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No, I’m Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn
In 2011, I decided to knit something giant. But I didn’t really know where to start. There were no tutorials available, so I was flying blind.
First, I bought six pounds of unspun wool roving, then I went to the hardware store and bought broomsticks to act as knitting needles. When the broomsticks were too small, I went back and bought 1.5″ diameter PVC pipe. I turned each five-foot length of pipe into “knitting needles” by adding duct-tape tips, and just started knitting. A few hours later, I had my Giganto-Blanket.
When I posted a video of myself knitting the blanket, I was suddenly getting a lot of requests for the pattern. So I wrote up the Giganto-Blanket pattern and put it up online, and now I even sell the finished blankets on Etsy.
More info: nocturnalknits.com | Etsy
Like Atlas, but with wool
Don’t look now, but you’ve got a giant ball of yarn behind you…
On the needles
Those knitting needles are five feet long. Seriously.
Playing with scale
Tiny bed or giant blanket? Oh wait, is that a cat?
All balled up
These balls of yarn are ready to be knit into a Giganto-Blanket.
It’s so squishy
Really, you can’t imagine how soft it is.
Free People custom design
Free People asked me to make a version of the blanket for their holiday shop.
Giant yarn, cat + spinning wheel
Neither the cat nor the spinning wheel is required for making the blanket, but they sure to do look cute sitting there.
My first attempt
It turns out knitting on broomsticks wasn’t good enough. I had to go bigger!
Cabled Giganto-Blanket
The giant scale of the knitting makes for really dramatic cable patterns.
Free People custom design
Free People decided to call it the “Big Sky Blanket” – they sold out almost immediately.
Quality assurance
My cat Magnus likes to inspect each blanket and give me feedback.
Tiny cat?
Molly is a small cat, but next to the Giganto-Blanket she looks downright miniature! (She loves “helping” me knit my blankets.)
Pure comfort
It turns out the blanket is my cats’ favorite place to sleep.
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What do you think ?
lswhere 9 years ago
Too much animal pain just for a blanket. There is no need for this these days.
ShelleyWestwood 9 years ago
Sheep have to be shorn or in the summer months or they can suffer terribly in the heat and with fly strike.
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GuinMatthews 8 years ago
To all that think it's inhumane to use God's bounty, have you ever seen sheep that were NOT sheared? Speaking of inhumane! Signed, ALL ANIMAL LOVER...
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NinniVäinölä 9 years ago
So you have never heard about this thing where the wool is taken off the sheep without hurting it.... its like a sheep haircut!
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Becky Walker 8 years ago
No offense but you guys have no clue about shearing do you? It's inhumane to not shear the poor animals
d r e a m w o r l d 6 years ago
Actually, sheep need to be sheared or else they will burn in the sun. If being proven wrong makes you cry, I'll knit you a handkerchief.
Iguill Guillermo 6 years ago
I think u chose the perfect pattern. Now I can't b unique from u. Ugh! ^_^ Anyone have any recommendations of other patterns to try?
Yolanda Qin 7 years ago
Hey! Good Job! Our company also offer chunky knit blankets and super chunky yarns in Acrylic, Polyester and Wool. http://YarnsInBulk.com
MichelleBurrows 9 years ago
WOW! I love this! How do I get my hands on wool and needles in Australia to make this?
MarionHeadrick 9 years ago
I think they are beautiful and good for you, that's an incredible job.
LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago
Thanks! You can find the pattern and more info on my FAQ page on my blog: http://nocturnalknits.com/giganto-blanket-faq/
Load More Replies...
WarrenBridges 9 years ago
Great but I've now seen a woman knitting eternal snoodes on her arms in 30 mins. I'm gonna give that a go xwx
LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
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AnyaAmsreob 9 years ago
You can buy whool at any good yarn store. It's usually sold like this to be felted.
Load More Replies...
ChrisJohnson 9 years ago
Little to no pain, they are released from any restraints and the happily run off. No pain.
TiinaHoddy 9 years ago
I havebeen knitting for 50 years and never seen this :D Love the texture and the look of it :D where can you get yarn that thick?
lswhere 9 years ago
Too much animal pain just for a blanket. There is no need for this these days.
ShelleyWestwood 9 years ago
Sheep have to be shorn or in the summer months or they can suffer terribly in the heat and with fly strike.
Load More Replies... GuinMatthews 8 years ago
To all that think it's inhumane to use God's bounty, have you ever seen sheep that were NOT sheared? Speaking of inhumane! Signed, ALL ANIMAL LOVER...
Load More Replies... NinniVäinölä 9 years ago
So you have never heard about this thing where the wool is taken off the sheep without hurting it.... its like a sheep haircut!
Load More Replies... Becky Walker 8 years ago
No offense but you guys have no clue about shearing do you? It's inhumane to not shear the poor animals
d r e a m w o r l d 6 years ago
Actually, sheep need to be sheared or else they will burn in the sun. If being proven wrong makes you cry, I'll knit you a handkerchief.
Iguill Guillermo 6 years ago
I think u chose the perfect pattern. Now I can't b unique from u. Ugh! ^_^ Anyone have any recommendations of other patterns to try?
Yolanda Qin 7 years ago
Hey! Good Job! Our company also offer chunky knit blankets and super chunky yarns in Acrylic, Polyester and Wool. http://YarnsInBulk.com
MichelleBurrows 9 years ago
WOW! I love this! How do I get my hands on wool and needles in Australia to make this?
MarionHeadrick 9 years ago
I think they are beautiful and good for you, that's an incredible job.
LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago
Thanks! You can find the pattern and more info on my FAQ page on my blog: http://nocturnalknits.com/giganto-blanket-faq/
Load More Replies... WarrenBridges 9 years ago
Great but I've now seen a woman knitting eternal snoodes on her arms in 30 mins. I'm gonna give that a go xwx
LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies... AnyaAmsreob 9 years ago
You can buy whool at any good yarn store. It's usually sold like this to be felted.
Load More Replies... ChrisJohnson 9 years ago
Little to no pain, they are released from any restraints and the happily run off. No pain.
TiinaHoddy 9 years ago
I havebeen knitting for 50 years and never seen this :D Love the texture and the look of it :D where can you get yarn that thick?
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