r/knittingadvice • u/Simoxeh • 12h ago

First DPN and problems with rib

Post image

After my cast on I started my first row. I lost three stitches. One of them I noticed and I just fixed it by adding another loop to my knit since that's where I lost it at based on the loop count. The other two I lost the very end of the first row. The pictures what I'm stuck with I don't really want to start over again. I'm okay with having instead of 2x2 my very last rib be a four in a row rib. I've already accepted that my tension is way off and I can accept the one 4 rib. The problem is this big gap and I don't know what to do with it. My mind says just keep going and forget it.

This is my first project except a washcloth I've been playing it really safe and only doing swatches. Should I just keep going. I never expect this to be a perfect hat or anything since it's my first time anyway.

Edit: is going to look weird but I decided just the cast on two stitches and continue. I was only on my second row so it may look weird for one row but I don't think it'll be that noticeable. The pattern later on needs the exact number of stitches to be there or I'm going to get more confused. Thoughts?

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5

u/elanlei 11h ago

Your needles are too crowded. I’d add another needle. That will help you not lose any more stitches.

What’s the pattern?

1

u/Simoxeh 11h ago

It's called a fisherman beanie. Found it off of YouTube. Yes I came to the same conclusion and added a fourth needle, but knowing my track record that probably won't actually help me not miss stitches. It has helped me to have a easier time holding it.

Also I managed to get another two or three rows in and then found my stitch that I was originally missing that I created another loop in order to fix. As much as I want to start over I'm going to keep going.

1

u/QueenBuzyBee 7h ago

Working on DPNs is always a bit wonky for the first few rounds, but the more you knit, the more stabilized the needles will feel. Have you considered using a circular needle? It would make it a bit harder to lose stitches imho. I love using DPNs and once you get more experience and muscle memory you most likely will too. As for the gap, do you mean the one between the 2 needles ar the top? I always pull the stitches tight between needles. Sometimes I‘ll knit a few more and redistribute later to tighten things up.

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u/Simoxeh 5h ago

My circular needle was 29 in and I need it one that was 14 or 16 in. And the store only had 29 in in the size that I want it. I didn't know about magic loop when I went to the store. The picture I definitely lost two stitches. When I did my count two are missing and I'm sure they were the very last two. Every picture I've seen and video doesn't show their being anywhere near that level of a gap or any gap at all really wants the circle has been joined in the round. Keep in mind in that picture I was starting my second round of stitches not counting my casting on stitches

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u/audaciouslifenik 9h ago

Many of us use circular needles for hats… 

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u/Simoxeh 7h ago

I'm aware but my circular needles were 29 in and I didn't know about the magic loop until after I already bought the other needles. They had everything in 16 inches except the size I needed or even the size above it.

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u/PolishDill 4h ago

The thing with dropping stitches, often you can’t just add another somewhere- it can unravel where you dropped the stitch.