Have you seen those stunning chunky knit blankets that are thrown onto a chair, bed, or couch, and thought about how stunning and trendy it looks?
If you are like me, I am always looking for things I can throw about my house to make it look trendy, homey, and cozy.
In this article, I will teach you the basics of finger knitting with chunky yarn to show you how you can make these stunning home decor pieces without breaking the bank!
What Is Finger Knitting?
Finger knitting is the act of casting thread to knit, but instead of using the traditional needles, you use your hands and fingers. Finger knitting is an extremely easy technique to learn, and anyone, young or old, can learn how to do it, it is much easier and is a quicker way to make things such as hats, blankets, and scarves than the traditional way of knitting.
Typically when finger knitting, you will use a heavy gauge yarn, have you ever seen those super chunky soft blankets on Instagram or Pinterest with the huge yarn, well, finger knitting is the exact technique you would use to achieve that super-chunky knit look!
What Will I Need To Start Finger Knitting?
Here is probably the best thing about using the finger knitting technique, all you need is the yarn. That’s it! Because the only other tool you need is your fingers and hands! The only other thing you really may need is a good pair of scissors when you need to cut the yarn when you are finished with a row or want to change the colors of finger knitting yarn while in the middle of a specific project.
Some of our favorite finger knitting yarn:
The other item you may need is a ruler or a fabric measuring tape. That way, you can have equal parts to your projects, it just gives it an even more professional feel. I love an easy project that you do not need to spend a ton of money on to get a fantastic result! Just take your time, and you will be turning out stunning finger knitting projects in no time at all!
What Type Of Yarn Is Best For Finger Knitting?
Depending on the type of project you are wanting to DIY, there are different types of yarn that you will be wanting to purchase, most of them being heavier gauge finger knitting yarn than when you would be traditionally knitting using needles. There are many different types of yarn on the market, including:
- Acrylic
- Silk
- Wool
- Cashmere
- Cotton
I would suggest as a beginner to go into an actual crafting store or fabric store to actually feel and see the yarn and see if it would be suitable for your specific needs, it is super difficult to tell online if a type of yarn is good quality or light vs. heavy.
There are also a lot of different sizes or gauges of yarn to choose from too, which means the thickness of the yarn. So once again, it is way easier to make your way down to an actual location to check all of the different types of yarns!
The Only Knot You Need To Learn: Slip Knot
The only knot that you would need to learn is the basic slip knot, the slip knot is used in all knitting and crocheting projects. The slip knot is the start of your project, so you will only be tying this knot one time for most of your chunky knit projects, keep reading on, and I will go into detail about just exactly how simple it is to tie this knot and get you started on your first finger knitting project!
Instructions On How To Finger Knit: Beginners Course
Ok, let’s dive in! It is way easier than it seems, I promise! Now let’s go through the steps to get you on your way. To begin, I am using a sizeable chunky finger knitting yarn from yarn bee in the eternal bliss collection, and the color I’m using is olive. These can be found at the Hobby Lobby and are best picked up when they are on sale! Which happens a few times a year. Here is a link to the yarn I am using for this product!
To begin, we are going to start with a slip knot, this is also the first loop that will determine how big we want our loops to actually be. Figure that one to two inches work very well.
To make the slip knot take the long end of the yarn and place it over the yarn with the shorter end, take the longer end, put it through the loop, and pull it through, making sure it is nice and secure, that right there is your first knitting stitch!
Next, pinch through the center of the first loop we made (the slip knot), then pull the yarn through, creating a second loop, we are making our first knitting chain!
In general, this is how you will start off each and everyone one of your finger knitting projects. It is just learning how to crochet but with your fingers instead of using knitting needles or crochet hooks.
What Can Be Finger Knitted? More Projects, Please!
So what all can be finger knitted? So much! One of the most popular you may find are the chunky finger knitted blankets that just give off such a fantastic cozy, and warm vibe, they also make amazing gifts, and everyone loves a throw blanket! You can also create hats and scarves, and with the cool temperatures we are already seeing here in the Midwest, I think I may be looking into making some of these myself!
You can even make super adorable animal beds! So your furry companion can relax in style right beside you! You can make toss pillows, headbands, and so much more! The best thing about finger knitting is the creativity is endless. It is so fun to make these as gifts and have others enjoy your creativity and hard work.
Depending on the type of project you want to make as your first finger knitting project, you may be thinking to yourself how much finger knitting yarn would I need to buy? Because if you are like me, the last thing I want to do is start a project and then end up not having the correct amount of materials halfway through!
Yarn is sold by the skein, ball, or hank. When using a chunky knit yarn, you will mainly be dealing with a skein of yarn. From my personal research, a skein of yarn comes in a multitude of sizes depending on the thickness and size of the yarn you are wanting to use.
One of my best rules of thumb is for a beginner, it is best to start with a simple throw blanket, and typically with a simple throw blanket, I would say anywhere from 6 to 8 skeins would be sufficient. It’s the most simple of the projects, it is beginner-friendly, and if you buy the 6 to 8 skeins of yarn, you willl not run out of materials in the middle of your project!
And while you learning your new method of crocheting, why not get the kids involved as well? Here is an article with some amazing yarn crafting ideas that your kids will love and get you all in the creative spirit!
Finger Knitting With Chucky Yarn 101 Wrap-Up
To wrap up our quick lesson here today, when finger knitting with chunky yarn, there are a few factors that are at play when you are trying to pick out the perfect type of yarn for your project, how much of it you will need and even the thickness of the yarn since there is a multitude of different thicknesses and yarn finishes!
The best thing to do when you are a beginner would be to head over to your local craft store, to see exactly what you would be comfortable working with and what would fit the style of the project you want to create!
Remember, this is a totally beginner-friendly hobby! Anyone young and older can learn how to finger knit and express their creativity. There are so many different types of projects that you can choose from that will keep those creative juices flowing, and if you have knitted or crocheted in the past, this would be super easy to learn for you!
Lauren loves a good crafting project. Whether refinishing a coffee table or playing around with cutting machines or macrame, she isn’t afraid to give it a go!
As a mom and wife, Lauren knows time management when crafting projects is a must! That’s why you can count on her for her easy-to-follow guides and pro tips for making your projects flow flawlessly.
No matter what creative aspect Lauren has dabbled in most, that’s why we love her advice!