Knitting without needles is an alternative to traditional knitting. Traditional knitting requires two needles; knitting without needles is done with your hands and pre-looped yarn.

Why Learn to Knit Without Needles?

Knitting without needles is an easier technique for beginners, kids, and people with arthritis. Pre-looped yarn resembles stitches, eliminating the need to cast on, which is often a challenge for new knitters. Pre-looped yarn is bulkier, resulting in faster projects. Bernat and Lion Brand offer a variety of pre-looped yarn in chenille and wool blends in an array of colors. With this technique, you’ll get the same look as traditional knitting.

Yarn Crafts and Knitting Have Proven Health Benefits

• They are natural anti-depressants
• Help ease anxiety and chronic pain
• Protect the brain from aging
• Burn calories – approximately 55 calories for every half hour of knitting

Glossary of Terms

• Foundation Row: To knit without needles, you start with a foundation row consisting of pre-looped yarn or stitches.
• Knit Stitch: Stitch made with the working yarn held behind the stitches and loop pulled from back to front.
• Purl Stitch: Stitch made with the working yarn held in front of the stitches and loop pulled from front to back.
• Bind Off: When you’ve reached the last row of your project, it’s time to bind off or finish off the edge. Working in the same direction as the last row, pull the second stitch through the first stitch. Pull the third stitch through the second stitch. Pull the fourth stitch through the third stitch. Continue in this manner to the end of the row. Cut last loop to create a yarn tail. Pull the yarn tail through last loop. Tie to secure and weave in ends.

Basic Stocking Stitch Cowl Scarf Pattern

This cowl scarf is made with one ball of Bernat Alize EZ Wool yarn in Driftwood. I modified Bernat’s basic stocking stitch scarf pattern to recreate my favorite crochet cowl. Visual learners (like me) will find this YouTube tutorial helpful.

Below is my pattern for the stocking stitch cowl scarf:

• Count 10 loops to form the foundation row; all loops should face upwards.
• First Row: Work this row from left to right in a knit stitch. Pull the 11th loop through the 10th loop (from back to front). Pull the 12th loop through the next loop of the foundation row. Continue in this manner to the end of the row. Do not turn work. 10 stitches in row.
• Second Row: This row is the same as the first row, except it is worked from right to left. Complete the row with 10 stitches. Do not turn work.
• Repeat the first and second rows to make 30 rows.
• Bind Off Row: Work this row in the same direction as the 30th row. Pull the second stitch through the first stitch. Next, pull the third stitch through the second stitch. Pull the fourth stitch through the third stitch. Continue in this manner to the end of row. Cut the last loop to create a yarn tail, then pull it through the last loop. Tie to secure and weave in ends.

• Join the short edge of the scarf to the long edge to create the cowl (reference above image). Cut the loops and thread the yarn through a blunt needle. Sew the edges together using an invisible sewn seam. Weave in yarn tails.

Basic Hat Pattern

This basic hat was my first knit without needles project. To make this hat, you’ll need one ball of Lion Brand Off the Hook yarn in Sailor Moon. Here’s a YouTube tutorial for this project.

#HatNotHate Campaign

This summer, I donated blue hats to the #HatNotHate antibullying campaign. Lion Brand Yarn launched this craftivist movement in 2018 to increase awareness of the impact of bullying. In 2019, Lion Brand Yarn collected over 23,000 blue hats. To learn more or to donate a hat, visit www.hatnothate.org.

With these two patterns, you’re ready to knit a cozy scarf and hat set for this winter. Don’t be intimidated, give this knitting technique a try.

Bookmark this page. I will share new knit without needles patterns and pre-looped yarns on this page as I make and test them.

Happy Knitting,

Jackie

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