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Learn How to Knit without Looking, Just Like Nicholas Hoult

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nicholas hoult knittingMuch to my geeky husband’s chagrin, I’m not at all interested in the new “Mad Max” movie, and I hadn’t been paying attention to any of the press surrounding it until I saw this story in which actor Nicholas Hoult declares his knitting prowess by saying he doesn’t even have to look when he knits any more.

Hoult told a German magazine that costar Charlize Theron taught him how to knit.

“There are even a few photos of me in leather pants and war paint, knitting. I’d get really mad if I lost my place,” he said. “These days, I don’t even have to look down anymore. By the end of the year I’d made some knitted Christmas presents. And: I was much better than Tom Hardy,” another star in the movie.

Apparently, he knit before, as this story from 2013 explains, but he says he gave it up though he was “obsessed” for a time. Welcome back, sir.

If you want to knit as well as Hoult, it’s not really that difficult to knit simple things without looking. Elizabeth Zimmermann put it better than I ever could in her book, Knitting Around, so I’ll let her explain:

What? You can’t knit in the dark?

Stuff and nonsense; anybody can. Shut your eyes. Knit one stitch. Open your eyes and look at the stitch; it’s all right. Shut your eyes and knit two stitches. Open them. Shut them. Knit three stitches. Falling off a log is no comparison.

And once you can knit without paying much attention, you can knit while watching TV and movies. Though maybe not “Mad Max.” I hear it’s pretty intense.

Do you look at what you’re doing when you knit? Have any tips for knitting without looking?

[Photo via Xpose.ie]

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

 

Comments

  1. every since my Dad said Grandma didn’t watch I started working on it, now I shut my eyes and rest them while I knit, best of both worlds. Unless I’m doing lace work, that iis..

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.