Condo Knitting: Knitting with Two Different Size Needles

Condo knitting is simply knitting with one needle that is the right size for the yarn that you are working with and one needle that's larger. Because of the different needle sizes, you get an easy-to-make fabric that almost feels like lace.

The larger needle creates gaps in the knitting that make the fabric more breathable but still warm and cozy. The smaller needle, on the other hand, creates the tighter rows in between that give the fabric a sort of structure. It's basically like knitting lace that doesn't droop as much and is way easier. Plus, the extra space in the alternating rows gives condo knitted fabric a certain stretchiness.

1. Any weight yarn
2. One needle appropriate for the yarn's weight
3. One needle larger than appropriate for the yarn's weight

Step 1: Using any cast on method, cast on any number of stitches onto the smaller needle.

You can cast on with either needle, but we recommend using the smaller needle in order to get stronger, more secure edging.

Step 2: Using the larger needle, knit across, off the smaller needle.

Step 3: Turn your work and knit across, off the larger needle.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until your project is complete. Bind off.

Note: We recommend binding off with the smaller needle, although it's not necessary. Using the smaller needle will give you a tighter edge, but your best choice is probably to bind off with whichever needle you used to cast on.

There are certain patterns out there that are specifically made for condo knitting, but you can also convert pretty much any pattern for this. Just bear in mind that the size of the finished product will be noticeably larger than what the pattern describes because of the extra space in the rows that are knit with the larger needle.

If you're more of a fan of knitting in the round and don't feel like picking up the straight knitting needles for this one, condo knitting will be a little bit more complicated.

Circular Knitting Needles

You can accomplish knitting in the round condo-style with either two differently-sized sets of circular knitting needles (of the same length) or a set of interchangeable knitting needles. Below are the instructions for knitting a garter stitch tube condo-style in the round. You may cast on whatever number of stitches you would like for your pattern or practice.

Round 1: Using smaller needles, k around.
Round 2: Switch to larger needles (or exchange your smaller needle tips for larger ones if using interchangeable needles). P around.
Round 3: Switch to smaller needles (or exchange your larger needle tips for smaller ones if using interchangeable needles). K around.

Rep rounds 2 and 3.

Double-Pointed Knitting Needles

The same concept applies here: you need one set of four or more smaller DPNs, and one set of four or more larger DPNs. Below are the instructions for knitting a garter stitch tube condo-style in the round. You may cast on whatever number of stitches you would like for your pattern or practice.

Round 1: Using your smaller set of DPNs, K around.
Round 2: Switch to larger set of DPNs. P around.
Round 3: Switch to smaller set of DPNs. K around.

Rep rounds 2 and 3.

Make sure that when you move on to the second needle in round 2, you're putting to the side the smaller needle that you just knit off of, rather than simply using it to purl the next needle. You must use the second of your larger needles to knit off the second smaller needle and set aside all of the used smaller needles for the third round. If all of your DPNs are the same color, this can get a bit complicated (especially with mindless knitting), so we highly recommend that your first set of DPNs be a very different color than your second set to help you keep track.