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Swing Needles - How do you use them?

Thank you for purchasing our Swing Needles. Following are a few suggestions to get you started. Have fun and be creative!

First you will need to work with two balls of yarn. Either divide your skein into two equal balls or you can use two different yarns.

Option #1 (horizontal rib)
The easiest way to use your swing needles is to knit every row. After casting on with one of the balls follow like this:

• First row: Knit with ball #1. Remove stopper and place on the opposite end. Do not turn your work.

• Second row: With ball #2. Knit, beginning at the same place you began with row #1. At the end of the row turn and start again with ball #1 as in row #1.

• Continue with these two rows.

The pattern that these rows produce is very different. Something you couldn’t easily get with regular needles. It looks likes a horizontal rib.

Option #2 (garter stitch)
Now if you want add a little “swing” to your needles!
You can knit garter stitch with the needles.
Cast on as in option #1. Follow like this:

• First row: With ball #1 knit. Remove stopper and place on opposite end. Do not turn your work.

• Second row: With ball #2 Purl beginning at the same end you began with row #1. At the end of the row, turn your work.

• Third row: With ball #1 Purl .Remove stopper and place on opposite end. Do not turn your work.

• Forth row: With ball #2 Knit. Turn your work.

Repeat these four rows and you have a garter stitch.

Option #3 (stockingette stitch)
Now another popular stitch in knitting is stockingette stitch.

• First row: Knit with ball #1 Remove stopper and place on opposite end. Do not turn your work.

• Second row: Knit with ball #2 Beginning at the same end that you began with row #1. Turn your work.

• Third row: Purl with ball #1 Remove stopper and place on opposite end. Do not turn your work.

• Forth row: Purl with ball #2. Turn your work and repeat from row one.

Once you feel comfortable with the concept of swing needles, there are many more stitches in the world of knitting. Be creative and see what you can come up with using your swing needles. Try using two different colours for ball 1 and 2 and you get instant stripes without having to carry your yarn.

NOTE: The nobs on your needles may become loose. (They will do this because the hole in the wood tends to expand with use). If they do loosen, you can make them tight again by threading a piece of thread or thin yarn, through the hole in the nob and tying a knot.

If you need any help or have any questions about swing needles, please call in or contact us.

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