Did you know there's a way of knitting which requires no needles? Finger knitting is a really popular trend amongst knitters, and it's an ideal alternative if you don't have the right needles or if you're knitting with young children who might take someone's eye out with a needle!
You can create a whole host of things with finger knitting, from blanketsto scarfs as well as hats and key rings.
All you need to get started is some yarn of your choice, a pair of busy fingers and some scissors and you're ready to get stuck in.
Simple finger knitting technique
Setting up the weave
Instead of casting onto your needles like you would with normal knitting, you need to cast on to your hand with finger knitting.
- Start by holding the yarn tightly between your thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand. Leave a few inches of yarn across your palm and leave your palm faced up towards you.
- Take the longer end of the yarn (that should be behind your hand) and weave behind your index finger, over your middle finger, behind your ring finger and over your little finger fairly tightly before repeating the weave in the opposite direction (weaving under your little finger, over your ring finger, under your middle finger and around your index finger).
- Once you've got two loops of yarn around each finger, you're ready to begin the knitting part.
Finger knitting
- Take the bottom loop of yarn on your index finger and pull it up, over and off the end of your index finger so that the bottom loop is now behind your index finger and repeat with the rest of the fingers until you only have one looped wrapped around each finger.
- Use your free hand to reposition the yarn, ensuring the loops wrapped around your fingers are pulled down close to the bottom of your fingers.
- Repeat the weave again so that you have two loops around each finger. Then pull up the bottom loop as you did before on each finger before repositioning again. Now all you need to do is keep weaving, pulling up loops and repositioning for as long as you like.
A rope like yarn should begin to form at the back of your hand and once you're happy with the length, you can stop weaving.
Finishing off
- When you're ready to cast off, take the remaining loop on your index finger and lift it up and onto your middle finger, then take the bottom loop on your middle finger and flip it onto the back of your hand.
- Repeat this until you have one single loop on your little finger. Carefully slip the loop off the end of your little finger and cut the yarn a few inches away from the loop before pulling this piece of yarn through the loop and giving it a tug to tighten it.
- Grab the other end of the yarn (that you trapped between your index finger and thumb at the beginning) and give this a tug too. You may want to tie a knot at this end too.
Need a bit more of a visual guide? Here's a how to video for you to follow!
Now you've mastered the basic technique, you can begin to have a go at making something you can use.
How to finger knit a blanket
You can never have enough cosy blankets for those cold nights. We love how soft and thick this blanket looks so comfy!
Although we've given you the instructions for the basic finger knitting technique, there are other ways you can knit without needles and this blanket uses a knot method which is demonstrated in this video.
How to finger knit a scarf
We love this festive red finger knit scarf, ideal for the Christmassy season.
Of course, you can keep the scarf thinner if you like, but on this video, you can see how to attach two pieces of finger knitting together to make a thicker looking effect or to turn it into more of a snood.
How to finger knit a hat
It might sound a little more complicated, but you can make a really cute beanie hat with a finger knit.
We love this gorgeous green one that uses a simple connecting technique to bring it all together.