Dyed and Gone to Heaven – An Online Magazine and Needlework Resource  

Spiral Coasters made with a genuine "Tool of the Trade"

Kid's project completed by Clarissa and Therese Vainius

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One of the most inexpensive, fun and extremely versatile "tools of the trade" for kids interested in doing needlework, is the time tested Knitting Knobby. This simple, yet functional tool, has been around for generations and can be made of cardboard, wood or plastic. Our kids project this month uses a plastic knitting knobby to complete an easy first project: a set of spiral multicolored coasters, somewhat reminiscent of the large pinwheel lollipops sold at circuses and fairs.

MATERIALS you will need to get started:

1 Knitting Knobby with needle- simple plastic ones are available at most craft and hobby shops

Watercolours Threads - 2 Skeins each of Tropical Seas and Nefertiti (this will make a pair of coasters. If you're only making one, you will need 2 skeins of only one color)

1 blunt-edged needle with an eye big enough for one ply (one strand) of the Watercolours thread to fit through

1 smaller needle to accommodate beads and thread for embellishments (optional)

scissors

2 sheets either Foamfastic or thin corkboard, approximately 5" x 5" (these are available at most craft and hobby stores. They are optional and are being used to line the coasters on the bottom, so that they stay in place more easily when being used. If you are making only one coaster, you will need only one piece measuring 5" x 5")

Some decorations, such as beads or fabric flowers (these are also optional, to be used if you prefer to make the coasters "fancier")

Elmers, Duco Cement or some other all purpose glue

 

Instructions:

1. Put the end of the yarn through the hole in the top of your Knitting Knobby, leaving about a four inch tail as shown in the first diagram (A). Put the yarn around peg # 1, holding the knobby so that this first peg is the one that is directly in front and closest to you. Wrap the thread coming out of the top of the knobby over this peg, wrapping it in a clockwise direction. Then, move the thread to the peg to the left of peg # 1 (peg #2) and wrap the thread around the 2nd peg in a COUNTER-CLOCKWISE direction (see first diagram again). Continue following the same procedure for peg # 3 and peg # 4, as you did for the peg # 2. Now you are ready to knit.

2. To begin knitting, run the thread around the outside of the first peg (peg # 1), above the first loop that you made on the peg. Always working from the left hand side of the peg, put your needle in bottom loop. Pick up the bottom loop and slip it over the top piece of thread on the same peg and drop it right off the peg. This will leave a loop formed by the thread that was just on top before. Pull the tail of the yarn coming out of the bottom of the knobby to make an even stitch by tightening the loop if it is loose. Try to keep the same tension on each stitch that you make this way.

3. Repeat the same procedure you just used in Step 2, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th pegs and just keep repeating. Remember to work the loops in sequence from the peg you just worked on, to the next peg on the left (counter-clockwise). Soon your coil of knitted stitches will begin to appear from the bottom of the knobby. Keep knitting until you have approximately 36 to 40 inches of knitted coil. If you run out of thread while knitting, put the end of the thread you have left over together with the end of a new piece. Make a tight knot about 1/2 inch from the ends. When you get to the knot while you are knitting, hide the knotted part on the inside (facing the center) of the coil. This will conceal it completely.

4. When you have the length of knitting you need (36"- 40"), take the last loop you made off of the last peg you looped the thread over and put it on the peg to the left of it. Then pick up the bottom loop on the peg you just put your loop on and slip it over your last top loop and right off the peg completely. Pull the tail of the yarn, as you have been doing while stitching, to make this stitch even with the rest.

5. Repeat Step 4, putting the remaining loop from the peg you last worked on, over the peg to the left of it. Keep doing this until you have only one loop left on the last peg. Cut the thread about 3 inches above the finished coil of knitting and put it through the last loop left on the knitting knobby peg. Then take the loop off the peg and pull the thread tight, making the last loop a knot.

6. Take your piece of knitted coil and lay it flat on the table in one length. Take one end and form the the length of knitting into a circular shape. Do this by making one end the center and then wrapping the rest of the coil around it in an ever larger circle. This will be the shape of the coaster.

7. Take a piece of the same color of thread you used and cut a piece about 18 inches long.. Then separate one strand (1 ply) from the other two strands which make up a piece of Watercolours thread. Thread the single strand through the blunt edged needle and, beginning at the center of the circular shape, stitch the coil together, connecting each successive circle of coil to the strand before it, until you have attached all the coils into one circular shape. That's your coaster. It is now complete and can be used as is.

8. If you prefer, you can have some more fun by decorating the outside edge with a row of beads or fabric flowers or some other embellishment, like the completed coasters shown. Clarissa's coaster is decorated with a row of beads around the edge and Therese's coaster is embellished with some delicate lavender roses. If you do add some other decoration, remember to leave the center part of the coaster empty, since that part needs to be flat to be used to set a glass, vase or cup on.

9. If you wish to line your coaster so it does not slide around on a smooth surface, place the finished coaster on top of a piece of foamfastic or thin corkboard and with a pen or pencil, use the edges of the coaster to make an outline of it on the backing board. Hold the coaster in place while you do this. Then take off the coaster and cut about 1/4 to ½ inch inside the outline you just made. Take the glue and spread it fairly generously, in an even coat, on the circular backing board you just cut. Then place the coaster over it, centering the backing board underneath so that you cannot see it when the coaster is on top. Press down on it until the glue begins to set or place a flat heavy book on top of it until the glue is dry. Now you have an exceptional and very professionally completed coaster, elegant enough for even Royalty to be served their refreshments on! Expecting any Kings and Queens for dinner?

About Therese and Clarissa Vainius

This project was completed by Therese and Clarissa Vainius who live with their parents and brother in Singapore. Previously, they have also resided in New Jersey and in London, England. Therese is seven years old and is in the 1st grade. She has from a very young age exhibited a talent and interest in stitching and has learned needlepoint, embroidery and crocheting from her grandmother, Ellen. Ellen is an exceptionally accomplished knitter, seamstress and embroiderer who enjoys teaching these skills to both her granddaughters. Clarissa is nine years old and is in 4th grade. Clarissa loves doing any type of Arts and Crafts project and is always eager to learn something new. Both sisters love and excel in sports (especially swimming, soccer and tennis) and music (playing the piano). Additionally, Therese and Clarissa are exceptional students in their academic pursuits. Their older brother, Vincent, is also a born artist and during their stay in Singapore, has taken classes in Chinese Brush Painting, exhibiting a natural aptitude for it. Although Vincent also made his own coaster, along with his sisters, we are hoping to feature him doing a different kids project on a future site. These coasters were made during a holiday excursion to Malaysia where the family traveled to celebrate the Chinese New Year recently.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: No part of these instructions/project nor the included diagrams/illustrations can be reproduced or distributed in any form (including electronic) or used as a teaching tool without the prior written permission of the CARON Collection Ltd. One time reproduction privileges provided to our web site visitors for and limited to personal use only.

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