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Would You Use Any of These Knitting Needle Alternatives?

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knitting on a large PVC pipeI came across this fun article at All Free Knitting where they asked readers to share stories about knitting with things other than knitting needles. They came up with an impressive list of knitting needle alternatives, from chopsticks to bicycle spokes (seriously, they use them in Peru).

Broomsticks, dowels and PVC pipe are mentioned for knitting big, while nails, toothpicks and even sewing needles (!) have been used to knit small.

I’ll have to admit I have considered knitting with my husband’s old drumsticks before.

Have you ever used any of these alternatives, or something else? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Judy Allen via All Free Knitting.]

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Comments

  1. My grandmother used to do something called “broomstick lace”, and my grandfather pointed a piece of a discarded broom handle for her.

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]