Friday, August 6, 2010

How to knit a chain, lol.

I'm knitting a chain. I'm going to make three lengths of knit chain and make a silly scarf out of them. I may knit an anchor or padlock to go on the end too, haha!!

I decided to take pictures to show step by step what I am doing. Not that i expect anyone else to actually want to do something this silly, but if they do I have shared... lol...

Step 1: Long tail cast on, 32 st, size 9 needles, gauge totally and completely unimportant.

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Step 2: put onto double pointed needles (circulars would work just as well, but since next weekend is our annual rendezvous and i will probably be working on this I need to only use tools historically accurate to pre-1840 fur trade era.)

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Step 3: Slip previous link on from the end away from the tail of your cast on, and slide up next to your tail.

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Step 4: join, being careful not to twist. Knit 4 rows moving the finished link around to keep it out of your way as required.

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Step 5: Bind off.

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Step 6: cut or break yarn.

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Step 7: using some sort of needle finish bind off in whatever way you like.

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Step 8: weave end into smooth side of knitting, doesn't need to be neat just needs to not show on rough side of knitting.

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Step 9: after weaving in both ends turn inside out with edges facing the center of the link.

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Step 10: enjoy your success and prepare for next link.

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I tried knitting single rings then knitting connecting rings to hook them all together but on this scale trying to knit a link with two finished on the needles is just too much of a hassle.

and this is what you end up with:

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I'll be making a length of chain in a muted green, and one in black, I think, and sort of braiding them together into the scarf. I thought this might be cute for a Halloween costume if you were going to be a ghost or maybe one of the pirates cursed to be on the Flying Dutchman or Black Pearl.

3 comments:

  1. That is awesome! I'm totally going to have to try that!

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  2. I really find it delightful. And it actually does keep your neck warm when you wrap it around, so it's not like it is for looks only, lol.


    I am SOOO easily amused.

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  3. You are so stinkin' creative, Pony! I can totally see that as part of a ghost costume or to wear around in the winter as a conversation starter. I would consider buying one for my daughter if there were one for sale...say on etsy or something....

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