French Knitting
like a lot of people I learnt to French knit when I was young. It's a very simple skill to master and the knitting grows really quickly, but I can't think of one single item I made from it. The knitting device used is called a Nancy, as a child I had a wooden cotton reel with four small nails hammered into the top. You can buy wooden knitting Nancys from craft shops, I have one that looks like a painted figure. I also bought a child's knitting set from Poundland and that contained, amongst other things, a plastic Nancy. But the question is what can you make from this long thin tube of knitting? You could sew it together to make something like a place mat, but to me that seems a bit pointless. My big idea is jewellery, a chain necklace. The necklace is very easy to make, you can have it in any colour to match or compliment any outfit.


Forget place mats - too
Forget place mats - too big. I remember making a lot of 'coasters' as a child! And yes, who could afford a Nancy? It was the old wooden cotton reel with 4 nails in the top for me too, talking of which I bet I've still got it somewhere! Hmm, wonder how much it would fetch on ebay?The chain necklace could be adapted at Christmas to create a 'paper chain'. Red, White and Green - very Festive!
French Knitting
I like your thinking, Ann. I might rehash this tutorial with a festive theme near to Christmas it's a good idea.