I am so thrilled for this series. For over a year, I've been wanting to find some good projects to do with the balls and balls of finger-knitting we have around the house. Once I taught my kids, they didn't want to stop, so we have a lot of it! If you haven't tried this with your kiddos, I highly encourage it. Its much easier to learn than knitting or crochet and the kids see results right away. I provide a
basic tutorial for finger knitting here or click the button below.
I really wanted the kids to be able to make something "big" with their finger knitting, not just make scarves. They wanted this too, but I wasn't happy with projects I found online. So why not design my own? I will be adding to this series over the next year, so keep coming back to see what's new!
PROJECT No. 1 - Woven Hula-Hoop Rug
PROJECT No. 2 - A Jingle Jangle Door Curtain
PROJECT No. 3 - A Chunky Throw Pillow
PROJECT No. 4 - A Ghost Garland
PROJECT No. 5 - A Holiday Wreath
BONUS PROJECT - A Tasseled Love Pillow
I have just discovered your site and I find this project so inspiring that I have to tell you so. I can just imagine so many ways to have fun creating a lovely rug with this method. You are so talented. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree you are so talented! Thank you for sharing your creativity with all of us.
ReplyDeleteHermosos trabajos!!! GRACIAS POR COMPARTIRLOS!! Saludos desde España <3
ReplyDeleteWhere are the n°4 and n°5 projects?
ReplyDeleteThey are coming! Keep coming back to check. I've been adding one about every month or so!
DeleteCool! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello Anne! I am a 13 year old girl and I love to craft! I was finger crocheting a chain, and thought... What can I do with it? I came up with the idea of finger crocheting it into a rug! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FeEEWiA_kY Here you can see how you chain and make a single stitch/single crochet.
ReplyDeleteI will give you some directions for the rug:
1. Make a really long finger knitted strand/chain.
2. Make 2 chains with that strand.
3. Make 6 single stitches in the first chain/second chain from your finger.
4. Make 2 single stitches in every single stitch made for a total of 12 stitches.
5. *Make 2 single stitches in the first stitch, 1 in the next* repeat for a total of 18 stitches.
6. *Make 2 single stitches in the first stitch, 1 in the next 2* repeat for a total of 24 stitches.
7-?. Repeat this system, so you will get:
2 in each
2 in first, 1 in second
2 in first, 1 in next 2
2 in first, 1 in next 3
2 in first, 1 in next 4
etc...
Hope you will add it to your list! :)
Caitlin. Thanks so much for your interest in the blog and the finger knitting projects. I'm so thrilled you provided these instructions. Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time picturing exactly what you are describing below. Is there any way you can send me photos for each step? My email is in the side bar. If I think it will work for the blog, and if you are willing, I will take tutorial photos building your project and give you credit on the blog. Do you have a blog you would like me to link to? Let me know if you're interested in that. So happy happy to hear about crafting 13 year olds!!
DeleteWarmly,
Anne Weil
Hello! I am going to try to do it! I am not sure if it will work, cause I don't have a camera that works really well, but I am trying!
DeleteI will send you the photos in a week or 2, cause I am really buzzy with school... Unfortunately, I don't have a blog. But if you would like to see who I am, just click this link and skip to 1:30 :) You will also see me doing my hobby! Playing harp ;P
Beautiful harp Caitlin. I look forward to seeing what you send me! Yes, focus on finishing up school!
Deleteyoutube.com/watch?v=fI-41CjtKfU
ReplyDeletewhat happened to the other 2 projects?? am curious as I am looking for new ideas...
ReplyDeleteRose. Thanks so much for commenting. They're coming! This summer has turned crazier than I ever imagined and I haven't been able to publish them on the schedule that I originally anticipated. There are some great ones coming up, though!
DeleteMy 9 year old daughter learnt herself finger knitting out of a book and has got loads of strands.. she googled what to do with them and landed right on your page! She is now an even happier 9 year old knowing what she can do with them and very proud with herself! I am more of a material and sewing maching type of crafter... so thanks for more inspiration from a crafty family!
