• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful, contemporary knit & crochet.

  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Podcast
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Ravelry

DIY FYI: Finger Knitting

January 8, 2014 3 Comments

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

Don’t own a crochet hook or knitting needles? You can still crochet and knit! Lately, arm knitting has become quite the hot topic of discussion, and you can easily knit up a variety of accessories using a loom made of popsicle sticks and recycled paper tubes. A third way to hack knitting that I was particularly fond of as a teen is finger knitting. A group of friends and I actually started a project at one point in middle school to see if we could work together to make the world’s largest ball of finger knitting. I don’t think we got that far, but our ball of finger knitting was bigger than a basketball and weighed a TON.

How to finger knit

In knitting & crochet terms, finger knitting is basically just making a chain stitch with your fingers instead of using a needle or hook. It’s super simple. This animation shows the full process all together, and you can follow it step by step below that.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

1. Start with a slip knot.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

2. Put the loop of the slip knot on one of your pointer fingers. Flip the long tail of your yarn over your finger next to the slip knot loop as shown.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

3. Pull the slip knot loop over the yarn next to it…

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

4. … and pull on the short tail (not crazy hard, though) to tighten.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until your finger knitting is as long as you want it to be.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

6. Finish by pulling the tail of your yarn through the open loop and tightening to secure. That’s it!

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

One side of the finger knitting will have little ridges on it, and the other will look like a series of V’s.

How to Finger Knit, a.k.a. Crochet Without a Crochet Hook

A little story about my Great Grandma and finger knitting

Writing this post just dislodged a memory of my Great Grandmother, who was an amazing knitter who lived from 1900 to 2002, when I was 14. During my ill-fated world record finger knitting attempt, when she was just about 100, I remember bringing some finger knitting on a visit to her house. I showed her what I was working on and she said of course she knew about finger knitting, though she didn’t call it that. She used to make lengths of finger knitting to tie her children’s mittens together inside their winter jackets so they didn’t loose them in the snow.

Ironically, the one finished piece of knitting I have of my great grandma’s is a single mitten my grandpa James, her youngest son, managed to loose the other of almost immediately when he was as little boy. Here’s that mitten, which I hear she whipped up in just an hour or two, colorwork and all! Based on the size of the mitten and my grandpa’s birth year of 1928, this little guy was probably knitted in the mid-1930s. This was probably knitted on a set of heavy double pointed metal needles in about a size 2, if I had to guess. Isn’t that amazing?!

A mitten knitted in the 1930s, photographed Jan. 2014.

Filed Under: Crochet, DIY FYI, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: 101, chain stitch, crafts, crochet, diy, diy fyi, easy, finger knitting, Knitting

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a knitting, crochet and crafts designer. She first learned to knit at age 8 from a grandmother who saw in her a need for something to keep her busy. She's now a full time designer, video host, blogger & teacher. You can keep up with her designs and more by following handsoccupied on your favorite social network.

Previous Post: « Shine Bright, Washi Diamond
Next Post: Weekly Reader »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • DIY FYI: Starting a Skein of YarnDIY FYI: Starting a Skein of Yarn
  • These Colors Won’t RunThese Colors Won’t Run
  • How-to: Decorate with Glue DotsHow-to: Decorate with Glue Dots
  • How-to: Make a CandleHow-to: Make a Candle

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Laurie

    January 8, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    That is really awesome.

    Reply
  2. Martha

    January 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    So beautiful…

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 27, 2014 at 6:25 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Martha Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad modeling the Intarsia Mountain afghanHi! I’m Heidi Gustad, a Knit & Crochet Designer obsessed with colorful knitting, crochet & yarn crafts. In this picture, I’m wearing my favorite vintage Norwegian sweater.
❤💛💙

work with heidi

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL

& get 20% off in the shop!

Let’s be friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Ravelry
Stickeryou ad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & blogger, partial to primary colors, vintage style, & most needlecrafts. ✂️
Also @seriouscrafts & #handsoccupiedstudio

Heidi Gustad 🧶💛🧵
Instagram post 17855857273660569 Have you downloaded this new charity knitting pattern? The Triangle Rib Baby Hat knits up quick and is perfect to squeeze in between making holiday gifts! Visit the link in bio to get your hands on this free charity knitting pattern for babies to start stitching for a cause. ❤️❤️❤️
Instagram post 17845581628824699 Today on the blog, we’re talking about how to use the @knitcompanion app specifically in garment knitting. With new advanced note-taking features that let you write by hand, directly on your digital pattern page, the newest version of knitCompanion is definitely worth a try! The full review is linked in bio. #ad
Instagram post 18006397024263184 How adorable is Storm and her little ironing board step stool? 😭 .
.

Seems like a good excuse to let y’all know that the #handsoccupiedstudio schedule for Craft Nights and Crafternoons has been updated through 1/8! .
.

Head to the link in bio to update your calendars- Christmas & New Years Days both land on Wednesday this year, so there will not be Craft Night those days, but we WILL have Crafternoon on 12/29 from noon to 4 as usual. I imagine it’ll be a great time to detox from family time. Not that anyone will need it by the 29th... 🎄😜
Instagram post 17916408907364740 Apparently I’m on a fiber crafts but make it giant kick because there’s a new, larger-than-life project on the blog today, *just* in time for Thanksgiving! 🦃 🧶 .
.
Head to the link in my bio to learn how to make a giant friendship bracelet-inspired runner for your Friendsgiving table! Knotted with 100% American wool, this easy project doubles as a hostess gift and macramé scarf. 🧣 ☺️
Instagram post 17873885905495522 Just in time for holiday giving season, I designed the Triangle Rib Baby Hat, a free charity knitting pattern, for @knitterpride & @knitprodeu, and it's now live! In addition, KP is hosting a knit along (KAL) to encourage makers to donate some of their work to those in need via Wool Aid this holiday season. Pattern & KAL info available in English & German at the links in bio. #charityknitting #thankfulknitting
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Good to Know

  • New here?
  • Collaborate
  • Policies
  • Press

Looking for something?

knitting-button crochet-button yarn-crafts-button free-button life-button inspiration-button knit-along-button knitting-101-button

Et Cetera



 

My Podcast

Very Serious Crafts - Subscribe Button

needles

Copyright © 2019 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy