User submission

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

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Don’t look now, but you’ve got a giant ball of yarn behind you…

On the needles

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Those knitting needles are five feet long. Seriously.

Playing with scale

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Tiny bed or giant blanket? Oh wait, is that a cat?

All balled up

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

These balls of yarn are ready to be knit into a Giganto-Blanket.

It’s so squishy

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Really, you can’t imagine how soft it is.

Free People custom design

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Free People asked me to make a version of the blanket for their holiday shop.

Giant yarn, cat + spinning wheel

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Neither the cat nor the spinning wheel is required for making the blanket, but they sure to do look cute sitting there.

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

My first attempt

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

It turns out knitting on broomsticks wasn’t good enough. I had to go bigger!

Cabled Giganto-Blanket

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

The giant scale of the knitting makes for really dramatic cable patterns.

Free People custom design

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Free People decided to call it the “Big Sky Blanket” – they sold out almost immediately.

Quality assurance

giganto-blanket-knitting-laura-birek-1

My cat Magnus likes to inspect each blanket and give me feedback.

Tiny cat?

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Molly is a small cat, but next to the Giganto-Blanket she looks downright miniature! (She loves “helping” me knit my blankets.)

Pure comfort

No, I'm Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

It turns out the blanket is my cats’ favorite place to sleep.

91Kviews

Writer, Knitter and Web Developer from Los Angeles.

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Writer, Knitter and Web Developer from Los Angeles.

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What do you think ?

POST

lswhere 9 years ago

Too much animal pain just for a blanket. There is no need for this these days.

22points

Noor 9 years ago

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Thomas32 9 years ago

Quite disgusting. Wool is inhumane, as some are saying.

17points

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

9 years ago

yarn doesn0t necessarily have to be wool!

0points

MartinW 9 years ago

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nicola22 9 years ago

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MartinW 9 years ago

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Axel 9 years ago

You can find them at giantlycruelblankets.com or something...

11points

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...

2points

Load More Replies...

Axel 9 years ago

I would rather say Crueltina.

10points

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!

7points

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

2points

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.

1point

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?

0points

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

0points

Kimberly Dingle 8 years ago

Where oh where did you get your yarn?!?!

0points

Courtney Yee 8 years ago

I love this! where did you get your yarn?

0points

Barb Proud 8 years ago

Love love love this!!

0points

ChettyMcClean 8 years ago

Are you still using roving to knit with?

0points

helenhamill 9 years ago

please tell me where to buy wool ar good price? h

0points

LindaFauvelle-Lacko 9 years ago

Fantastic! Wonderful offerings from our sheep friends!

0points

MichelleBurrows 9 years ago

WOW! I love this! How do I get my hands on wool and needles in Australia to make this?

0points

GunnHelenSture 9 years ago

Wow , love it ❤️

0points

VeraJohnson 9 years ago

I love it...i want to make this...i will make this

0points

MarionHeadrick 9 years ago

I think they are beautiful and good for you, that's an incredible job.

0points

Bev Tilson 9 years ago

Looks Great are you also a spinners ,as Knitter on huge needle

0points

BevTilson 9 years ago

Looks great are you a spinner too as a BIG YARN knitter

0points

Marielle Jimenez 9 years ago

génial !

0points

MarielleJimenez 9 years ago

génial !!

0points

bubamara 9 years ago

Cool.

0points

llbuccola 9 years ago

I suddenly want one.

0points

Laurie Barak 9 years ago

OMG KITTIES!!!!

0points

KathyGilman 9 years ago

Now that is talent...extra large!

0points

MeitalRaport 9 years ago

It's really amazing. Where can I see a totarial?

0points

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/

-3points

Load More Replies...

LanaKarim 9 years ago

Nice

0points

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

0points

sctntxtn13 9 years ago

And I thought I was doing good with my crocheting...

0points

fotogrl53 9 years ago

Love this!!

0points

floripa 9 years ago

amazing! can we buy them? :)

-2points

LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Load More Replies...

RebeccaVath 9 years ago

I must have missed something, where do you get the yarn?

-2points

AnyaAmsreob 9 years ago

You can buy whool at any good yarn store. It's usually sold like this to be felted.

