Did you know you can enjoy knitting with everyday items like cardboard, forks, and plate stands? There are easy ways to have fun without using knitting needles or crochet hooks.
This time, we’re introducing knitting ideas you can easily make with things around you.
There are plenty of ideas that children, adults, and seniors can enjoy.
The joy of finishing a handmade knit is truly special.
We’ve gathered practical projects like bracelets, flowers, gloves, and scarves.
Why not spend some cozy, handmade time using your favorite yarn?
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Try knitting with everyday items! Simple ideas to enjoy using forks and cardboard (1–10)
A scarf woven from milk cartons
With an empty milk carton and some wooden chopsticks, you can make a knitted scarf.
Cut several chopsticks in half and attach them to the milk carton.
Now you’ve got a simple loom.
Using thin black bobby pins instead of chopsticks is another option, but the chopstick method is easier to knit with.
Thread the yarn around the chopsticks in order, and the knitting will form—so even young children can create their own projects.
Watching the scarf grow longer and longer as they knit will surely excite the kids.
When you’re finished, add yarn pom-poms to complete a cute scarf.
Weaving a coaster with a paper plate
Let’s make round yarn coasters that take advantage of a paper plate’s circular shape.
Cut slits around the rim of the paper plate.
The key is to make sure the number of slits is odd.
Thread yarn from the back of the plate through a slit, then across to the slit on the opposite side.
Continue threading the yarn through all the slits, and then start weaving from the center of the plate.
With this method, you can easily make a circular coaster.
Switching yarn colors partway through will create a cute design.
Both paper plates and yarn are sold at 100-yen shops, so it’s easy to gather the materials.
It also sounds fun to make matching coasters together with your child.
A placemat woven from cardboard
Add color to your table with a placemat you make yourself.
Create an easy yarn placemat using a cardboard loom.
Tape the edges of the cardboard with duct tape, cut small slits along the edge, then thread yarn into the slits.
The duct tape reinforces the cardboard when you cut it and when you thread the yarn.
After threading the yarn through the slits and wrapping it around, begin weaving.
When weaving, pass the yarn through a dedicated shuttle or a piece of cardboard.
Try changing the yarn color partway through to give it a different look.
When you finish weaving, tie the yarn at both ends to complete your placemat.
Butterfly and flower decorations woven with a cardboard Y-shaped knitting spool
Lillian, which was popular in the Showa era, has made a comeback during the self-isolation of the COVID period.
Some of you may remember the cylindrical knitting tool, but there’s also a wooden Y-shaped Lillian knitting tool.
The cylindrical one uses a knitting needle, while the wooden one is worked with your fingers.
Even small children can use their hands to make projects.
You can even make a Y-shaped Lillian tool out of cardboard, so why not give it a try? By wrapping yarn around the Y-shaped part, you can create simple decorations like butterflies and flowers.
With their rustic look, these handmade pieces bring a warm, handcrafted feel when displayed indoors.
A fluffy, cozy pouch woven from cardboard
A fluffy, fuzzy pouch you can use for cosmetics or quick outings.
You’d never guess it was woven with cardboard.
Cut slits into both ends of a piece of cardboard and glue chopsticks to it.
Thread yarn through the slits and wrap it around the cardboard.
Using yarn attached to the chopsticks, weave over-under, over-under along the threaded yarn—similar to how you’d use a loom.
Once you’ve woven a sufficient length, cut it free from the cardboard.
Make two woven panels and tie the yarn at the ends to join them.
Turn it inside out, insert an inner pouch, add decorations, and you’re done.
Try making one with fluffy yarn!
A mat woven with anti-slip sheets
Many people use non-slip mats to prevent shifting at the entrance or in the bathroom.
If you use a non-slip sheet with small holes, you can make a knitted mat by taking advantage of those holes.
Thread yarn through the holes in the sheet and keep knitting.
Layer another non-slip sheet on top and crochet the edging around both sheets together.
Add a frill to complete a cute, furry-looking mat.
Since the steps aren’t too complicated, it seems like something you could make with your child.
The frilled design also gives it a princess-like feel, so children who love princesses are likely to enjoy it.
Finger-knitted ribbon
This is a fun project you can make using only your fingers, without any tools.
Wrap yarn around one finger and use your other hand to move the yarn along.
Because it requires nimble movements of your hands and fingers, it can also be good brain training.
The hands and fingers are closely connected to the brain, and moving them is said to stimulate it.
This knitting method is recommended for children and older adults as well.
When the knitted yarn starts to gather around the middle finger, it’s time to finish off the yarn.
Tie what you’ve made into the shape of a bow, and you’ll have an adorable ribbon.
You can also enjoy customizing it, like attaching the ribbon to a bag.