The swing needle technique uses two balls of yarn. Either divide your yarn into two equal balls, or use two different yarns or colors.

You will work two rows - one from ball 1 and one from ball 2 - in the same direction before ‘swinging’ your needles to work two rows back again. When using two colors, this creates one-row stripes with no need to carry your yarn up the side of your work. When using a variegated or multi-colored yarn, this greatly reduces color pooling.

Swing Needles can be ordered from The River John Needle Company. Or if you prefer, you can try using double-pointed or circular needles and slide your stitches from one end to the other.

HAVE FUN AND BE CREATIVE!


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  • This looks very interesting - I fancy having a go at this.  However, not being in the USA I will have to hunt round and see if I can find the needles somewhere here in the UK!

    • Rebecca, you can use regular double points or circular needles.  You just need to be able to slide your stitches to the opposite end and knit back :) 

      However, if you want needles like the ones in the video, you can order them from the River John Needle Company.  They will mail to the UK.

      Good luck.  I am looking forward to seeing what you will create ... xo

      • Aha - well thanks for the information that they will post to the UK.  I will wait till after Christmas and see what I can do in the New Year!

  • Hi Gloria, thanks for the video, I really enjoyed watching it. You have such a calm voice! Whenever I try to show someone how to do something I feel I'm taking ages, then I try to hurry and....that's when fingers turn into thumbs - not good. I will definitely give this technique a go. I tend to use circular needles all the time so they should be ok for this. Thank you so much, I love the stockinette tiny stripe, just love it.

    • Thank you, Janet, for the positive feedback.  I guess we all probably wonder, when teaching something to someone else, just how it's coming across to the learner :)  I thought throughout this video that it was taking ages, but there was a lot to cover so I just kept going.  

      Please share photos of whatever you make usung this technique.  I would love to see your creations :) ... xo

  • SWING KNIT TEXTURE

    2965451575?profile=RESIZE_320x320

    Terms used in this swing knitting pattern:

    SWING:  When both strands of your working yarn are at the same end, SWING (turn) your work as you normally would, and begin the next row with the next color or ball.

    MOVE & SLIDE:  Do not turn your work.  When you have one strand of your working yarn at each end, move stopper to opposite end of needle, slide stitches to other end and begin working back in the same direction as you worked the previous row.

    K:  Knit

    P:  Purl

    ____________________________

    With ball 1, cast on multiple of 5 + 3 stitches

    ROW 1:  With ball 1,*K3, P2*  Repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches.  K3.  SWING

    ROW 2:  With ball 2, repeat row 1.  MOVE & SLIDE

    Repeat Rows 1 and 2 to desired length.

    • Gloria, thank you so much for these patterns - I've used this technique in the past (with dpns) just to produce striped garter stitch, but I'll definitely give these stitches a go!

    • Thanks for creating the video, Glo....I think even I will be able to do it....lol.  xo

  • SWING KNIT LADDERS

    2965451559?profile=RESIZE_320x320

    Terms used in this swing knitting pattern:

    SWING:  When both strands of your working yarn are at the same end, SWING (turn) your work as you normally would, and begin the next row with the next color or ball.

    MOVE & SLIDE:  Do not turn your work.  When you have one strand of your working yarn at each end, move stopper to opposite end of needle, slide stitches to other end and begin working back in the same direction as you worked the previous row.

    RS:  Right side of work.

    WS:  Wrong side of work.

    __________________________________________

    This pattern uses two colors.

    With ball 1, cast on a multiple of 4 + 3 stitches

    ROW 1 (RS):  With ball 1, knit across.  MOVE & SLIDE

    ROW 2 (RS):  With ball 2, *Knit 3, Slip 1 with yarn in back*   Repeat between * and * to last 3 stitches.  Knit 3.  SWING.

    ROW 3 (WS):  With ball 1, *Knit 3, *P1*  Repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches.  K3.  MOVE & SLIDE.

    ROW 4 (WS):  With ball 2, *Knit 3, Slip 1 with yarn in front*.  Repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches.  Knit 3.  SWING.

    Repeat Rows 1 to 4 for pattern.

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