How I Knit Without Looking // Quick Tips // ¦ The Corner of Craft

[@jurrassitol15]

Definitely agree its just practice to be able to knit without looking…i always get amazed looks when I’m travel knitting and I’m staring at the tiny tv screen and I continue to knit…i knit English style as well, and i find that i “roll” the stitches on my left needle in between my fingers to feel where they are, as well as the right needle being in contact with the left needle to figure out where to insert it. As they say practice makes perfect…

[@currysnores]

I knit the same way you do, taught by my mother. Of all the knitting videos I've watched you are only the second person I've seen knitting this way.

[@TatakCrafts]

Sounds like this took a lot of practice to get to the level where you are now! All the hard work you put into knitting must be paying off! 🧡🧡

[@punkafoo]

I pretty much learnt the same way as you did with watching how you knit and feeling and taking mental note. I can't crochet without looking either, I think it's more you haven't got the mental note or feel the stitches as much as you can with knitting.

[@melissaamber7307]

Just getting into this myself 😊 it does come when you do a lot of repetitive work. I find I use my left finger to find the yarn and insert the right needle, sort of guiding it under. This was a fun video thanks love!

[@MyPinkBathtub-Diane]

Hi from Canada 🇨🇦 ! I knit without looking all the time, especially cabled mittens as my muscle memory just...can... can't explain it. I also sell at craft markets and find it comforting to knit while there ( it gives me something to do when it's slow and calms my nerves). I have conversations with people and they are always blown away that I can. I can't knit in a car unless it is very basic knitting. Car sick.

[@sesebellas]

Hey Hannah ❤ haven't watched your videos in a while on the Tube (always enjoy your stories on the Gram). I would be surprised to learn that there's someone able to crochet without looking, since the motion is completely different, way more complex and especially the "stabbing" of the previous row so crucial to the whole process that doing it without looking seems to me quite an achievement!! With knitting, the needles support the stitches and help you find the next one to stab, not so in crochet. Maybe that's why. Do let me know ❤

[@dawndragon3246]

once when I was working on the body of a sweater I closed my eyes and almost fell asleep while knitting, lol. It's just something you pick up after doing it for years and years. I can do knits and purls, but thats it, lol. This is a very good tips trick tho! My mom can crochet without looking, but I am not there yet, lol. Good luck with learning that though!!

[@alicemerray]

I haven't consciously decided to try to knit without looking but I find that - as you say, with stocking stitch only - I am just doing it sometimes. (ETA: English style too ) If I *realise* I'm doing it, it usually results in me going back to looking, which is probably about a lack of confidence. I have found though that I can immediately feel a difference if for example I insert the RH needle into the wrong place, such as splitting the yarn or knitting into the stitch below. It does just feel wrong and pulls me up short. I'm not sure I am ready to try it deliberately, such as at the cinema, but I think most people can probably trust their muscle memory more than they realise.

[@jessikafisher7973]

I jumped in to knitting in the dark/not looking with out any prior knowledge on how to knit with out looking. I took a slouchy stockinette beanie in to a movie with me. That first hat done in a movie was bad. But I have gotten better. Lol. Still have the hat and still wear it.

[@tessalina]

I agree with slowing down. I would say if you are used to speedy knitting then it will be painstakingly slow. However this will be key as you will learn to feel the stitches, the path of your needles, and how your hands move. Also agree that not all projects are made for knitting without looking. It is easy enough to fix a dropped knit stitch but a lot harder to fix dropped lace stitches or short rows or colorwork.

[@sydssong]

So glad you also mentioned a different tension technique. I could never tension as instructed, nor do I hold my pencil correctly- but, I can draw and knit/crochet in my own way. Just don’t take lessons from me 😂

[@thecornerofcraft]

But other people who have issues with tensioning may find your technique helpful! There's no "right" way of doing anything really x

[@jadedragon881]

I can knit and crochet without looking and I am consistently just feeling where I am with my hands. Double checking that no stitches have been dropped and that what I’m doing feels right.

[@sadeva6532]

Oooh thank you Hannah! I was wondering how you do that. I will be sure to try it! Do you have a video that explains how to do magic loop knitting? I wasn't able to find one on here from you and was wondering.

[@thecornerofcraft]

I don't have a video on that yet! I'll try to remember the next time I cast on a sock x

[@StarrFyrestick]

I also knit English style (throwing) and I've been knitting without looking for years. I can do stocking stitch and a basic rib pretty confidently in the dark. For me it was a conscious decision to learn how because I have a fear of going blind and not being able to knit anymore. I started out how you suggested, with a few stitches at a time and eventually built up from there.

