This project is both old and new. Certainly spool knitting has been around for many years. My grandmother taught me how to do this when I was about 7 years old. It's still around, only by different names--French Knitting among them. You can buy the spools in toy stores or in some yarn stores, or you can make your own using an old wooden spool from a spool of thread and four tiny nails. The yarn we used to use was usually four-ply knitting worsted to make what today is referred to as an "I" cord. Today's project was made using the same old technique I learned as a child, but instead of using knitting worsted, I used some of the pretty metallic cording that is now available. Instead of making hot pads or chair seats, I made bracelets and necklaces. And I added beads as I went. Different cords, different beads will obviously give different results. Experimenting is the name of the game.
Materials:
Knitting Nancy or wooden spool w/4 nails
cording
beads
double-pointed knitting needle or a long nail for lifting stitches*
*If you buy a Knitting Nancy, it comes with the tool required.
NOTE: The hole in the center of the spool must be large enough to accommodate the thread and four beads. If it is not, you may have to drill the hole larger or use smaller beads.
Basic Stitch
1. Drop one end of the cord down through the hole in the center of the spool so several inches hang out of the bottom. "Thread" the spool by wrapping the cord around one of the nails or prongs, wrapping from left to right. When you come around the first nail, the cord will be on the inside of the nails. Continue on to the next nail to the left, and again wrap the cord around in the same manner, going from left to right. When you come back to the first prong, you will be ready for your first stitch (figure A).
2. Bring the cord in front of the nail and, holding it slightly to the left of the nail, use the needle, nail or tool to lift the first bottom strand of cording over this second strand (figure B). First stitch is complete!
3. Turn the spool slightly to the right so the second nail is in front of you, and repeat the procedure of bringing the cord in front of the nail and lifting the first strand over this second one (figure C). Continue around and around and around.
NOTE: After taking each stitch, give a slight tug on the end of the cord that is coming out of the bottom to tighten the stitches.
4. To finish off, take a stitch as usual; then lift that stitch off the nail and place it on top of the stitch on the nail to the left. Lift the bottom stitch over the top one (figure D). Lift the stitch that remains off of the nail and place it on the nail to the left. Continue until you have just the stitch left on the last nail.
5. Cut the cord, and after pulling the stitch up and off of the nail, pull the end of the yarn through the loop and pull tight to secure. Done!
Knitting With Beads
NOTE: It will help tremendously if you number the nails/prongs before starting.
1. Before threading the spool, thread the beads onto the cording. The number of beads to use depends on how long a strand you will be making. You can experiment by putting on a number of beads and knitting several rounds; then pull the cord out to see how many beads it took to get what distance. Or you can simply thread many many many beads on the cord, and if you end up with more than you need, you can slide them off the other end when you are finished. I started with 120 beads for my bracelet.
2. Drop the end of the cord down through the hole in the spool as directed above, and thread the spool by wrapping the nails/prongs as described, wrapping in numerical sequence 1, 2, 3, 4.
1st ROUND
Knit one round as described above.
2nd ROUND
Knit stitch #1
Slide bead up
Knit stitch #2
Knit stitch #3
Slide a bead up (figure E)
Knit stitch #4
3rd ROUND
Knit stitch #1
Knit stitch #2
Slide a bead up
Knit stitch #3
Knit stitch #4
Slide a bead up
3. Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until your piece is the desired length. Finish off as described.
4. To join ends either, stitch together or add a bead to one end and crochet a loop at the other. Commercial jewelry findings can also be used.
Making Your Own Spool
If you cannot find a spool or want one with a larger hole, you can improvise. I make a spool by using the heavy plastic center from a large roll of ribbon. An even larger one can be made by gluing two squares of 1/2-inch-thick foam board together and cutting a hole in the center. On top of the foam I put a piece of heavy cardboard with a matching hole. The cardboard kept the nails from slipping about.
)
)
)
)
)
)