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Maggie Whitley

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You are here: Home / creativity / craft project / {saturday craft: finger knitting // garland & necklace}

{saturday craft: finger knitting // garland & necklace}

January 15, 2011 · 89 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, knitting/crocheting, tutorial/DIY

Hello, Saturday — it’s time to get your craft on! :] Today I’ve got two CUTE projects for you to make using one {easy} tutorial >> finger knitting. It takes about 10 minutes to master and has a materials list of two items: yarn & scissors.

+

Project #1: Create a knit necklace to wear.
I love, love, love this! I want to make one in every color *wink*

Project #2: Knit a longer strand and make some garland for your home! Again, totally loving this! Garland knits up in no time flat {is that the phrase?!} and I love how “thick” it is even though it’s suuuuper light-weight.

*

Tutorial: How to finger knit:

Trust me, it’s suuuuuper easy :]

To start, create a knot with a 6″ tail {to make a necklace, make sure you have a 12″+ tail}.

Loop the knot over your pointer finger.

Swing the loop to the back, so the knot is touching the backside of your hand.

Using the long strand of yarn, weave the yarn around your fingers, ending at your pinky, then bring it back so your strand ends at your pointer. Pay close attention to where the yarn is placed {in front of the finger vs. behind the finger}.

Weave it back to your pinky, then back to your pointer. When you’re done, you’ll have gone back & forth 4 times {2x each way}.

Starting with your pointer, careful slip the bottom loop over the top loop. Move on to your middle finger, slip the bottom over the top — you’ll end at your pinky, and at this point you’re ready to weave the yarn upward and then backward over your fingers.

This is what the backside looks like:

Repeat the weaving one more time {down & back is 1 time}, then slip the bottom strand over the top. Once you’ve done two rows of “slipping”, this is what your backside now looks like:

Repeat the weaving & slipping a few more times, and soon you’ll see this ~

When your garland is the perfect length, it’s time to stop. I know, it’s hard to stop :]

Carefully slip all four fingers out of the loops. Pick your desired end-strand length {for a necklace, remember to leave 12″+ of yarn for a tail}.

Make sure you can see each loop, because…

…You want to weave the end tail through each loop.

And it will look like this:

Loop it through once more:

And tie a few knots to secure & finish.

You can make so many cute things — what if you loosely wove 3 different garlands together like a braid? That would be so pretty! You can make a strand of garland for your Christmas tree, to wrap over a wreath, to wear as a necklace, to drap over a mantle, mirror or entryway.

*

Share with us: If you were to finger knit, what color yarn would you work with?

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89 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, knitting/crocheting, tutorial/DIY

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Comments

  1. Belle says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:29 am

    My 10 yr old, Catie, finger knits all the time! Apparently it is one of the popular crafts with her classmates this year. Catie will fingerknit in any color and makes all kinds of things too. Can’t wait to show her your site!

    Reply
  2. Sidnie says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:33 am

    I think I’m going to have to find some yarn today. This is awesome.

    I think I would want green, or grey, or maybe a yellow?

    Reply
  3. hiyaluv says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:33 am

    huge fan of this tutorial gus! you are beautiful! and i love your outfit too by the way:)
    gina

    Reply
  4. Kristi @ Creative Kristi says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:39 am

    could you be any more adorable? Lol totally off topic but is your hair naturally wavy/curly? I might try this and make a little headband for my 7 month old. She needs a new accessory to wear at Blissdom lol :)

    Reply
  5. cristin vosburgh says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:49 am

    SO cute!!! :)
    Since I have a TON of yarn from failed & procrastinated crocheting/baby blanket projects…I have a really pretty burnt orange or cream I can use! Yay! !yippy skippy! I can’t wait until my kids take a nap today :)

    Reply
  6. caroline says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:51 am

    thank you for sharing this tutorial! i’m hoping i can find some time to try this today then teach my kids too!

    Reply
  7. Corinne says

    January 15, 2011 at 8:22 am

    My kids and I just made a bunch of scarves for their stuffed animals by finger knitting earlier this week :) Love it! Such a fun project… we’re moving in a few weeks, and the first project I want to do is garland to spruce up the place!

    Reply
  8. No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane says

    January 15, 2011 at 8:52 am

    So cute!
    I would do multi colored ropes EVERYWHERE all over Kensington’s room. Can’t you just see layers of color everywhere?! Adorable!

    Reply
  9. Laryssa @Heaven In The Home says

    January 15, 2011 at 9:13 am

    I remember doing this when I was little! It’s so fun…great idea to make it into a necklace. :-)

    Reply
  10. kate says

    January 15, 2011 at 9:37 am

    This is super cute!! I might have to try it!

    Reply
  11. TillySak says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Oh goodness. Gussy just tool me back to grade 5. I did this all. the. time. *running out to get yarn* Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
  12. Erika says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:47 am

    You’re totally bringing me back to my childhood with this one!! How cute would it be to knit up garlands in different colors and hang them together?? Love!