[@thecornerofcraft]

That's a good reason to learn. My grandma's eyesight is nearly completely gone and while she can't knit like she used to, I have a blanket upstairs that she made a few years ago ❤️ x

[@carollee188]

Omg knitting without looking is a game changer you can read watch tv etc. I can only knit stocking stitch without looking no patterns for me

[@natasja7384]

Same

[@ildonoa3928]

I can't crochet without looking either, and I started with crochet. I think it is because I have to aim the hook? There are too many avenues for the hook if you aren't looking. I knit continental and since I have my middle finger of my left hand on the next stitch, I'm using my sense of where my finger is in space to guide the needle in motion. I also have the texture difference of the needle versus the knitted fabric, which helps me orient the needle in the vertical direction. I think I would need to change my crochet method to manage to crochet without looking, and I can't be bothered at this point.

[@phillyrcj]

I totally agree with you. I do both crochet and knit but I started with crochet. You do have to find the spot to stick the hook in and that takes some practice to do without looking. It can be done with simple patterns like a plain granny square. You can get around without looking but might need to look down at the tart and end of the round. When I knit I throw and can knit in the dark something simple like stockinette. I can also knit while walking, but I have trouble purling while walking. Weird.

[@spooniecrafts]

I knit "English" style and can knit and purl without looking. I also "tension" my yarn the same way as you!

[@thecornerofcraft]

Tension twins!! x

[@spooniecrafts]

@@thecornerofcraft are you a loose knitter too? Except in the stress of D&D battles 😂

[@claretrevor8111]

My BF performs in the summer Shakespeare Festival here. He is less than pleased when I knit when he is on stage.😂 I realized last week… I was knitting without looking and was watching the show. Last night 3 members of the cast (right before the show) pointed and yelled, “Knitter!” at me j’accuse style. 😂😂

[@jeffersonmorant]

That’s so thoughtful of you Clare, Thanks for your positive review,How are you and how’s the weather over there?

[@thecornerofcraft]

Does he find it distracting? I guess people who don't know would think that we're not paying attention x

[@claretrevor8111]

@@thecornerofcraft He finds the head down and hands moving distracting... so I just stop when he's on stage... and he's on stage a lot for this one, he's playing Antipholous of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors.

[@annabauer5889]

I think it helps to use a yarn that isn't prone to splitting, otherwise it requires more attention. Schöne Grüße aus Deutschland 🙃

[@lavendercottagefibrearts]

I think it’s good to bring a backup project. Sometimes you will feel that you’ve made a mistake eg split the yarn or something and can’t see to fix it, so if that happens to me I can then switch to my other sock.

[@thecornerofcraft]

That's a really smart idea x

[@acertainstyle]

I think crocheting without looking is so much harder because with knitting, your stitch loops are held in a pretty consistent place by the needle, so it's much easier to learn that movement/feel memory and be confident you've knitted into the right place. But with crochet, there is nothing holding the stitches you are working into so I think it's much harder to be sure where you're inserting the hook without looking.

[@stohandmadejewelrycraftcorner]

Thank you so much. I don’t know how to knit 🧶. How will recommend that I can get started? Thank you so much.💕😊🙏🏾

[@thecornerofcraft]

Oh amazing! There's so many amazing videos on here showing how to knit. I like Very Pink Knits. She's very good at explaining. x

[@stohandmadejewelrycraftcorner]

@@thecornerofcraft Thank you so much.😊🙏🏾💕

[@pammyers1982]

Lol. Great subject! ❤

[@thecraftyweaver]

I learnt to knit without looking because I wanted to be able to knit, watch TV and weave Harris Tweed at the same time, while drinking coffee and eating chocolate!!! It was just practice, practice, practice and a lot of dropped stitches.

[@thecornerofcraft]

That's impressive!! A good reason to learn though x

[@ILS986]

Bahaha. I'm not saying get drunk to improve you're knitting....

[@sharonsutcliffe]

I think it’s amazing that people can knit/crochet In the dark. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that 😂 x

[@thecornerofcraft]

Never say never! I didn't think it'd be something I could do either but here we are x

[@virgenetyrrell2434]

I knit without looking English style, but I really knit in a weird way. My left needle has to be positioned in my lap. I can’t knit without doing that. I also take a second sock to the movies (just in case)

[@melloncollie5429]

I can knit without looking very often but I cannot crochet without looking!!

[@katumlang8265]

When I first started knitting I would end up knitting without looking on accident, it went pretty well until I became aware I was doing it without looking then I couldn’t do it anymore. Eventually I figured out how to do it on purpose but it was pretty funny 😂

[@jeffersonmorant]

Seems you’re an expert now, Thanks for your positive review Kat,How are you and how’s the weather over there?

[@fabulousjaxx]

I can't knit but I can crochet without looking

[@crafterconfessions6877]

Get drunk and play D&D. Ok, got it !

[@thecornerofcraft]

😂😂 I guess that's kind of what I said!! x