Cerpent Moms Knitting Hints
Knitting with Double Pointed Needles
You'll have a set of five double pointed needles. Cast on all the stitches onto one needle, being careful they don't fall off the other end. (We've done that more than once!)
Divide the stitches onto four needles according to pattern instructions, or as evenly as possible. If there are an uneven number of stitches, don't worry. Now lay the needles in a square, keeping the cast on line of stitches in the center. It's important to keep the cast on stitches turned inward so you don't twist the knitting on the first round.
Now using the 5th needle begin knitting from the first needle, knitting the first stitch you cast on. When you finish knitting the first needle, use that free needle to knit the second needle. Pull the yarn tight between needles to avoid having a gap. However - and this is one of the great things about felting your puppet - once the C-Cerpent puppet is felted, small holes and uneven stitches will disappear!
Placing a marker one stitch in on the first needle will help you keep track of where each round begins. When you get to the marker you've placed, that is your reminder that you have just completed another round.
When you are knitting (or purling) you will be holding in your hands just two needles, the one you are knitting with and the one you are knitting from. Don't worry about the other needles - they will be hanging loosely, awaiting their turn. Keep your stitches tight enough to keep them on the needles, but loose enough to work with.
You are knitting round and round the outside of the puppet. Continue knitting in the round. The puppet will look big and sloppy as you knit it, but don't worry - that's normal! Take a look at the photo on the left of Nigel before and after felting.