So, you've got the hang of the knit, purl stitches, and the other basic knitting techniques. Now, let's take a leap together and discover the hidden potential of our knitting needles to craft with less-known techniques.
You won't need a special or fancy tool. Many of these techniques can be achieved with your trusty knitting needles set, whether that’s your favorite single pointed needles for flat projects, your handy double pointed knitting needles for socks, or mittens on the versatile circular needles that can conquer everything from hats to sweaters.
5 Extraordinary Uncommon Knitting Techniques
You must be excited to explore extraordinary knitting techniques. Well, your wait ends here. Find the techniques below and try them for real. If you care for your knitter friends, share with them so they can also learn something new because “sharing is caring”.
Pooling for the Adventurous Colorist
Have you ever noticed those mesmerizing, unpredictable strips that appear when you knit with variegated yarn? Pooling takes advantage of this color variation to create planned strips or pools of colors in your project. By carefully measuring and manipulating the yarn’s color changes, you can design your stripes strategically.
This technique works best with a simple knit stitch pattern, so the beautiful yarn transitions take center stage. Try it on different projects, such as headbands, sweaters, scarves, or even blankets, with your chosen circular, double, or single pointed knitting needles.
Shibori Texture with the Touch of Zen
Shibori, a traditional Japanese technique originally used for dyeing fabric, can be surprisingly easy to incorporate into knitting. By strategically bunching, folding, or clamping your knitting fabric, you create unique and eye-catching raised textures. The beauty of Shibori lies in its endless possibilities. Experiment with different fold patterns and stitch patterns to create one kind of knitted masterpiece.
Creating Two Layers as one with Double Knitting
This cleaver knitting allows you to create two layers of fabric simultaneously, resulting in a beautiful reversible project. Imagine a sweater in the same or two colors with the same pattern on both sides. You can use circular knitting needles to incorporate double knitting into your pattern. While this might seem challenging at first, with practice, you will be good on your way to crafting delightful projects.
Shadow or Illusion Knitting for a Mesmerizing Effect
Shadow knitting, also known as illusion knitting, is a technique that produces a hidden image or text that can be seen from one angle. Since 2010, illusion knitting has gained recognition as an art form, partly because of the developments made by Steve Plummer, who has produced a number of intricate and large-scale creations.
You will be surprised that your knitting needles create wonders with two colored yarns. Create an image by using them alternately in rows, with one row having raised stitches blocking out another row’s flat stitches. This seems like magic because when you see it from the front there will be just simple stitches, but when you look at it from an angle, you will see a hidden picture or text. You can craft any garment with this technique by using single pointed knitting needles or double pointed needles.
Freeform Technique for Your Creative Wings
As the name suggests, the freeform technique is a unique knitting technique in which you use knitting needles and crochet hooks together to create a one–of–a–kind project. Just crochet and knit in patches, then assemble them to create distinctive and incredibly tactile fabric. Freeform fabrics are rich in color and textures; they can create various products, including jewelry, headgear, purses, or apparel.
These are some of the unfamiliar techniques we have crafted for adventurous knitters. We understand that creative minds crave innovation. That’s why Knitpro always keeps its fingers on the pulse of hot trends and educates you in the crafting genre. We don't just offer the tools, we are your ultimate partner in the exploration.