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.

Next Pattern:

Santa and Saint Nicholas generally get all the good press, but Central European kids know you don’t want to just be good so you get presents from St. Nicholas; you also want to avoid the ire of Krampus. (He’s depicted as a human-like figure with horns and usually hairy or furry who gives birch rods instead of gifts to kids who are bad.)

If you’re the type to embrace the naughty side (or you just want to scare the children into good behavior over the holidays), maybe you’ll want to knit a Krampus sweater.

This one, from Sofie Amalie Laulund, is a top down circular yoke sweater with Krampus faces at the top and cavorting Krampuses further down the body, with some traditional Scandinavian snowflakes thrown in for fun.

Because of the large motifs there’s not a lot of room for adjusting the fit, but it is available in five sizes (the Ravelry page doesn’t say what the sizing is, and it says its worked with no ease but the photo looks like the sweater has a bit of positive ease, so if you decide to make this one just check the measurements and your own comfort level for ease when picking a size).

It also uses five colors, but there’s very little red and brown so you can probably use scrap yarn for those parts. It calls for DK weight yarn. You’ll want a background color that helps the creatures stand out. You could also work the snowflake bands in different colors if you want to mix it up.

The pattern is available in both English and Danish, and you can find it on Ravelry. This is the designer’s first pattern, which kudos to them because it’s such an ambitious (and fun!) project I’m happy to add to my collection of whimsy-filled knits.

[Photo: Sofie Amalie Laulund]

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