I reached in to grab something from my bag, and in an unexpected turn of events, one of the sharp, pointy needles stabbed me. I still have the scar to prove it. Naughty needle! I suppose I could have spared myself the injury with some stitch holders, but then I wouldn't have this scandalous story to tell you.

DPNs, or DOUBLE-pointed needles, as they are really called, are not so scary as they might appear. If you're a beginner knitter, I would encourage you to give them a try. They're really quite useful. I have a whole collection of bamboo DPNs in various sizes. I also have a few aluminum ones that I've picked up here and there.

I love them for knitting hats, but they can also be used for socks, baby booties and so many other things. Double-pointed needles offer versatility for knitting in the round that circular (and of course, straight) needles doesn't always provide.

They come in a variety of materials from wood, to plastic, to metal. You can also find them in different colors. And just like the variety in selection, there is also a range in prices. They tend to be shorter in length than straight needles, but longer ones are available on the market, as well--in case you have a lot of stitches to handle. I've even seen flexible DPNs that have a little cable in the middle, just like a circular needle! Ultimately, it's really about what works best for you and your project.

It does take a bit of practice to get used to working with more than two needles at a time. It can seem, at first, like the math is not mathing. Knitting with DPNs usually requires at least three needles and they typically come in sets of five. The stitches in the work are oftentimes divided evenly across several needles while using the "spare" needle to knit the working yarn, all the while making sure that the stitches in waiting do not make their way off of thr needles. To a non-knitter, it can look like a pretty amazing magic trick. And it is pretty amazing once you get the hang of it.

We have a couple items in the fortuknit shop that are made using DPNs. You can shop them below and online.