This is a very fun project and I love my wooden knitting needles for making scarves.
One of my nieces was watching me knit a scarf, and was interested in learning to knit. We improvised with a pair of pencils that she wrapped with electrical tape at the ends. She did really good so I wanted to learn how to teach her better. I found this site, Maggie’s Rags. She suggested that children learn finger knitting first, and also recommended to start with “good quality worsted weight wool yarn”, and wooden needles.
Maggie then gave a brief description of how to make a pair of wooden needles. I have a friend that made her own wooden needles, and so I wanted to try it, too. And I thought it would be a really fun project to do with my 7yo niece.
So, I went to Joann’s and wandered around, looking for the right items.
Here is a photo of all the things I ended up buying to use to make the wooden needles:
The items as listed:
I really had to look at all the beads to find some that had bigger sized holes. I had originally selected a larger 5/8″ dowel, but the holes were far too small and I knew it would take a lot of sanding to make the dowel small enough, so I opted for the 3/8″ dowels.
Once I got home, I used the sharpener to make a point on one of the dowels. I then used the sandpaper block (you could use any kind of fine sandpaper but that was the only sandpaper I could find at Joann’s) to smooth the rough edges just made by the sharpener, and to dull the point. I also sanded any other rough spots on the dowel.
Next, I chose the matching beads I wanted to use. The hole was much too small to fit over the unpointed end of the dowel, so I began sanding it carefully on the last 1/2″ or so of the dowel. I would sand a while, then try the bead. It took several tries to finally have the dowel sanded down narrow enough to push the bead on. I made sure the fit was tight, as I did not want to have to bother with gluing the dowel on.
Okay, here’s the finished product:
The needles, I LOVE the beads!
And here is the scarf I made using these same needles.
Have you ever made your own knitting needles?
Oh how ingenious! I love this.
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Mrs. Money: Thanks! I had fun making them. I still have several dowels left and lots of pretty beads left over. I like having them just in case someone needs a pair. 🙂
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I can’t wait to try this!
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Wifeish: Let me know if you try it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Mrs. A
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Cool project. Now if I just learned to knit! 🙂
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Stephanie: It’s not very hard to do at all! I taught myself to knit about four years ago. I was a crocheter before that, and it was impossible for me to learn “regular” knitting which I guess they call English style. I am a continental knitter because it was more natural for me to hold the needles and yarn in a way that I was accustomed due to crocheting all those years (since I was five years old!). Thank you for visiting and commenting! Mrs. A
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