Knitting is making a comeback. Julia Roberts, Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker are all partial to knitting one, purling one - even Russell Crowe has been pictured with knitting needles. But how many people have heard of French knitting?
The ancient craft, also referred to as bobbin or spool knitting, involves winding wool around nails fastened to a reel. The basic principle is to guide the yarn around each of the nails and in doing so slip the underneath 'yarn around the nail' over the top of the other thereby creating a stitch.
This is repeated around each of the nails until it eventually appears down through the centre of the bobbin as a long knitted tube.
Even young children can French knit and there's a great satisfaction in creating the finished products.
Most craft stores will sell knitting bobbins, or know where you can locate them. But why not make your own?
Basic spool knitter (see photo)
This spool is ideal for beginners and young children because it is easy to hold while mastering the French knitting technique.
You will need:
* Cardboard tubing from kitchen roll or tin foil
* Sticky tape
* Scissors
* 2 or 3 plastic straws
* Ruler
* Paint and varnish (optional)
What to do:
1 Cut a 10cm length of tubing.
2 Children can then paint the tube and varnish the tube, if desired. This will strengthen the cardboard and personalise the spool.
3 Cut six pieces of straw into 5cm lengths.
4 Place the end of the straw against the edge of the cardboard tube leaving approximately 2cm sticking out from the top and fix with sticky tape.
5 Evenly space and affix the five remaining straws around the cardboard tube.
6 To strengthen the tube and make sure the straws stay firm, wrap several pieces of sticky tape the whole way around all the straws.
Advanced spool knitter
This is best used by older children or those who have graduated from the basic spool.
You will need:
* Wooden cotton reel - craft shops sell them
* Four nails approximately 1-2cm long
* Hammer
* Ruler
1 Evenly space the four nails around one end of the cotton reel and carefully hammer in to at least 3-4mm.
2 Make sure that the nails are of the same height and are firmly secured in place.
Basic French knitting steps
You will need:
* A spool knitter
* Crochet hook
* Double knitting or four-ply wool
* Scissors
What to do:
1 Take a length of wool and slip one end through the centre of the spool leaving several centimetres hanging out of the bottom.
2 Thread the spool by wrapping the other end of the wool around one of the nails, from left to right. Alternatively, make a slip knot around one nail and thread the other length down through the spool. Guide the wool around each of the nails in a clockwise direction until you end up at the first nail.
3 Now make your first 'stitch' by bringing the wool in front of the nail (this will already have the wool around), hold it slightly to the left side and use a crochet hook or needle to carefully lift the first bottom strand of wool over the other one.
4 Slightly turn the spool so the second nail is now facing and repeat the above procedure, and so on until you have your desired length.
5 As you take each stitch, gently tug at the end of the wool hanging out of the spool to tighten the stitches.
6 To finish off, take a stitch as usual, then lift that stitch up off the nail and place it on top of the stitch on the nail to the left. Lift the bottom stitch over the top one. Lift the stitch that remains off the nail and place it on the nail to the left. Continue until you have just the stitch left on the last nail.
7 Cut the wool and, after pulling the stitch up and off the nail, pull the end of the wool through the loop and pull tight to secure.
What can you make?
Children could make a belt, a chunky bracelet and necklace (following the instructions given below), curtain tiebacks, or how about coiling a bedroom mat? There are endless possibilities.
Making a bracelet
This is a simple bracelet for young children to make. They can even make a matching necklace and ring.
You will need:
* Spool
* Coloured four-ply wool
* Beads
* Scissors
* Tape measure
* String
What to do:
1 Measure around your wrist with a piece of string. Add on several centimetres and then cut it. Use this as a measurement for the length of the bracelet.
2 Choose the colour of wool and cast on as directed above.
3 When the piece of knitted tube measures the same length as the string, cast it off.
4 Slide the beads on, as desired.
5 Tie both ends together and slide a bead over the join to hide it.
Extension activites: Wind another colour of wool around the bracelet or sew on sequins. For a matching necklace simply knit a longer length of tubing; likewise for a ring make it smaller to suit.
Flowers
These make an ideal Mothering Sunday (26 March) gift. The following one is made using three different colours of yarn: yellow for the middle; red for each of the petals and a green yarn for the stem of the flower.
You will need:
* Spool
* Coloured wool (double knitting or three-ply) - ideally green and at least two other colours
* Kebab stick
* Crotchet hook or large needle
* Scissors
* Needle and thread
What to do:
1 Choose a coloured wool for the petals, cast on and begin knitting until the tube measures approximately 12cm in length.
2 Repeat this five times and place the petals to one side.
3 Select the colour for the centre of the flower (stamen) and again knit a tube measuring 12cm in length.
4 Take one of the petal tubes and coil it to form a flat circle and sew with tiny stitches around the edges to hold it firm. Any remaining yarn at the end of the tubing can be threaded through the work to neaten it off.
5 Repeat this with the other four petals and also the contrasting stamen.
6 Sew a petal on to the stamen edge with small stitches. Take another petal and secure this again to the stamen and also sewing three-quarters of the way up the adjoining petal to attach them together.
7 To make the stem, cast on your wool around the spool. Before you make the stitches, slip the kebab stick down through the centre of the spool. Leave this in the centre as you work your way around as usual. As you pull on the end of the wool you will find that it will tighten itself firmly around the kebab stick.
8 Knit until your length of wool covers the stick.
9 Attach the top of the stem to the back of the flower securely with tiny stitches.
Extension activities: A sturdier flower can be made by doubling the number of petals and stamen so that the flower is double thickness. Attach the stem between the petals.
A bunch of flowers can be made and secured in a vase created out of a decorated yoghurt tub.
