Easy Finger Knitting How-To Directions

Learn to finger knit with these clear photos and instructions. Finger knitting is a wonderful craft for kids because it requires no tools except for your hands. Create beautiful knit scarfs, belts, purse straps and headbands using these easy to follow instructions for finger knitting. Here's how to get started:

• Supplies Needed: Fluffy yarn, your hands.
• Step 1: Cast On Start with a ball of yarn. Make a slipknot and secure on thumb. With palm facing front, begin looping yarn from the back of the hand behind index finger around to palm side and back then move on to middle finger, ring and pinkie fingers.
• Step 2: Add the Second Row of Yarn Once you reach the pinkie, wrap yarn around it twice and continue back across the fingers again until you have two loops on each of the four fingers. Secure end of yarn on thumb with a simple half hitch loop.
• Step 3: Begin Knitting To begin finger knitting, lift bottom loop on pinkie finger up and over top loop and pull to back side of finger. Continue with the other three fingers until there is a single loop on each. Note: On index finger, be sure to work with the set of loops closest to the thumb.
• Step 4: Add Another Row of Yarn Add another row of yarn, looping around each finger from the back to the front until each finger again has two loops. At this point, the last loop is on the pinkie with the ball of yarn coming away from it. Knit as before, starting with the index finger and pulling bottom loops over top loops. Continue adding a row of yarn and knitting back and forth across the fingers until the desired length is achieved. Once you've knitted a few rows, it is safe to drop the starter loop of yarn being held on the thumb as knitting won't unravel from that end.
• Step 5: How to Stop Temporarily If you need to take a break, you can easily remove the knitting from the fingers by pushing a pencil, paintbrush or chopstick through the loops and then lifting them off. Just set knitting aside. When ready to begin knitting again, simply slip your fingers back through each of the loops and remove pencil.
• Step 6: Cast Off When finished knitting, cut or break yarn leaving about a 10" long tail. Take the end of the yarn and push it through the loop nearest the end, then loop lift loop off finger. Repeat for each of the other loops. Gently adjust tension and length, and avoid pulling too tightly unless you would like the knitting to come to a point (when planning to add puff ball). Tie a final knot at the last loop. On starting end, tie off beginning length of yarn that had been held in place on thumb. At each end, take the long end of yarn and work it back up through the knitting to hide, trimming off if necessary.
• Step 7: Finishing Touches If desired, you can add a puffed finished end. Cut 10 or 12 lengths of yarn (or more, depending on bulk) about 6" long. Tightly tie together in the center, and then tie onto end of scarf.

Easy Craft for Kids Top photo shows Parker finger knitting. She usually finger knits scarfs by combining two contrasting textures with related colors to create a slightly looser, fluffier look. The end result is a beautiful finger knit scarf that is very soft with wonderful texture. (Parker is Kyle's eldest daughter.)

Tip: Using Your Thumb Finger knitting can be done with or without the thumb, but using just index, middle, ring and pinkie fingers will create a narrower finished piece.

Tip: Adjusting the Tension If you keep your fingers close together, you will achieve a tighter knit. If you keep your fingers spread widely, it will recreate a more open knit. The thumb can be included in the pattern if you would like a wider finished product.

Tip: Creating a Wider Scarf To make a wider scarf, finger knit two or three sections of equal lengths, and then use a crochet hook or large kid's plastic embroidery needle to stitch together. If you alternate colors you can create a striking striped pattern.

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If you like creating cool gifts and functional art, then be sure to visit these helpful pages.

• Click on Wholesale Craft Supplies for our complete selection of craft pill boxes, business card cases, bookmark hooks, box frames and more.
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Finger knitting is an excellent way to improve hand-eye coordination.