Tuesday 19 November 2013

french knitting

You may have noticed that I didn't do a Wipocalypse post at the end of October.  No?  You didn't notice?  Didn't think so... I'm under doctor's orders not to put myself under any stress whatsover and even though it's a self-imposed challenge with no real consequences, I can't help getting competitive (with myself?) so I'm going to do the next, and final Wipocalypse round up at the end of December and whatever I achieve, I achieve.  

That was my rather long link into a post about French Knitting, or Spool Knitting as I believe it's sometimes called.  I acquired this little bee French Knitter at Harrogate last year and have been pondering it for a while.


I started with some lightweight DK yarn.  I love the texture and pattern, but I'm not really sure what it could be used for.


My real objective was to use wire to create jewellery, perhaps with beads trapped inside.  It didn't work out.  The silver wire is very fine, 36 gauge I think, and didn't hold its shape at all.  I moved on to 28 guage, but still no success.  I'm not sure if the problem is the shape of the pins at the top of the spool.  Has anyone tried French Knitting with wire?  Did you succeed?  I could do with some tips as I would like this to work!


As the wire was such a flop (literally), I thought I'd try with some other materials I had to hand.  The green one is 1mm rattail and the bottom one is cord.  I quite like them, but again, I don't know what I'd use them for.


The photo below shows the rattail and cord version with the yarn version.  The yarn provides a much tighter weave though I wasn't pulling any harder or knitting any more tightly. 


Hmmm, I'm going to go back to pondering French Knitting.


15 comments:

margaret said...

bringing back memories here with the french knitting but we did it on wooden cotton reels. Wonder if we will bump into each other at Harrogate, I am going thursday, saturday and may have to go back sunday!

Anita said...

I have the exact same Bee french knitter. I can get the thing started but can't get the cord to come out after I've been at it for a while....I've given it up for a while, though it would be handy to have that nice cord for some of my projects. You seem to have had better luck than me. lol
Cheers, Anita.

Kerryp77 said...

I've tried FK with wire with no success either. I've got 3 knitting dollies and the results are the same with all of them. There must be a tutorial out there somewhere...

Maya Kuzman said...

They are lovely. I have always wanted to buy one of those knitting Nancies but never actually did. However you can make a long infinity scarf, or some lovely flowers (seen those on pinterest) and also you can make a scarflette (http://thelittletreasures.blogspot.com/2011/02/no-knit-braided-scarflette.html).

Samantha said...

I'll be honest, I've never really worked out what you're meant to do with the bits you've knitted either....

Sandra :) said...

Google image search the phrase ... spool knitting ... you'll see lots of pictures - even some with wire, and some with wire and beads. Not sure how many of them link to actual tutorials/projects, but it might be fun to spend some time looking at different things :D There are embellishments like flowers, trivet type projects, scarves (love those, actually), toys/critters (which mainly look to come from kits that include the knitter) - I even saw a pink version of your spool!

Erica said...

Gosh that is the cutest tool! I love that it looks like a bee and even has a stinger! ;)

You could really make some amazing jewelry using the wire.

SuperMomNoCape said...

Yes, as Margaret said... this is bringing back memories. My Dad made me one when I was a little girl, oh maybe five or six, from a wooden thread spool with tiny finishing nails, nailed into the top. I made many a hot pad out of the long coils but I don't recall making anything else with them.

Needles and Wool said...

neat! I like the idea of trying different ways of knitting. I think they turned out great they would make wonderful bracelets!

Lisa
www.needlesandwool.blogspot.com

Celtic Thistle said...

I've knitted with wire but with knitting needles not a spool knitter, so can't help I am afraid.

I am sure they are good for something but I just can't think what!

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Brings back memories of French knitting with a Knitting Nancy. I don't know that we ever did anything with the long 'knitting', other than to have competitions to see who could make the longest. I've seen kids at school make them into wall art by gluing the knitting on to cardboard and making pictures, such as snails. I could see the knitting being incorporated into applique work.

JoJo said...

The effect is pretty cool. I'm not sure what you could use them for though.

Jane said...

I used to love this when I was a child. My dad made me one out of a sewing cotton reel! Have fun experimenting

Anonymous said...

I remember doing FK as a child, we just used to sew it into coils and make mats or little bowls.

Jacqueline said...

I used to do french knitting when I was a little girl. My dad used to bang little nails in one of my mum's old wooden cotton spools and I'd use that.
It was so easy that more recently I bought a proper set for my grand daughter. However not only has she found it difficult to get on with, so have I.
Why? I do not know!