What Is Finger Knitting?

Finger knitting is a craft very similar to basic knitting that most people are familiar with, but it consists of using fingers instead of needles. It is a great way for beginners to learn how to accomplish this art, and make some unique works of art in the process. It consists of using yarn, as many colors as wanted, and wrapping it around the fingers to form patterns. Once the main patterns are formed, they are then removed from the appendages and the steps are repeated until the entire project is completed.

Begin this process by trapping the end of the yarn, or pieces of yarn, with the thumb or by pressing down onto a table or workbench. This simply allows the yarn to be started without it becoming loose and possibly ruining the project before it is even started. Wrap the yarn in a weaving pattern by going onto the inside of the pointer finger to the outside of the middle finger, to the inside of the ring finger, then back to the outside of the pinky. Work back towards the pointer finger in exactly the opposite way in which the first row was done, which will completely wrap the four main fingers of the hand. Repeat this process one more time to form the first row.

To form the actual tight pattern of the finger knitting project, the loops must now be removed from the fingers. Begin at the pinky and slowly work each section off over the tips until the entire section is loose. Pull this together tightly and continue on with another row. If the thickness is not correct, simply loop around the fingers more than twice before removing it from the fingers and pulling it tight. Continue repeating these steps until the length that is desired is reached.

Once the project is completed, the finger knitting rows will have to be tied off in order to prevent it from unraveling. This is done on the last set of loops by removing the one around the pinky and placing it on top of the loop on the ring finger. Work it around the secured loop until it is below the row and then push the entire loop up through the existing one on the ring finger. Continue this process all the way down the hand, making each loop go through the previous one. When the pointer finger is removed, simply pull the knot as tight as possible and the project is done.

Of course, the steps above are a simple finger knitting project that allows the person accomplishing it to learn how to effectively form the rows. It is possible from here to fold the rows over onto the previous rows, linking them to form a blanket or sweater. This is accomplished by leaving the rows slightly loose and then weaving the new set of rows into the previous ones. As with any type of knitting project, finger knitting can be easy or complicated, depending upon the skill level of the person doing the project.