Preparation
Arm knitting involves using your arms to make the stitches with yarn. While it’s similar to traditional knitting in the movements that you make, there are some differences.
“The main difference is that with arm knitting you always keep your knitting facing you, whereas in traditional knitting, you turn your work around every row,” says Anne Weil, owner of Flax & Twine and author of Knitting Without Needles: A Stylish Introduction to Finger and Arm Knitting ($14.99, amazon.com).
Getting the hang of it can take some time but the results are worth it. The main thing to keep in mind is practice. “Arm knitting is easy to learn, just be patient with yourself as you are learning a new skill,” says Weil. Start by practicing something simple and then move onto more complex stitch patterns or shaped projects. Over time it will become as natural to you as traditional knitting.
Another difference is the type of yarn you use. Traditional knitting projects use yarn that is less dense in thickness than the type of yarn you will use for arm knitting. While there are a variety of brands and weights to choose from, there is one type to avoid. “I do not recommend wool roving that is untreated,” Weil says. “Though it is the correct size for arm knitting and will look fantastic at first, it will pill and shed wool quickly.”
Instead, opt for one of these lauded skeins.
Broadwick Fibers 2KG Felted Superfine Chunky Merino YarnLove Fest Fibers ReLove Merino YarnFlax & Twine Giant Cotton Squish Yarn SkeinCascade Yarns Magnum YarnLion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick YarnINNDUN Chunky YarnVAURAS Arm Knitting YarnBernat Blanket Yarn
