Knitting With a Piece of Plastic Pipe & Technique

For some strange, but not unknown reason I have just recently got into, thread crafts. I was at my sisters place at the time this burning curiosity hit me, because she is also a maker and a good seamstress also.

She asked on the spur of the moment, if I would be so kind as to repair her broken necklace? I was then presented with a box of heavy pendants, a load of beads and some heavy duty thread. I repaired it there and then, after some time I was done.

As a reward I was presented with an early birthday gift,'A Lúcete kit', very nice now I have the hang of it.

I also have some past experience on the subject of finger Knitting - Plaiting -Knots so decided upon making something that, I have not seen since my childhood! 'A French Knitting Doll'..... which brings me to my instructable -

Between 4-6"length X 1-1.1/4" Diameter X 1/16" Wall Thickness Plastic Pipe.

5" thick copper wire

File / Hack Saw

Dill with 3mm Bit

Thick cotton Thread

Essentially we will be making a (Castle Head) with our piece of Plastic Pipe - depending on your type of Plastic - you need to be careful with the cutting -

I came up with a spur of the moment design with a difference and a technique that's works very well with it too!!!.

First See 2nd Image - it's an approximation you are essentially cutting a Noughts & Crosses Grid into the top of the pipe - the depth for me was the saw width, which is a perfect 1/2". Once four cuts have been made turn the pipe on its side.

If you think of an Ex (✖️) & a (➕) we are keeping the (➕) so cut across the base of every other diagnal one or mark our the cut on the Pipe with a marker pen and then cut when you are sure, then bend obsolete finger towards you to break and extract it.

If you see the top of image 1 you should now have a Castle Head. Taking a file gently break the sharp edge off the cuts by bridging across two fingers at the same time with the file.

Laying the pipe on its side exposes two top edges and two bottom edges, file each pair until you have completed a full revolution - Break the inner & outer corners and flatten the inner curve of the finger edges too.

This prevents the thread being snared by the sharp uneven edges. Next thing which I thought important is drilling an eyelet in each finger for ease of exchanging top thread with bottom thread (Casting)..... 'a different technique'

I used a 3mm drill dead centre of the finger but I rotated the drill by hand first to start the hole where I wanted it. After eliminating any sharp edges we are ready to Rock n Roll.....

Oh not so fast, I forgot that the hook - is not so prominent a little 1/4" bend at the top and then file hook into a ball, again to break any sharp edges.

STARTING.....Place a piece of Thread through the top of pipe - place left over the top to keep it from slipping then draw a four leafed clover with the thread clock wise turning pipe counter clockwise until you arrive at one full turn. See first image....Then you wrap a thread above this see following image.

The technique I use incorporates the use of the hole in each finger, slide hook underneath the bottom thread which is surrounding finger, then slide hook over the top of the loose lead thread above. Now turn hook down employing hole scoop thread pulling it through to make a loop. ( I think I will make a video).......see images especially image 6.

Now place thumb on top of this loop and with you other thumb and finger take original thread off its finger and set it free, place the new loop held by your left thumb in its place. Rotate and gently pull the slack with right hand and repeat procedure you should end up with.

I have enjoyed this as usual - I hope you do too - Please Rate & Comment IG

I thought it important to show itilization of the finger/ post eyelets and my technique which I think is less likely to accidentally drop stitches, where as the original way is prone to this.....I go on opposite direction and use the loop made as a lasso to the place on finger/ post and then I pull lead thread with opposit my hand....

https://youtu.be/QYTnRoagnUg