that you can achieve greater control over your pattern with circular needles. So, which one do you use more often – knitting socks on double pointed needles or double knitting needles? In this article we’ll answer your questions about knitting socks on double pointed needles…

Double knitting needles are very similar to circular needles, except for the fact that they are usually a little longer. Double Pointed Needles or DPN are a knitting needle with both sides and points, hence you can thread the yarn off either side and still knit in the same manner as if you used a single-pointed needle. The major benefits of using a double pointed needle is that it is smoother and more precise, and that you can use larger and smaller sizes of needles, resulting in finer and coarser-grained yarn. The downside is that it is usually more difficult to obtain the tightest or most detailed knitted stitches, as you have to use more of your fingers to make finer stitches.

Knitting in the round means that you only need one needle to create a pattern of circular dimensions. Unlike knitting socks on double pointed needles where you need two sets of needles to produce a square or hexagonal stitch, knitting in the round produces a smooth and durable stitch. It is easier to obtain a uniform diameter because the circular needles are not twisted, and there is no need to force the yarn into the stitches. The downside is that you must be careful not to cut the yarn too short, and you may find that it takes a couple of times before you get the hang of circular knitting needles.