Finger Knitting

When Finger Knitting Is Useful

We tend to think of needles whenever we hear the word “knitting,” but if you didn’t know that you can knit without needles at all, discovering how to finger knit can be a pleasant surprise. Finger knitting can come in handy:

• For teaching young children to knit: While many children have the motor skills necessary to learn simple knit stitches by the age of five or six, there are often children younger than that who are intrigued by knitting. You can show a four year old how to finger knit to keep himself entertained until he reaches an age where handling two sticks as well as string is easy.
• When needles aren’t allowed: Some airlines and courthouses don’t permit knitters to bring their needles to work on projects. This is usually done out of security concerns. What’s an anxious knitter to do? If you’re waiting on a flight and just have to get your knitting fix, you can always finger knit to keep your hands busy.
• For producing stockinette stitch: Save the fancy stitches for when you have needles handy; finger knitting traditionally produces a strip of stockinette.

Best Yarns for Knitting with Fingers

Not all yarns are created equal, as any knitter knows. For finger knitting, some yarns may work better than others for slipping through your hands. Favorable yarn choices for this activity include:

• Worsted weight or thicker
• Acrylic
• Wool
• Acrylic or wool mix

Yarns that wouldn’t work so well, especially for your hands’ comfort, are:

• Laceweight
• Mohair

How to Finger Knit

Follow these simple steps and you’ll soon know how to knit on those occasions when you can’t or don’t have your needles:

1. For right handed knitters, place tail of yarn between the thumb and index finger of your left hand, with the palm facing you. For lefties, do the same, but on your right hand. The tail end should be on the palm side with the yarn leading to the ball on the other side.
2. Cast on by bringing the working yarn over your index finger, behind the middle finger, over the ring finger and behind the pinkie finger. Now, starting at the pinkie, bring the yarn back to the index finger, alternating between fingers with the yarn going over the pinkie to start. Remember to make these wraps loosely so that your circulation doesn't get cut off.
3. Again, bring the yarn back down your fingers to the pinkie, placing the working yarn a little bit above the wraps you just made.
4. Beginning at the pinkie, pick up the loop of yarn that was made first (it’s the loop closest to the base of your fingers) and bring it up and over the second loop, lifting it over the tip of your finger. Do not remove the top loop.
5. Repeat this for each finger, including your index finger.
6. For subsequent rows, make loops starting from your index finger down to the pinkie and then repeat step 4.
7. When your knitting is the length you want, don’t create any more loops. After completing step 4 for all fingers, you should have one loop per finger now instead of two. Starting at your pinkie, lift that loop and place it on your ring finger. Lift the bottom loop of the ring finger over the top loop and off your finger. Place the ring finger’s remaining loop onto the middle finger; repeat this process on subsequent fingers until one loop remains on the index finger. Cut your yarn, leaving a tail and pass it through this last loop.

What to Make with Finger Knitting Strips

Use your full creativity to see what items you can make out of finger knitting strips. Once you join or sew the strips together, you can create:

• Scarves
• Blankets
• Headbands
• Bracelets
• Bookmarks
• Straps
• Handles

This is also a great way to get children to collaborate on a project. Everyone can create their own stockinette strip, in the color or colors of their choice. In no time, you’ll have enough strips for that blanket or scarf.

No Needles Necessary

Even though you wouldn’t be able to knit a Shetland shawl this way, finger knitting can still be an enjoyable way to indulge in a knitting hobby. Even without needles, you can still knit and make something beautiful.