French Knitting – How to Cast on and Knit!

Last week I showed you how to make your own French Knitting Nancy in this post. Well, whether you are using one just like that or one you have bought the technique is the same. You will be able to produce a beautiful tube of knitting to make into a craft item of your choice. If you want some ideas take a look at 22 things to make with French Knitting.

If you like to watch someone doing a craft then take a look at the video after the step by step instructions.

You will need:

French Knitting Nancy (or doll)

Yarn

 

Step 1: Form the first loop

Form a loop using a slip knot as if you were going to do ordinary knitting or crocheting.

 

Place the loop over one of your posts (or pins) on the Nancy. Let the tail end of the yarn fall down through the Nancy.

 

 

Step 2: Form the first row

Wrap the yarn around the next post (or pin) around the top of the Nancy in an anti-clockwise direction.

 

Repeat this process around the remaining two posts.

 

 

 

Step 3: Add a row of loops

Take the yarn and wrap it around the post containing that first loop that you made. Repeat all the way around the Nancy so that you have two loops on each post (pin).

 

 

Step 4: Form the knitting

On the post that you placed the first loop on (in my case the blue one) take the bottom loop and pull it up over the second loop and ‘drop it off’ into the tube. You have now made a stitch. You can do this with your fingers but if you have a small ‘doll’ you may need to use a crochet hook.

 

Repeat for the remaining 3 posts and you will have completed a round of knitting.

 

 

 

Step 5: Continuous knitting

Now wrap the yarn around all the posts again in turn and repeat the process in Step 4 until you have the required length of knitting.

 

Next week I will show you how to cast off your French Knitting ready to create your final product.

 

I hope that you are enjoying your French Knitting. I found it really relaxing to do in front of the television in an evening. This infinity scarf is what I made with mine! I just sewed the tubes of knitting together but more about that in the next post (How to cast off and Create Masterpieces).

Of course, it is also a great way for kids to produce a lot of knitting very quickly with minimal difficulty. A great school holiday rainy day activity.

Here are some more great craft tutorials for you to try:

How to Make a French Knitting Nancy

How to make a Teabag Wallet

Make your own Bracelets in under 30 minutes

Gorgeous Flowers from Old Magazines

Remember to pin this tutorial on Pinterest so that you can find it later.