    Reply
  13. Shelby says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:51 am

    I did some finger knitting this morning!! Even taught one of my roomies, first one didn’t turn out too good (way too loose on one end) but the second was pretty good!

    Reply
  14. Lindsey says

    January 15, 2011 at 11:38 am

    I just did this! I love it, I have a feeling I’ll be doing this all day, making headbands, thin scarves, braided scarves… You’re fabulous Gussy!

    Reply
  15. moriah says

    January 15, 2011 at 11:49 am

    The little girls I nannied this past summer were all obsessed with finger knitting! Something we would do everyday together. Never thought of actually using it as a garland!

    Reply
  16. Tara says

    January 15, 2011 at 11:58 am

    My daughters 11,10, and 6 were looking for something to do today. This is perfect! It’s snowing here and only 15 degrees! Thanks ! BTW, love your new items in the shop!

    Reply
  17. Katie says

    January 15, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    I soo used to do this with those tacky stretchy colored bands….I never knew that was what finger knitting was! I will have to try this!

    Reply
  18. Jessie says

    January 15, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    Just made an olive green one! Glad I had a little bit of yarn on hand!

    Reply
  19. Sarah-Anne says

    January 15, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    i love that, gussy! is there anything you can’t do?!
    Sarah-Anne
    p.s you’re pretty, and i love you! :D

    Reply
  20. Lacey says

    January 15, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Great tutorial, I learned how to fingerknit last year and made skinny scarves for a few friends for christmas (sparkly white “christmas” crinkly yarn). They were a hit!

    Reply
  21. Franchesca says

    January 15, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    how adorable is this!!! I totally did this as a kid!! Love the necklace and garland idea!!

    Reply
  22. Renee Candy Stick Lane says

    January 15, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    YOU (and this tute) ARE THE CUTEST THING EVER!!! You are glowing! Thanks for this! xo

    Reply
  23. lauren says

    January 15, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    I love this! I cant wait to try this…I have some purple and cream yarn that is now SCREAMING my name from the closet!
    Mind if I feature this on my blog? I will give you all the credit and glory. I am new to this blog thing and trying to get some traffic over there. =)

    Reply
  24. Heidi says

    January 15, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Love it! Just made two cute necklaces…a rustic pink and a mixed reddish….fun!! Something to do while watching a bazillion episodes of Bones!

    Reply
  25. April Foss says

    January 15, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Nevermind the garland…………your outfit is sooo flippin cute!

    Reply
  26. Rosi says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    I am having a bit of a hard time, do you think the thickness of the string matters?

    Reply
  27. Jennifer says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    How fun!! I’d want one in hot pink :)

    Reply
  28. Rosi says

    January 15, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    Yes, I think that is it, I am using really thin yarn, it is all I have on hand :(
    Also, wanted to let you know I *love* your ruffles and they are cuter than any copycats!

    Reply
  29. Julie {CalleLillyCafe} says

    January 16, 2011 at 2:03 am

    My daughter’s (6,9 & 12) finger knit all the time! I have all diff colors that my girls make for me. they make them often for friends’ gifts too! My 9 y/o wants to sell hers anywhere we can! Have you tried using 2 colors yet? My 9 y/o can tell you how if not! ;)

    Reply
  30. cristin vosburgh says

    January 16, 2011 at 9:07 am

    Ok….so I’ve read the instructions like 50 times & I just can’t get get the “slip the botton loop over the top loop” part…..I’ve tried it several ways & can’t figure out what you are doing!! :( roar.

    Reply
  31. Mela Kamin says

    January 16, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    I’ll have to post a video of me & my kids doing this … we do it slightly differently than you, but with the same results. Fun, fun, fun!

    Reply
  32. Megan Lane says

    January 16, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    awesome! i definitely want to make some garland to put around our house, it’s so cute & i love that it will cost me nothing & take little time. thanks for sharing maggie!

    Reply
  33. Cristy says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:45 am

    I love this idea. I would like to do one in a mixed yarn color (you know the strands that start out as one color and fade to another) in various shades of red for valentine’s day… I think it would be super pretty going from red to pink to white and back.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  34. Abbie says

    January 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    Oh my goodness!! This really takes me back! My grandma taught us to finger knit when I was maybe 9? And we did it ALL the time for a few years – especially on long car trips. Yards and yards and yards of every color yarn. :) It hadn’t occured to me that it might have a grownup use, too. I’m liking the idea of garland for next year’s Christmas tree – especially using yarn I already have,or sparkly yarn, or even two colors together – because it’d be so easy to make it super-long. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

    Reply
  35. stacy says

    January 18, 2011 at 12:22 am

    can i just say you exude happiness?! so glad to have discovered your blog!

    Reply
  36. Brigid says

    January 19, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    Adorable!! Hoping to get to meet you at Blissdom!

