In contrast with other traditional forms of knitting, spool knitting relies on the use of a spool and four nails for the creation of an initial fabric pattern. Owing to the very basic structure of the items it requires, spool knitting has long been part of educational practices specific to crafts classes. Thus, children get used with the main principles of knitting in a fun and functional way at the same time. The spool can be either improvised or bought ready made, but the other supplies necessary include a crochet hook, yarn and in case you want to, you can also bring brads, a hammer, drill and a drill bit.
In order to make spool knitting easier, purchase the spool from a tool or home improvement store and get directly to the knitting part. The first step to begin with is to pass the yarn through the spool, from top to bottom, but make sure to leave a few inches of yarn hang out from the bottom. It is advisable that for this first stage of spool knitting you follow pictures or close face to face instructions so that you have a smooth beginning. Then, you can start pulling the yarn with the crochet hook by making small loops every time and passing them over the brads, in the process known as the casting on.
Depending on what you want to knit, you can use a more or less large number of brads; the most basic of projects available for spool knitting is cord making, and this can be designed with four, five or six brads. Yet, it is known that odd numbers allow easier casting on, therefore, stick to the four or six variants particularly if you are a beginner. When knitting, the yarn has to be wrapped around all the brads and pull the loop out, up and over the brad in order to pass to the next line.
Spool knitting makes color variations possible since the changes are almost basic. Simply cut one yarn type and tie in a different one so that you may be able to continue the knitting process but with a different color. Closely follow the pictures in books or on web sites if you are just discovering the secrets of spool knitting. Before completing work, remember to tie off the ends so that you don’t spoil the knit. For those who need professional spool knitting, it is preferable to buy a spool knitting machine that works a lot faster and with superior results.