-3points

Load More Replies...

ChrisJohnson 9 years ago

Little to no pain, they are released from any restraints and the happily run off. No pain.

-3points

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?

-3points

MartaSaftescu 9 years ago

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IsabelWhite 9 years ago

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ChrisJohnson 9 years ago

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Marie-CharlottePopp 9 years ago

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CajsaOscarsson 9 years ago

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JasonFord 9 years ago

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MartinW 9 years ago

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DianneHeinz 9 years ago

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Helpful 9 years ago

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RogerSullivan 9 years ago

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dbradley 9 years ago

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POST

lswhere 9 years ago

Too much animal pain just for a blanket. There is no need for this these days.

22points

Noor 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Load More Replies...

Thomas32 9 years ago

Quite disgusting. Wool is inhumane, as some are saying.

17points

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

9 years ago

yarn doesn0t necessarily have to be wool!

0points

MartinW 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

nicola22 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

MartinW 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Axel 9 years ago

You can find them at giantlycruelblankets.com or something...

11points

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...

2points

Load More Replies...

Axel 9 years ago

I would rather say Crueltina.

10points

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!

7points

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

2points

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.

1point

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?

0points

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

0points

Kimberly Dingle 8 years ago

Where oh where did you get your yarn?!?!

0points

Courtney Yee 8 years ago

I love this! where did you get your yarn?

0points

Barb Proud 8 years ago

Love love love this!!

0points

ChettyMcClean 8 years ago

Are you still using roving to knit with?

0points

helenhamill 9 years ago

please tell me where to buy wool ar good price? h

0points

LindaFauvelle-Lacko 9 years ago

Fantastic! Wonderful offerings from our sheep friends!

0points

MichelleBurrows 9 years ago

WOW! I love this! How do I get my hands on wool and needles in Australia to make this?

0points

GunnHelenSture 9 years ago

Wow , love it ❤️

0points

VeraJohnson 9 years ago

I love it...i want to make this...i will make this

0points

MarionHeadrick 9 years ago

I think they are beautiful and good for you, that's an incredible job.

0points

Bev Tilson 9 years ago

Looks Great are you also a spinners ,as Knitter on huge needle

0points

BevTilson 9 years ago

Looks great are you a spinner too as a BIG YARN knitter

0points

Marielle Jimenez 9 years ago

génial !

0points

MarielleJimenez 9 years ago

génial !!

0points

bubamara 9 years ago

Cool.

0points

llbuccola 9 years ago

I suddenly want one.

0points

Laurie Barak 9 years ago

OMG KITTIES!!!!

0points

KathyGilman 9 years ago

Now that is talent...extra large!

0points

MeitalRaport 9 years ago

It's really amazing. Where can I see a totarial?

0points

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/

-3points

Load More Replies...

LanaKarim 9 years ago

Nice

0points

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

0points

sctntxtn13 9 years ago

And I thought I was doing good with my crocheting...

0points

fotogrl53 9 years ago

Love this!!

0points

floripa 9 years ago

amazing! can we buy them? :)

-2points

LauraBirek (Post author) 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Load More Replies...

RebeccaVath 9 years ago

I must have missed something, where do you get the yarn?

-2points

AnyaAmsreob 9 years ago

You can buy whool at any good yarn store. It's usually sold like this to be felted.

-3points

Load More Replies...

ChrisJohnson 9 years ago

Little to no pain, they are released from any restraints and the happily run off. No pain.

-3points

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?

-3points

MartaSaftescu 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

IsabelWhite 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

ChrisJohnson 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Marie-CharlottePopp 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

CajsaOscarsson 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

JasonFord 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

MartinW 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

DianneHeinz 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Helpful 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

RogerSullivan 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

dbradley 9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

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No, I’m Not Thumbelina. I Just Knit With Giant Needles And Yarn

Like Atlas, but with wool

On the needles

Playing with scale

All balled up

It’s so squishy

Free People custom design

Giant yarn, cat + spinning wheel

My first attempt

Cabled Giganto-Blanket

Free People custom design

Quality assurance

Tiny cat?

Pure comfort

Games

Laura Birek

Laura Birek