Book Review: Finger Knitting for Kids

With summer fast approaching in the Northern part of the world, I think we’re all looking for fun things to do with our kids. My daughter usually has day camps at least part of the summer (and even last year she did a couple virtually) but we have no plans at all this summer so I’m going to need to fill that time with something besides YouTube.

She already enjoys finger knitting but mostly just makes endless strands the don’t have much of a purpose. With the book Finger Knitting for Kids by Eriko Teranishi, she can find some fun ways to use those finger knit pieces to make accessories and gifts.

The book starts with a simple long, straight “scarf” as a practice project and shows several variations using different kinds of yarn. Other projects include a circle scarf made of interlocking chains, a braided scarf, traditional scrunchie and ribbons and flowers to add to ponytail holders.

The book also covers how to join strands together to make project like a wider scarf, a couple of hats, a bag, a pillow cover and a few other projects. The preview of the book on Amazon actually gives you a good idea of the look and feel of the book.

Once kids see these ideas they are sure to come up with their own projects, colors and styles they want to use to make things their own.

I’m definitely keeping this book handy for those “I’m bored” moments or for when she needs something quiet and calming to do. The vintage-style illustrations are cute and the projects are colorful and sure to draw kids in.

This book is a great way for kids to learn the basics of finger knitting or to give kids who already know the basics some ideas for what to do with all those strands.

About the book: 64 pages, paperback, 15 patterns. Published 2019 Tuttle Publishing, suggested retail price $10.99.

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Before there were true crime podcasts, there was Unsolved Mysteries. The show’s original run, from 1987 to 2002, introduced generations to the documentary style true crime format, complete with dramatic re-enactments. The show touched on all sorts of unexplained events, from theories about alien abduction and ghosts to more mundane missing persons cases.

It’s kind of a cult classic that’s been rebooted and re-invigorated several times, though the original is of course the best.

If you’re nostalgic for the olden days of crime television, you can knit yourself an Unsolved Mysteries sweater with the classic logo from the series on it.

Designed by Cecilia Calles, this boxy, cropped sweater uses stranded colorwork knit flat to make the logo. The body is worked from the top down flat, beginning with the back panel. The front is then picked up from the shoulders and worked flat with the logo added. Pieces are joined at the side seams so you can work the collar and the sleeves in the round, and tubular bind offs add a polished look.

The design is available in one size, but it would be pretty easy to modify to make a sweater to fit you. Or just add the chart to a plain sweater pattern that you like and that fits you for a bit of vintage true crime flair.

This version is worked in fingering weight yarn and uses four colors. It is rated for intermediate to advanced knitters because of the colorwork and bind off techniques. But I think it would be a lot of fun to knit and your true crime watching/listening buddies are sure to love it! (I would totally wear this for viewings of Only Murders in the Building, if I wasn’t wearing a Mabel Sweater, anyway!)

You can find the pattern at Cecilia’s Etsy shop, Weirding Module.

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