Thursday, July 12, 2012

Knitting Doll


Have you ever heard of a knitting doll before?  Basically it's a painted long spool with four prongs on top (pictured above).  It has to be one of the cutest knitting toys I've ever seen.  With just some yarn, a knitting needle and the doll you can make a knit cord.

I bought one for my daughter with the intention of using it as a special summer activity for just the two of us to do.  I wasn't sure how it would go since she's only six but she had no problem knitting with the doll. 

Above is a picture of how the yarn is wound onto the knitting doll.  The knit cord comes out the bottom as you knit.

 
Here's what the cord looks like when it's finished.   My daughter has been using it to make hair accessories and bracelets for her dolls.

I purchased my doll at Cost Plus World Market but you can find them online too.  I also found an easy tutorial at Crafty Pod for making your own.  It's not actually a doll but it does the same thing.  Click here for the knitting spool tutorial.  If you really wanted to get creative, I bet you could find some kind of long spool at the craft store and paint it like a doll. 

Do you like to spool knit?  What do you make with the cord?  Please share.
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16 comments:

  1. LimeRiotJuly 12, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    This brings back memories! My grandma gave me something similar back when I was a wee one and before I learned to knit with needles :).

    I remember making cords that went on forever! I think I wore them as headbands and decorated my room with them.

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  2. quilaryJuly 12, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    I remember getting my dad to put four nails in an old wooden cotton reel and my sister and I taking turns to make long cords for bracelets and hair ties. It's a great craft for kids!

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  3. UnknownJuly 12, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    I've always heard them called Knitting Nancies. I found one at Goodwill- it's the cutest little mushroom! My 6 year old loves to use it too. It didn't come with the pulling tool, but we use a crochet hook.

    I love it!! It's really relaxing to use and the cord is made really quickly!

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  4. Hoppin' UpJuly 12, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    You will find those everywhere around here, even at my supermarket! Over here, in Dutch it is called "punniken". If you find it hard to use the needle, you could also use a crochet needle. Have fun!

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  5. SuzanneJuly 13, 2012 at 5:32 AM

    I recently found a project recently that I'm dying to make with finger knitting. Maybe it will work for you too.

    http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2012/02/woven-finger-knitting-hula-hoop-rug-diy.html

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  6. DeannaJuly 13, 2012 at 5:56 AM

    I know a certain 8 yr old in my house who would love one of these. :)

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  7. Little Ol' LizJuly 13, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    Those are great! Slip in some pony beads and you can knit them in. There's elastic thread you can buy that will make stretchy bracelettes. Make a long, long piece and either coil it into a pot holder (cotton or pure wool yarns only so they won't melt) or teacher your daughter how to make a coiled basket to hold her trinkets. You'd just need a blunt needle and a long piece of yard to whip those together.

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  8. AyieJuly 13, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    Hi Jessica! That's a good tool and it's very cute too!

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  9. mayaJuly 13, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    I've been wanting one of these but haven't seen any around these parts!

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  10. CaraJuly 14, 2012 at 6:46 AM

    I had a knitting spool as a kid. I don't remember all the projects I made, but I do remember coiling up the cord into a "braided rug" for my dolls. Mine wasn't shaped as a doll, it was definitely plastic (the 80s!).

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  11. Laura CJuly 14, 2012 at 6:49 AM

    I have heard this called a knitting noddy, also. I found one on amazon.com and gave it for a Christmas donation with other toys to a women's shelter one year. It was sometimes used with children with developmental disabilites in the past.

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  12. CacaJuly 15, 2012 at 8:04 PM

    I have bought one similar to yours at Daiso. However, I don't know how to use it.

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  13. zuperdzighJuly 15, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    it's also called knitting nancy, or french knitting doll.
    I got one because it has cute design, but I rarely use it, cause I rarely make project using big i-cord.

    you could make a butterfly using the spool
    http://suite101.com/article/spool-knitting-projects-a119588

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  14. KJ@letsgoflyakiteJuly 17, 2012 at 3:54 AM

    I have been offline for several days,so late commenting but I squealed when I saw your doll. We have the same one, but my daughter found it difficult to use, so I found one which is entirely wood and easier to use. I also found a book on "corking" from the late 80s early 90s which gives project ideas for children. If you google corking you might be able to find it online or at the library.

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  15. AnonymousJuly 20, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    When I was younger mum bought a "corker". My brother and I both enjoyed it and argued over who was going to be using it. I still have a tube-scarf of yarn at my parents place holding all my pins and buttons.

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  16. Diane GillelandJuly 24, 2012 at 8:21 AM

    Oh, my goodness! I like this doll way more than my spools! How cute and functional!

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