ReplyDeleteHi! I am a 13 year old girl and I have been finger knitting for a few years now, but I have always wanted to make something more than just a scarf. I was trying to make a blanket by lining up many chains and stitching them together, but I still don't know how I could exactly do that. How did you stitch together the chains on the pillow you made?
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm so glad you left a comment! If you click on the finger knit pillow button, you can find the link to the tutorial on Design*Sponge. I sewed the strands to the canvas of the pillow with needle and thread. You could do a blanket this way by sewing the strands to a cotton fabric in the same way. Or, you could try weaving the strands. I've been meaning to do a tutorial for this soon, so keep your eye out. Keep making!
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ReplyDeleteHaving a mother who knitted everything from sports sweaters(on consignment) to all our sweaters, etc. I never heard of finger knitting until my four year old granddaughter taught me. I taught her how to knit with needles and she taught me to use my fingers! I still do it with some of my crafts I sell. Provides an unique touch to my jewelry and knick-knacks. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI've just discovered you through designmom and share your fingerknitting enthusiastism! We, too have made wreaths, although teeny for the tree! It looks like my knitters would have a ball with your team! Happy knitting and holidays!
ReplyDeleteCan't you just wrap the finger knitting around the wreath without using wire?
ReplyDeleteYou can, although I liked the additional shape that the wire added. It kept an additional tension without it feeling too stretched out. I also think the wire will make the wreath last longer and keep the finger knitting looking perky! Happy Holidays!
DeleteIf you use wool yarn for finger weaving you can felt it. It makes a tight cord that probably has a thousand uses.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Kim. It would make amazing chunky yarn to knit with, I think. Then, I'll just need to find needles big enough!
DeleteI make finger knitting with a puffy, soft baby yarn. When it's done, wrap it around the Christmas tree and it looks like snow! I made one this year that I strung paper snowflakes on and hung across my classroom. Other than garlands I never know what to use them for, though. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. The garland across your classroom sounds lovely.
DeleteI haven't finger knitted in years! but when i did, i used them for garlands- i have a multi colored one (white, green & red) that i put on the xmas tree every year. and this year, i took my solid red and white ones, looped them together similar to a crochet single stitch, and draped them over my blinds. They are still there! Your blog has inspired me to find all my old yarn, and teach my 8 year old to finger knit.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment. I am so excited that your 8 year old will be diving in to it, too!
DeleteI remember finger knitting as a kid and I had completely forgotten about it. What a fun project! The 5 projects you posted are absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteJustKraftThis is Wonderful work
ReplyDeleteOnly one question....where do you find the time? Where do all blogger moms find the time to be inspired, create, and then blog (not to mention photograph)about "it." I am in awe...I'm a mother of three, and feel overwhelmed by just the normal day to day routine.
ReplyDeleteNiCaam
Hi! Thanks for asking such a great question. It is very difficult to find the time. I do find that other things suffer as I try to get posts done. My house is less clean, my kids eat less well, the laundry takes longer to get done, I get less sleep, I tend to be grumpier, I don't volunteer at the kids schools as much as I'd like, etc.. That is why there tends to be an ebb and flow of posts and projects, too. Sometimes, I just have to back off and say that it is better to spend time with the kids this weekend. I think it's important to remember that every blog you read, every snapshot of ideal bloggy life has so much more that you don't see. I talk about it in these posts as a start:
Deletehttp://www.flaxandtwine.com/2013/03/my-reality.html
http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2011/07/capturing-moment.html
http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2012/04/anxiety-and-gratitude.html
I try to talk about how difficult it can be sometimes, but I also love making things look lovely. I think it soothes my own sense of being overwhelmed at home. It is indeed calming to look at beautiful photos of my own work. I hope this answers some of your questions!