Finger Knitting 101

Finger Knitting 101

Finger knitting makes a flat bit of knitting 4 stitches wide.  Similar to knitting on a peg knitting loom or knitting board.  You need no special equipment to finger knit - just your hands and a ball of yarn.  Chunky yarn works best, but worsted weight works too - especially with smaller fingers.

First, start out with a slip knot loop.

(Enjoy the GIF - it took me HOURS to get it to work!)

Place this loop on the little finger of your non-dominate hand.  I write with my right hand, so my non-dominate hand is my left - this is the hand where I put my knitting.


Wrap BEHIND your ring finger, in front of your middle finger, behind the index finger and around,

back behind the middle finger, in front of the ring finger, and behind the little finger and back to the front.  This will weave the yarn around your fingers to begin your base row of knitting.

Bring the end of the yarn across your fingers above where your fingers are wrapped (in my case from right to left).  My yarn here is pictured below the loops on my fingers - be sure yours is above.


Pull up the loop of yarn on the little finger and bring it over your finger - being sure to keep the yarn that's across your fingers still on your finger.

Do the same with the ring finger, middle and index finger.  Congrats!  You've just completed your first row of knitting.

Now, bring the yarn back across your hand from index finger to little finger (left to right) and repeat the looping.  The yarn is now leading from your index finger; be sure to start with the finger the yarn is coming from with your looping.

Continue back and forth across the four fingers to create the finger knit chain.

If you need to save it for later, just weave a marker or pen in and out of the stitches to hold your knitting.  I suggest putting the yarn and the marker in a cup to hold them upright so the stitches don't slip off.

Thanks to my daughter for being a hand model!

See Finger Knitting: Binding Off to find out how to end your work.

Look for the tutorial on how to weave your finger knitting into exciting projects - coasters, trivets, blankets... so many possibilities.

Class List Announcement 8/2014-12/2014 - Updated

New Classes with A2 Rec & Ed

Starting this fall I will be offering two classes through Ann Arbor's Recreation and Education Department.  Folk music and dance - including, but not limited to, play party dances, contra dances, English dance and long sword dancing.  Grades K-8. Also I will be offering a finger knitting class where students in 2nd - 8th grade will learn to finger knit and then weave their knit strands into squares to make coasters, blankets, pillow covers, or mini rugs. Keep a look out in the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed flyers as well as in their catalogue for fall.  (Both classes are currently scheduled for Ann Arbor Open School, finger knitting will also be at Wines.) Find me also at the Michigan Dance Heritage Fall Dance Weekend (Sept 19-21) for a Adult and Kid's Music class and some Felt Ball Fun! Classes at Ann Arbor Library This fall I will be continuing to teach some classes with the Ann Arbor Library.  Current dates and classes are: Crochet Beaded Bracelets October 18th, 1pm - 4pm  Mini Monster Stuffies October 25th, 1pm - 4pm NEW! - Felt Ball Fun November 9, 2014 - 1 - 2:30pm German Paper Stars December 13th - 1pm - 3pm New this year is a class with Saline Library Geometric Origami November 10th 3pm-4:30pm Chelsea Music Classes Music & dance classes for children and their adults are the last Wednesday of every even numbered month (except December) at 10:30am-11:15am.  Next classes are Wednesday, August 27th and October 29th. Hope to see you at a few of my classes this fall! Ann Arbor Rec & Ed Classes  Check out Rec & Ed's Classes listed by school.   http://aarecedafterschool.weebly.com/

Kool-Aid Dying

Kool-Aid Dying

Ever used Kool-Aid to dye wool?  It's a really fun project for kids and adults to do together.  You can even use a crocpot - or microwave, or stovetop.  Drink mix is food safe, so you can use your regular pots to dye instead of having a set aside dye pot used only for caustic dyes.  I like to use Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, but any undyed wool yarn should do nicely.

I use:
A good sized pot
Water
Splash of Vinegar
Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool
Kool-Aid in your choice of color(s) 

1) Either wind the yarn into a looped skein or into a loose ball or cake.  Fully saturate the yarn with water that is approximately the same temperature as the wool.  You don't want it to felt on you!

2) Once the yarn is fully wet all the way through (it may need to soak for a while) remove it from the pot and gently squeeze to get out the excess, again, be careful not to agitate it.  Fill the pot with water and a splash of vinegar and add in your packet(s) of kool-aid and stir.  Mix a couple of colors, or go for just one.

3) Submerge your yarn carefully as to not splash the color everywhere (ask me how I know!).  Gently bring the yarn and dye up to a simmer - not a boil.

4) Simmer your yarn in the dye bath until the water turns clear.  Yes, the water will be CLEAR once all the dye is soaked into your yarn.

• If you are using the microwave, zap the wool in 1 minute increments until the water turns clear

5) Let the yarn cool until it's cool enough to handle comfortably.  Rinse the yarn in the same temperature water as the yarn (you don't want to shock the yarn from hot to cold or vice versa or you'll end up with a felted mess).  Rinse and squeeze until the water is clear.

6) Gently press your dyed yarn between a couple of towels to get as much water out as possible.  Hang the skein to dry above a sink, or let the cake dry on a stack of dry towels or on a drying screen (keep turning every few hours to help it dry out).

Notes:

• If the yarn is wound into a looped skein it will have a fairly even dye.  When you wrap into a skein be sure to tie it in at least 4 places loosely, then twist and tuck one end into the other to keep it from becoming a mess in the water pot.
• If the yarn is in a cake or ball the center of the ball will be a lighter dyed color than the outside of the ball creating a variegated ball.

Play with using a couple pots of water and dying half the yarn skein (looped and tied but not twisted) in one pot and one end in the other.

The yarn below was dyed in a cake to create the variations in color, then knit into the sleeveless sweater.

Happy Dying!! :-D

New Blog...Lessons by Beth!

New Blog for Lessons by Beth

A blog of tutorials and ideas on music & crafts

Welcome to my new blog!  Here I'm hoping to create tutorials for both music and crafts.  Look for more coming in the next few weeks as I get things started.

Be sure to check out my website www.LessonsbyBeth.com, and like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/LessonsByBeth

Look for craft product recommendations for all ages and levels of crafters.