Knitting

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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.]

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?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]