Avoid stitches slipping off your double pointed needles (DPNs) whenever your knitting project isn’t being worked on with this simple, quick to crochet magic wand stitch keeper. An advertisement free, printable pdf file for this pattern is also available.
Requirements
20g black cotton DK or sportweight yarn (more if your DPNs are longer than 15 cm/6")
10g white cotton DK or sportweight yarn
2.5mm hook (US B-1 or C-2) or suitable hook to achieve a firm fabric
Small fine darning needle and scissors
Abbreviations
ch chain
slst slip stitch
dc double crochet (UK version only)
sc single crochet (US version only)
st/sts stitch/stitches
R row or round number
Size
Diameter: 1cm (1/3”) – fits up to five 3.25mm DPNs
Exterior length: length of DPNs – item shown is 15cm (6”)
Working method
The black section is worked flat while the white ends are worked in closed rounds, reversing the work each round to maintain a consistent appearance with the black section.
Pattern notes
This pattern is given separately on this page in UK and US terminology, so be sure to look for the instructions in the terms you prefer. Turning/rising chains at the end of rounds (and start of R1) do not count as stitches. Each round has 8 sts until the closing round of 4 sts. You will need to have the DPNs with you or know their length to work section 2.
Method - UK terms
(US Terms version below)
Section One
This section is completed in white yarn and working in closed rounds, reversing work for each round to maintain consistency of appearance with section two, which is worked flat.
R1 work 1 ch and 8dc into a magic loop, ss into first dc of R1 to close, ch, reverse work.
R2 dc into back loop only (just for R2) of each dc of R1, ss into first dc of R1 to close, ch, reverse work.
R3-R7 dc into each dc of previous round, ss to first dc of current round to close, ch, reverse work. To achieve a neat finish for the colour change to black yarn, it is carried out whilst making the final R7 dc as follows: insert hook in the usual manner through last R6 dc, yarn over hook using white yarn, pull back through R6 dc leaving 2 white loops on the hook. Swap white yarn for black yarn in your usual tension hold, yarn over hook using black yarn (leaving enough to weave in later) and pull through both white loops leaving one black loop on the hook. Continue in black yarn for remaining steps of this row. Cut white yarn, leaving enough to weave in later.
Section Two
This section is completed using black yarn and working flat, reversing work for each row.
First determine the length of the black section required for your DPNs. The outside of stitch keeper should be exactly the same length as your DPNs. The inside will therefore be a little shorter than the needles which will ensure a tight fit and keep your stitches safe. To achieve this, the black section will need to be the length of the needle minus the length of the two white ends.
R7-section end dc into each st of previous round, ch, reverse work. Do not join these rounds. To achieve a neat finish for the colour change back to white yarn, complete the change whilst making the final dc of the last row of this section following the method given in section one. Cut black yarn, leaving enough to weave in later.
Section Three
This section is completed using white yarn and working in closed rounds, reversing work for each row to maintain consistency of appearance with section 2, which is worked flat.
Next 6 rounds dc into each st of previous round, ss to first st of current round to close, ch, reverse work.
Closing round (work a dc decrease into back loop only of next 2 sts of previous round) 4 times, cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through.
Method - US terms
UK Terms version above
Section One
This section is completed in white yarn and working in closed rounds, reversing work for each round to maintain consistency of appearance with section two, which is worked flat.
R1: work 1 ch and 8sc into a magic loop, slst into first sc of R1 to close, ch, reverse work.
R2: sc into back loop only (just for R2) of each sc of R1, slst into first sc of R1 to close, ch, reverse work.
R3-R7: sc into each sc of previous round, ss to first sc of current round to close, ch, reverse work.
To achieve a neat finish for the colour change to black yarn, it is carried out whilst making the final R7 sc as follows: insert hook in the usual manner through last R7 sc, yarn over hook using white yarn, pull back through R7 sc leaving 2 white loops on the hook. Swap white yarn for black yarn in your usual tension hold, yarn over hook using black yarn (leaving enough to weave in later) and pull through both white loops leaving one black loop on the hook. Continue in black yarn for remaining steps of this row. Cut white yarn, leaving enough to weave in later.
Section Two
This section is completed using black yarn and working flat, reversing work for each row.
First determine the length of the black section required for your DPNs. The outside of stitch keeper should be exactly the same length as your DPNs. The inside will therefore be a little shorter than the needles which will ensure a tight fit and keep your stitches safe. To achieve this, the black section will need to be the length of the needle minus the length of the two white ends.
R7-section end dc into each st of previous round, ch, reverse work. Do not join these rounds. To achieve a neat finish for the colour change back to white yarn, complete the change whilst making the final dc of the last row of this section following the method given in section one. Cut black yarn, leaving enough to weave in later.
Section Three
This section is completed using white yarn and working in closed rounds, reversing work for each row to maintain consistency of appearance with section 2, which is worked flat.
Next 6 rounds dc into each st of previous round, ss to first st of current round to close, ch, reverse work.
Closing round (work a dc decrease into back loop only of next 2 sts of previous round) 4 times, cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through.
Finishing
Strengthen the ends by darning over them with the long tails of white yarn and the smallest needle you can thread your yarn through until you can no longer get the needle through the stitches. This means your DPNs won’t get through either. Weave in and trim all ends neatly.
How did it go?
I love to hear from anyone who uses one of my patterns to create a project, so do leave a comment below. Any feedback you give about the pattern will help me develop future patterns that are easy to follow and it’s always exciting to see in-progress or finished projects created using my patterns if you want to share what you made on Ravelry or Instagram. I'll see them automatically on Ravelry, if you add this pattern as the pattern you used and on Instagram you can tag @madewithloveandfibres.