Knitting is not only a rich selection of yarn , models, patterns. It’s a variety of techniques. Some of them have long been known and have been widely used among knitters, some are little known and mastered only by a narrow circle of craftswomen. Today we want to tell you about unusual knitting techniques. Meet our selection and bring your favorite ideas to life!
NO. 1. KNITTING ON THE LOOM
As you might guess from the name of this technique, we are talking about a special tool or device with which things are knitted.
Lum is a special device for knitting (weaving) with cloves on which threads are put on or strung. It can look different: in the form of a plate, a circle, a rectangle, etc.
On the lume, you can knit practical warm clothes, or you can weave lace. In the latter case, it turns out to create unique tenerife patterns, which are distinguished by an unusual “sun-shaped” pattern.
The principle of operation is as follows: first, with the help of special patterns, individual parts are knitted on the luma, and then they are crocheted for the finished product. By the way, tenerife is a special type of lace, which was known in Spain in the 6th century.
NO. 2. KNITTING ON A FORK
Another technique performed with an unusual tool is a fork. This is not about an ordinary fork (cutlery), but about a special one used directly in knitting. Such a plug is a thick wire bent in the form of the English letter U.
How does the knitting process work with this tool? First, the loops are put on the fork in a certain way, and then knitted using a crochet hook. This creates a pattern that resembles a braid, but has a lacy texture.
With the help of a fork, you can knit a lot of things, and not only for the wardrobe. This technique produces beautiful napkins, tablecloths, rugs.
It is better to use yarn that is not too thick so that it fits easily on a fork. There are no restrictions on the choice of hook. You can either make a fork yourself (but, most likely, not without the help of male power), or buy it, although it is not easy to find this novelty in stores.
NO. 3. BROOMSTICK TECHNIQUE
Peruvian broomstick technique is distinguished by the beauty and unusual texture of finished products. But not only! In addition to the usual hook, for this knitting method you will need a ruler (or a fork, a thick knitting needle, etc.), on which loops will need to be strung.
By the way, the technique got its name from the English. broomstick, which can be translated as “mop stick”.
The technique is attractive not only for its unusualness, but also for its rather fast knitting, low consumption of yarn, and also because the finished products are not prone to deformation.
This technique makes excellent bags, blankets, scarves, cardigans, dresses. The pattern looks organic in long things.
NO. 4. KNOOKING TECHNIQUE
A new knitting technique called “nooking” is gaining more and more popularity. A special tool is also used for it – a hook, which has a needle eye at the end.
The technique combines the capabilities of knitting needles and a hook – it allows you to crochet front and back loops. Why is this needed? Firstly, if you want to improve the density of the product and, therefore, its wear resistance; secondly, if you want to add variety to boring patterns: nooking allows you to create completely new patterns, so your product will definitely be unique.
NO. 5. FREEFORM TECHNIQUE
The freeform technique is unusual in that it involves “knitting without rules”, which results in products with a fancy pattern.
This technique is one of the best proofs that there is room for creativity in knitting. Connect the unconnected!
The essence of the technique lies in knitting and crocheting individual elements that form an interesting “free” pattern. Details are knitted without patterns, the needlewoman in the process uses her own imagination and already studied patterns. The resulting elements are mainly stitched together.
In this technique, it is recommended to use yarn of different textures – this way the drawing will look more interesting, more voluminous. Thin yarn can be combined with prickly wool, the main thing is to combine them in color so that a knitted “something” does not turn out.
NO. 6. SWING TECHNIQUE
The swing technique is unusual in borrowing “musical techniques”, which results in interesting rhythmic patterns.
Swing (from the English swing – “oscillation, swing”) is a term that came to knitting from the world of music, where it denotes one of the most popular areas of jazz.
The terminology used in swing knitting is also borrowed from the musical sphere: beat, rhythm, pause, melody length, stanza.
It’s not a secret for many that swing is a kind of partial knitting technique , which is based on getting shortened rows. The swing technique is distinguished by specific schemes that resemble the rhythmic pattern of music.
NO. 7. POOLING TECHNIQUE
The pooling technique is a young knitting technique, unusual in that it allows you to control the pattern from sectional yarn.
First of all, let’s clarify what sectional yarn is. Sectional yarn , or sectional dyeing yarn, is a yarn dyed in several colors at once, which are arranged as if one after another. It is important to distinguish this yarn from melange, in which a different shade is interspersed in a thread of one color, and this connection is present along the entire length of the thread
The pooling sectional yarn pattern is created by carefully measuring the width of the garment or the number of stitches in a row. You can knit in this technique both with knitting needles and crochet.
For pooling, it is better to use a regular facial surface. When choosing complex openwork patterns, the pattern is simply not readable due to the numerous color transitions of the sectional yarn.
NO. 8. SHIBORI TECHNIQUE
The shibori technique completes our list.
The essence of the technique is to create bumps and folds on a knitted fabric (most often, ordinary stocking knitting is used). Things in the technique of shibori can look the most unusual way.
How are things created using the shibori technique? Just! Small round objects (glass balls, pebbles, nuts, etc.) are placed on the knitted fabric from the inside, fixed with rubber bands. Next, the product is washed in hot water – this is the felting stage. Then, after rinsing and drying the product, the gum is removed.
It is clear that for a product using the shibori technique, yarn with wool and / or mohair in the composition should be used. It is these fibers that have the property to fall off. And the greater the percentage of the content of these components, the more the product will fall off, that is, it will become more dense.