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Nov 7, 2020

Arm Knitting 101



i've been knitting since i was in high school.  between playing field hockey and softball, i was on the bowling team (yes, the bowling team...it's a sport).  one year, my friends and i decided that we'd learn how to knit so we could knit between frames (stop laughing).  over the past ten years, i've knit tons of scarves and hats, but recently have just been struggling to find the time.  i'm the girl with 100 half-finished scarves laying around, including one i started making for aj when we first started dating...nearly three years ago.

enter arm knitting...the perfect answer to the heart that craves instant gratification.  it's incredibly quick (you can knit an entire scarf in an hour!) and you literally have to finish every scarf you start, because, well, you're using your arms as needles.  i knit two this week, and after posting photos on instagram and being asked for a tutorial, i whipped one up for you!



this was my second arm-knit scarf, and it's probably the best scarf i've ever knit...with needles or otherwise.  to knit a similar cowl, you'll need three skeins of a bulky yarn (i used loops & threads cozy wool yarn, which i picked up at michael's).  you could use all of the same color, or like me, three different colors.  each skein should be at least 90 yards.

this cowl, which wraps twice, measures 10 stitches across and about 57-60in long.  the ends are sewn together using the mattress stitch.





if you want the full details on how to make your own arm-knit cowl, check out this video tutorial (be warned:  my puppy barks about 3/4 of the way through)!  if you're interested in me making one for you, i'd love to do that!  they are $30 (+shipping) each and you can talk to me about a custom order by emailing me at [email protected]!


Handknitting Tutorial from Betsy Gettis on Vimeo.
video not working?  check out the hand knitting tutorial on vimeo!

33 comments:

  1. You are so creative!!! This is awesome. And LOVED your video!! ;)

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  2. Very nice job on the scarf! It looks beautiful! I crochet, but have never tried knitting.

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  3. I started knitting (with needles) about 2 months ago and have already made a few scarves as well as ear warmers and boot cuffs. I have yet to branch out into using two or more colors though which is my next task! Pinned this for later after I finish my current project!

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  4. I love this so much!! and there was no laughing over here about the bowling or the knitting . . . my husband started the bowling team at his high school. A large group of guys were that serious about it that they started the team. Those same guys now play in a league every Tuesday night. It's very serious.

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  5. This is so adorable! It would make a great gift idea.

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  6. I know how to knit but I have never arm knitted before. I want to try this!

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  7. Oh my gosh I loved watching the video!! You are so sweet in person (not surprised at all) and it's so wonderful to hear your voice. And this is such a cool gift idea-- can't believe you made that scarf during just one episode!! Thanks for sharing, Betsy!

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  8. Can't wait to try hand knitting this weekend :)

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  9. This is awesome! I saw one of your finished products on Instagram and was hoping you would share about how you did it! :) So cute!

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  10. yeah! i thought it would be fun to share a tutorial! let me know if you make one!

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  11. woo! let me know how it goes! i'm loving it!

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  12. awe, thanks Daisy! I love "meeting" other bloggers through videos, I always feel like I get a better feel for who they are for real! To be honest, it maybe took me an episode and a half. :) haha

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  13. you'll find it so easy if you already knit! let me know if you try it!

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  14. totally! so fun, and I love giving handmade gifts!

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  15. haha so glad. my parents used to be in bowling leagues! it totally feels super dorky any time i say it, but i really did love being on the bowling team!

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  16. so cool Kels! I want to make a few ear warmers and boot cuffs! I've done a few hats, but mostly, just scarves. I've experimented with more complex patterns, but I always come back to just knitting, because it's so mindless and easy and I can just do it while watching tv and stuff!

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  17. Thanks Bethany! I am horrible at crocheting! I completely forget how to do it five minutes after I'm taught! I haven't tried it in a while, but my grandmother definitely has tried to teach me at least 5 times!

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  18. Pinning this! I have always wanted to learn to knit!

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  19. abby - little city adventuresNovember 8, 2020 at 3:13 PM

    This is so fun! I should totally try this!

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  20. I've knit before but how would you do more than one color for this? Thanks!!

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  21. Good question! You just use multiple strands of yarn. Even if you do just one color, I recommend using three strands of yarn (you just knit them all together at the same time as if they were one strand). And you could do two or three different colors!

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  22. Do! And let me know how it turns out!

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  23. Woo! Thanks Anne! Knitting is so much fun :)

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  24. Ah you little knitting nerd! :) I'm excited! I need to watch your tutorial and make one! I am an instant gratification person..

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  25. This scarf is so cute. I love knitting. I had to learn for a class I took in college, but I found that I ran into the same problem as you -- a bunch of unfinished scarves. I can't wait to try this tutorial out!

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  26. Love love love. Weird thought, is is possible to do them less chunky? I feel like I have no neck so having a chunky scarf doesn't always look good on me!

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  27. Yes! totally... this one (http://instagram.com/p/u_4fXHHc6l/?modal=true) is just 8 stitches across and only 2 strands of yarn....it is definitely lighter and less chunky! It also depends on what kind of yarn you're using. If you go with something less bulky (like a #5 or even a #4) that will help it thin down a little as well! The less yarn and the thinner the yarn is, the bigger the holes will be in your scarf...and the fewer stitches you use, the thinner across it will be. This one, with 10 stitches, measures almost 12 inch across. You could cut that down to 5 stitches and it would be significantly thinner as well!

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  28. Thanks Mary! Yes...this is the dream then....I can commit to sitting down for an hour and knitting a scarf that I can wear the next day! I hate having all of those unfinished products, but I just don't have the time to knit a scarf over a few days!

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  29. haha definitely make one and then i want pics!!

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  30. Hey Betsy! Thanks so much for this tutorial! I FINALLY just got around to trying this, and it was so much fun! My first (real) knitting experience! :)

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