{editor's note: Craft tutorial & giveaway narrated by Laurent Tougas, (almost) age 8. Photos by Laurent's mom.}
We got this idea from Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick.
Supplies
Choose 2 round, bamboo chopsticks. We reused them from Thai Jarean, our favorite Thai restaurant. Get some sandpaper, pencil sharpener and oil for polishing the finished knitting needles. And polymer clay or beads for the ends of the knitting needles.
Instructions
Sharpen the pointy end of the chopstick until it gets to the sharpness of a dull pencil.
Sand the chopsticks until you can't feel any bumps. The pointy ends should be very smooth.
Rub oil on the chopsticks till they feel soft. We used coconut oil.
To make the back ends (not the pointed knitting ends) you can use polymer clay balls or beads. If you're using a bead you should sharpen the back ends of the chopstick until you can fit the bead on the end. If it's not tight enough you can use glue, we used hot glue.
But if you're using polymer clay make the shape you want, push them on the back end to make a hole, mold it on the stick, take them off and put them in the oven for half an hour. Ask your mom or dad to take the balls out of the oven. While they're still warm push them on the back ends of the knitting needles. And then let them cool. If they are loose glue them like you do with the beads.
Giveaway
I want to giveaway two pairs of knitting needles I made. If you want them leave a comment and I'll choose with a draw who gets the knitting needles. Please say if you want polymer clay or wooden bead ends. Giveaway ends Friday, February 20. Giveaway closed now.
Comments
Thank you Brienne for the
Thank you Brienne for the gift of your knitting needles. I showed them to my friend and she thought they were wonderful and then I told her that you had made them and she couldn't believe they were made by hand. You are so awesome and you all are so talented.
I'm glad I don't have to compete for your give away.
laurent, how cool! i am
laurent, how cool! i am impressed and thank you for the directions! yours are a little different than the brief ones in amanda blake soule's book, creative family.
i am a new knitter (stayed up too late knitting last night!) and would love a chance to win some laurent-originals.
thanks and happy day o' love!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
nicola's last blog post... how much do i love thee?
What a novel idea. I love to
What a novel idea. I love to knit and think it would be great to add my name to your draw. Thanks for the chance to win! Nana
Note from the editor: Nana
Note from the editor: Nana does not need to enter the contest. The blue polymer clay needles featured in this post were made for you. *smile* (there are privileges when you're the Nana)
Hey, add my name to the pool!
Hey, add my name to the pool! (Love the polymer clay ones.) I NEED to learn to knit, and maybe these will add some inspiration. Great project, by the way; I'll have to try it with my own kiddos some day -- if I learn to knit, that is. ;)
Tracey Miller's last blog post... Happy Valentine's Day!
I've been thinking of taking
I've been thinking of taking up knitting and either teaching my grandchildren afterward or learning with them. I like the ones with wooden beads.
Hello Laurent, what a great
Hello Laurent, what a great idea to make your own knitting needles! Jenna (our 8 year old daughter) and I learned how to knit in January - it didn't even occur to me to try to make our own needles - that is so cool! I would love for you to put our name in for your giveaway. Either kind would be wonderful. We need to get back to our knitting or we'll forget how...thanks for the inspiration!
Nicole
These are great instructions
These are great instructions Laurent! And the needles are beautiful. I am very impressed! I would love to enter your contest, for either type on needle.... can I also get knitting lessons! :) I learned to crochet two years ago and loved it, but really want to learn to knit as well.
Well done!
Spring
Wow, what care you have put
Wow, what care you have put into those needles. They are gorgeous. Funny enough, I was just reading "The Creative Family" today, and it has a tutorial on making your own knitting needles. It had never really occurred to me to do such, but the beautiful colors and details on the ends seems like they would be well worth the effort! Thanks for offering up your work in a giveaway! (either variety would be great, of course!)
I can't believe all the good
I can't believe all the good stuff I've been missing. I keep seeing all the fuss about Laurent's knitting needles and now I see why! I want some - pick me :)
I just found your blog while
I just found your blog while looking for info about painting with beet juice, we weren't sure whether we had to thicken the juice or not, we opted not to after seeing how your kids' pictures turned out.
I also homeschool and it's always nice to hear about what others are doing in their homeschool curriculum, particularly because I live rurally (in Canada!) and there are not a lot of other homeschoolers to talk with.
Also, great knitting needles!
This is a great tutorial
This is a great tutorial Laurent. My son likes the wooden bead knitting needles, but I would be happy with either.
Great tutorial! My friend
Great tutorial! My friend made some with clay but I hadn't thought of using beads. My daughters want to learn to knit and would love a set of these. They would probably prefer the polymer clay kind since they are colorful girls. :) Thanks for posting this.
Alicia's last blog post... Help Track Spring!
Happy for the winners - and
Happy for the winners - and thankful for the knitting needles Laurent and Brienne gave me. They're presently on the desk in the living room, on display as ornaments, because they look so pretty with their brightly-colored ends. I'm going to determine what size they are and will let you know what I knit with them. For now I'm enjoying them right where they are.
Pingback
[...] Read the rest here: Handcrafted Knitting Needles | FIMBY [...]
What a novel idea . I love to
What a novel idea . I love to knit and think it would be great to add my name to your draw. Thanks for the chance to win! Nana
hi, i love your tutorial :) i
hi,
i love your tutorial :) i was just wondering if you mean you used coconut cooking oil or like an oil that you use for making soaps and scented candles. thanks !
li's last blog post... Cafe Wicked Web
The coconut oil I'm referring
The coconut oil I'm referring to is the same type of oil I use for my soap & lotion making. But I buy a cheaper grade for using larger quantities. The coconut oil I use for soap is actually edible. If you have food quality coconut oil that will work.
Laurent, I thoroughly enjoyed
Laurent,
I thoroughly enjoyed your knitting needle tutorial. I have tried knitting with chopsticks before, and found it difficult because I used them straight out of the restaurant. My yarn was sticking to the needles, and they were far from pointy enough. I think it would be wonderful to try chopsticks that have been sanded, whittled, oiled and beaded. Surely they would be a pleasure to use.
Thank you for this wonderful idea.
Heather Runnels
Auburn, Maine
Pingback
[...] Knitting Needles - These are easy enough for children to make. In fact, this tutorial is written by Laurent. You could give this gift to beginner knitters, adults or children, wrapped with a ball of yarn and this book. [...]
Love this idea! I made a
Love this idea! I made a cable needle out of a bamboo chopstick. It turned out nice. If I get picked, please give me ones with wooden beads. Thank You! :)
Add new comment