French Knitting

This post has been keyworded under:
French knitting chain
 Three types of knitting Nancys
French knitting instructions
lengths of French knitting ready for assembly
Sew the first chain link
Form your next link
Sew the link together
The links, linked
Continue joining links until you have desired length
Chain
Red chain

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.

Nancy
Red chain

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.