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Spool knitting for young stitchers

Kids’ Corner

All you need is an empty spool, a few small nails and some yarn. These projects come from a book written for children in 1909.

Welcome to the Kids’ Corner! Spool knitting is one of the easiest ways to start knitting. You wind yarn around a few small posts on top of a spool, lift each loop over the next, and a knitted cord grows out of the bottom.

Mary A. McCormack wrote Spool Knitting in 1909 for children in school. She wrote that “the possibilities of an empty spool and a few pins are almost without limitations,” and her 36 projects prove it, from a simple mat to doll clothes, mittens and a jumping rope.

Pick a first project below, and ask a grown-up to help you make your knitter. Happy knitting!

A young girl on a couch, smiling as she knits with fluffy purple yarn
Happy knitting!

© KnitHeaven.com. This photo is the property of KnitHeaven.com and may not be used without permission.

Start in three steps

  1. 1

    Make a spool knitter

    A wooden spool or a thick piece of wood with a hole through the middle, and two or four small nails or staples for posts. A grown-up can help with the nails.

    Read how →
  2. 2

    Knit a round cord

    Wind the yarn around the posts and lift each lower loop over the top one. The cord grows down through the hole.

    Read how →
  3. 3

    Try a flat strip

    Work back and forth instead of around, and you get a flat ribbon of knitting to sew into mats, mittens and bags.

    Read how →

Watch it done

In this video from CraftSanity, you can see how spool knitting works, step by step, with a simple spool knitter you can make or buy.

First projects

See all 36 projects in the book →
Circular Mat Coil a round cord and sew it flat. Ball for Baby A soft ball stuffed with cotton. Doll's Muff A tiny muff on a neck cord. Toboggan Cap A doll cap with a tassel. Small Mittens Mittens joined by a long cord. Jumping Rope A sturdy cord for skipping. Wash Cloth Knit in cotton for the bath. Doll's Hammock A swinging bed for a doll.

More places to learn

Free download 4-H Knitting and Crocheting Handbooks Wisconsin 4-H offers free knitting and crocheting handbooks and project sheets written for grades 3 to 12. Step by step Craft Yarn Council Learning Center Basic knit, purl and crochet stitches with diagrams, teaching guides and quick first projects for anyone teaching a beginner. Easy crochet The Woobles Beginner crochet lessons with photos and videos, from a company that sells easy kits for small crocheted animals. Their kits are for ages 12 and up.

KnitHeaven is not affiliated with these organizations or companies and does not receive any payment from them. We list them because they are good places for beginners to learn.

Knit with others

Every June, knitters of all ages meet in parks, libraries and cafes for Worldwide Knit in Public Day. Find it and other knit-ins on our Knit Happenings list.

Find a knit-in

A note for grown-ups

This book was written for classrooms in 1909. Help with the nails and pliers when making a knitter, and use blunt needles and soft yarn for small hands. A ready-made spool knitter from a craft store works just as well.

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