    Reply
  37. Robyn says

    January 21, 2011 at 3:29 am

    I love this tutorial. I would fingernknit with royal purple yarn to make a lovely garland for my room.

    Reply
  38. anne says

    January 24, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Wow, even I could do that, and I’m craft-tarded! Must go get yarn

    Reply
  39. vann says

    January 26, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    i love this! i have to try it! :)

    Reply
  40. Sara Sophia says

    February 6, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    Yay just made my first necklace!!

    Heart heart heart, so fun!!

    (especially since I can’t for real knit….)

    S.S.

    Reply
  41. Ann Hathaway says

    February 17, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Finger knitting is great and all…but the real question on everyone’s mind is…holy cow, are those your real eyelashes??!! I have to know. You are darling. Bookmarking this post! ;)

    Reply
  42. erin says

    February 18, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    Love this! :-)
    I taught my 4 year old to “finger knit” but it was more like finger crochet (just one finger).

    Reply
  43. Katie says

    February 24, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    I’m an elementary art teacher and I LOVE finger knitting! I taught my 5th graders how to do it :) So fun!

    Reply
  44. Jessica says

    March 22, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Randomly found your blog today, and I love this idea! I’ve been knitting for years, but never heard of finger knitting before. This would make super cute head wraps for my little girl! Going to my basket of yarn to try it right now!!

    Reply
  45. tina says

    September 29, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Just made one using super thin nautical rope. It turned out quite swell.
    Love! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  46. Rachel says

    December 16, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Ack! This is so cute and mine is turning out awful! I must be finger knitting impaired. I’m gonna lose my religion trying to figure this out.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:14 pm

      keep trying! and give it about 10 minutes or so of constant knitting before you give up! it takes a little while before it starts to take the right shape :) at first it will look so weird but once you have about 12″ of garland it magically turns into garland. xoxo

      Reply
  47. Jane says

    December 27, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    LOVE IT! I used this for my presents and it turned out great!
    I tried to do finger knitting with only one finger, but my yarn was too thin and it sorta–blew up in my face…. as in, it looked like clumped up yarn….
    But when I tried this it was amazing!
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  48. Andi S says

    December 28, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Amazing tutorial! I linked it on my blog here: http://crazydazedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/easy-afternoon-project-finger-knitting.html

    Reply
  49. Joanna says

    December 29, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Hope this helps… even though this is about a year later, here goes nothing– you have to slip the bottom loop over the top loop and over that specific finger you are doing… is this in any way helpful?

    Reply
  50. Andrea says

    January 12, 2012 at 6:56 am

    I loved to finger knit as a kid. I taught my 7yr old step-daughter how to do it and lets just say our house looks like a yarn convention lol.. I like to do 2 or 3 colors at the same time it’s a great craft for kids.

    Reply
  51. Xia says

    January 16, 2012 at 11:10 am

    I started last night and haven’t stopped since. I’m making chains and chains of them …. I am only 12 …. but I have a poster on the side of my bunk-bed, and its Selena Gomez with a multi-stringed necklace/poncho. So I think I’m gonna try finger knitting that sort of thing. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  52. Ang says

    February 2, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    Wow, who knew you could knit with your hands? I sure didn’t! So crafty! Let’s see if I can convince my 11 and 13 year old daughters to take up hand knitting!

    Reply
  53. beverlee says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:06 am

    I am so tickled to find this…just what I am looking for. I’m old! and I never heard of this…thank you so much…just darling!

    Reply
  54. Lori says

    March 11, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Okay – I completely love this and will try it (thanks for posting), but I HAD to comment on something totally different…are those your actual eyelashes? They’re gorgeous!!!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      March 12, 2012 at 10:13 am

      :D yes… they are mine and they are real, and thank you

      Reply
  55. Lori says

    May 3, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Hi again- I just thought I’d share that I really did try it and it is a super-easy as you said! I churned out a whole bunch in very little time – the only problem is when to stop. :)

    Thanks again for a fun tutorial – I’m going to teach my little girls to do this.

    Reply
  56. Janita says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    This is so fun. I did 11 yards of knitting in Snow White tonight in very little time. I want to use it on my Christmas tree next year! Thank you so much for the tutorial. Hoping to teach some 5th grade girls how to do this : ) janita

    Reply
  57. Alexia says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Sooo cool, I love it! I’m gonna have to read this through a couple more hundred times before I attempt it (I’m horrible with instructions LOL!)

    Reply
  58. Julie says

    December 16, 2013 at 7:47 am

    Adorable! Thank you! It’s just 8:30am and I’ve already made a garland and a necklace! Teaching my daughters this today!

    Reply
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  60. Belen says

    March 19, 2014 at 1:11 am

    Hi Molly, you could definitely use a cmoomn colour! I’ve sewn totally “random” blankets before with a wide mix of colours, and others where I’ve used just a few colours and done diagonal stripes of squares across the blanket. If you search my blog for “blanket” you’ll find a few examples :)

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in northern Michigan. She has been writing online since 2008.
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