So, playing around online over the past few years, I have found several fun patterns and sets of instructions for making cute knitting accessories. Not knitted accessories, like hats and scarves, but knitting accessories, like needle cases, DPN holders, needles, etc. Now that I'm not working for a bit, I've actually got the time and energy to give some of these ideas a try! At this week's Knit Night, Sarah and I attempted the first of what (I hope!) will be a series of fun ways to make some cute knitting accessories without spending a fortune on them :)
We started with a relatively easy one, Double-Pointed Needle Holders. Not the cases, but the little holders that you use to cap the ends of DPNs holding a project. I found the original instructions here, at Sweet Little Domestic Life. We used these directions as our starting point, with some variation based on what worked best for our hands and our puppets. I have posted our own notes from our efforts. I claim no credit, since Robyn did a great job of writing up all her instructions - kudos and many thanks!
There are some more example pictures here. Really, you're only limited by what finger puppets or pencil toppers you can find!
Materials and Tools:
We experimented with 2 different weights of elastic cord. The chicks and bunnies were made in a little bit lighter plastic, so we used the lighter cord with them (1/32" cord - labeled as elastic beading cord). The frogs, in a heavier plastic, could use the heavier cord (1/16" cord). Each came in 5 yard sections. We found ours at Wal-Mart for under $1.25. Be sure to look in the Notions section, not just the Beading section as you're looking for cord. You want to make sure that whatever weight elastic cord you use, it won't pull too hard on the plastic. Some of the lighter plastic puppets can tear easily, once you cap your DPNs and put tension on the elastic.
Directions:
Using the smaller needle, make one hole in each side of both of the toppers or puppets. We used a regular sewing needle for this. The elastic thread doesn't fit well in these needles, but the tapestry needles don't poke through the plastic well, so you will end up using both needles.
Thread the elastic cording through the large tapestry needle and pull it through the hole on one side of the topper. You might find it easier to pull the needle through with the pliers. (We never needed to use the pliers - I think it depends on how stiff your finger puppets are and how easily the needles slides through).
We pulled the thread all the way through both holes in the puppet. Pull through enough cord so that each side of the cord has enough to reach to the second puppet at the other end of the DPN. To determine the length of your cord, place one of your dpns in the toppers and pull the elastic cord until it is tight enough to hold your needles in place yet loose enough to get them in and out of the protectors with ease. Make a little mark on the cording on each side.
We then caught the middle portion of the thread (what's inside the puppet) with a crochet hook and pulled out a loop. The portion that you pull out should have enough so that you can comfortably knot the cord on the inside of the puppet. Better to pull out a bit too much and trim it down, than not leave yourself enough space on the cord.
Cut this part of the cord, leaving enough on each side to knot. Knot the cord on the inside of the topper as shown and trim the ends if needed.
Repeat on the other side of the topper with the other piece of elastic cording. One end of your holder is now secure.
Poke holes in your second topper, and thread ends of each elastic section through these holes. Place your knots in the cording on the marks you made earlier. Since you are dealing with elastic, this doesn't have to be perfect - that stretch is very forgiving!
Trim your ends and for added security you can use a lighter to melt your knots, or a drop of superglue to secure them. We used superglue, as we didn't have a lighter handy - works just as well :)
Grab your needles and try them out!!
Besides the frog used in all my example pictures above, I also made bunny and chick holders too. The bunnies were part of an Easter set of finger puppets (the reason they are bight pink) so they came with chicks in the bag too.
We started with a relatively easy one, Double-Pointed Needle Holders. Not the cases, but the little holders that you use to cap the ends of DPNs holding a project. I found the original instructions here, at Sweet Little Domestic Life. We used these directions as our starting point, with some variation based on what worked best for our hands and our puppets. I have posted our own notes from our efforts. I claim no credit, since Robyn did a great job of writing up all her instructions - kudos and many thanks!
There are some more example pictures here. Really, you're only limited by what finger puppets or pencil toppers you can find!
Materials and Tools:
- 2 pencil toppers or finger puppets
- Approximately 1 ft elastic cord
- 1 small pointy needle
- 1 large tapestry needle
- 1 pair of pliers (optional)
- 1 crochet hook (optional)
- superglue or lighter (optional - for preferred method of securing knots)
We experimented with 2 different weights of elastic cord. The chicks and bunnies were made in a little bit lighter plastic, so we used the lighter cord with them (1/32" cord - labeled as elastic beading cord). The frogs, in a heavier plastic, could use the heavier cord (1/16" cord). Each came in 5 yard sections. We found ours at Wal-Mart for under $1.25. Be sure to look in the Notions section, not just the Beading section as you're looking for cord. You want to make sure that whatever weight elastic cord you use, it won't pull too hard on the plastic. Some of the lighter plastic puppets can tear easily, once you cap your DPNs and put tension on the elastic.
Directions:
Using the smaller needle, make one hole in each side of both of the toppers or puppets. We used a regular sewing needle for this. The elastic thread doesn't fit well in these needles, but the tapestry needles don't poke through the plastic well, so you will end up using both needles.
We pulled the thread all the way through both holes in the puppet. Pull through enough cord so that each side of the cord has enough to reach to the second puppet at the other end of the DPN. To determine the length of your cord, place one of your dpns in the toppers and pull the elastic cord until it is tight enough to hold your needles in place yet loose enough to get them in and out of the protectors with ease. Make a little mark on the cording on each side.
We then caught the middle portion of the thread (what's inside the puppet) with a crochet hook and pulled out a loop. The portion that you pull out should have enough so that you can comfortably knot the cord on the inside of the puppet. Better to pull out a bit too much and trim it down, than not leave yourself enough space on the cord.
Cut this part of the cord, leaving enough on each side to knot. Knot the cord on the inside of the topper as shown and trim the ends if needed.
Repeat on the other side of the topper with the other piece of elastic cording. One end of your holder is now secure.
Poke holes in your second topper, and thread ends of each elastic section through these holes. Place your knots in the cording on the marks you made earlier. Since you are dealing with elastic, this doesn't have to be perfect - that stretch is very forgiving!
Trim your ends and for added security you can use a lighter to melt your knots, or a drop of superglue to secure them. We used superglue, as we didn't have a lighter handy - works just as well :)
Grab your needles and try them out!!
Besides the frog used in all my example pictures above, I also made bunny and chick holders too. The bunnies were part of an Easter set of finger puppets (the reason they are bight pink) so they came with chicks in the bag too.
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