CraftSanity on TV: Spool Knitting For You And The Kids

I’ve been spool knitting up a storm this week. I love it because it’s an easy way to make knitted cording to coil into decorative trims, flowers broaches, coasters, bowls, chair pads, hats, totes, little critters and whatever else you can think of. And even though I know how to knit I-cord on two needles, I never seem to tire of my spool knitters.

This week I made a couple knitters out of cardboard tubes to teach my daughters and demonstrate the process on WZZM’s “Take Five & Company” this morning. (Scroll down for directions. Please let me know if I need to clarify anything.)

Here’s what you need to make and use your own basic spool knitter:
Toilet paper tube
4 popsicle sticks
Craft glue (I used Elmer’s all purpose glue.)
3 or 4 rubber bands
8 clothespins
Small ball of yarn

1) Glue a popsicle stick to the outside of the cardboard tube, with the top inch of the stick sticking up above the top of the tube. Use clothespins to hold the stick in place while the glue dries. Repeat this process to glue the second stick to the outside of the tube across from the first stick. Evenly space the third and four sticks opposite each other on the outside of the tube between the first and second stick. Glue in place. Use more clothespins and a few rubber bands to hold sticks in place until the glue dries.

2) To begin knitting, feed one end of yarn down through the center of the tube and hold or tape it to the side of the tube. With your other hand, wind the yarn counter clockwise around each popsicle stick peg once.

3) Begin the first round by holding the yarn in front of the first peg above the wrapped loop. Pull the bottom loop up, above the top yarn and over the peg. This will create one loop on the peg. Move on to the next peg and repeat this stitch around the circle until you cord reaches the desired length.

4) To finish the cord, cut the yarn about 6″ from your work and thread the end onto a yarn needle. Then thread the needle through each loop and before removing them from the knitter. Pull tight and knot to secure. Weave in ends.

The possibilities of what can be made with knitted cord are endless. This is is a basic flower broach that I made yesterday.

Below is a mix of handmade and store-bought spool knitters. My favorite purchased knitter is the pink Wonder Knitter by Clover (Below next to the toilet paper tube knitter.) I like it because it’s fast and super easy to use.

This is “Sally,” (left) the silly knitter I made Abby for her birthday. Almost anything with a hole through the center can be made into a knitter, so feel free to get creative with this. If you want to stick with tradition, ask grandma for an old wooden spool and pound 4 evenly spaced nails around the top and get stitching!

To find out more about Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably’s upcoming West Michigan visit, click here.