Go Bowling: Contain Your Knitting with Money to Spare

Tina Hilton, contributor

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A big, lightweight plastic bowl is a handy way to contain your complex projects.

Tina Hilton

My new knitting vessel was the former home to "Caribe," my Stupid Sock Creature studio mascot.

Tina Hilton

Upside down, the bowl gives you a raised platform for picky knitting stability.

Tina Hilton

A big, lightweight plastic bowl is a handy way to contain your complex projects.

Photo: Tina Hilton

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Necessity is the mother of invention. I came up with this new knitting helper while I was starting on a new project recently. It began with 8 stitches on size 3 DPNs, so I was really struggling to get started with the pattern increases and juggling the needles even though I had my tongue out and was doing the prerequisite breath holding. Stitches were dropping and twisting, so I ended up ripping it out countless times. Using the surface of my sewing table to steady the bits and pieces seemed to work a little, but I needed to elevate my work to give it a little more stability. Looking up from my work, I spied the big bowls I use to hold my Stupid Sock Creature  supplies, so I dumped one out and flipped it over. Perfect! The crisis was diverted and I was on my way. Once I had several successful rows under my belt, I didn’t need the inverted bowl anymore, so I flipped it over and put my pattern, yarn, and project in it when I was done. Next time I was ready to knit, I took the bowl and its contents and just began knitting, keeping all the stuff in the bowl. When I  began the intarsia section, the yarn bobbins were supported by the bottom of the bowl, which prevented them from weighing down the knitting and somehow alleviated the tangling, too! Try the bowl method to tame all of your unruly craft projects!

I bet you have a lightweight plastic bowl tucked in one of your cabinets that you can repurpose as your yarn bowl. If not, head out to the dollar mart, thrift store, or discount mega market to score one of your very own.

Check out John Murphy’s gallery of brilliant Sock Creatures. You will fall in love and have to have one for your very own. John will whip one up to your specifications, or grab his book Stupid Sock Creatures at your local bookstore to create your own lovable monster.

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Comments (6)

Emilyofme writes: Ohhh its so sweat.Maybe i can try it for my little child...
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Posted: 11:09 am on December 21st

Tina_Hilton writes: Right you are about using 2 circular needles. I have that technique on the back burner for a future post.
Posted: 6:07 am on September 25th

MaraH writes: I just had a similar dpn problem. Now I know this idea has nothing to do with the bowl, which by the way is brilliant, but next time you have to start something tiny and or tight with dpn - use two same size circular needles instead. I found it wasy easier to manage the stitches because the needlse were flexible.
Posted: 8:47 am on September 21st

Jen1964 writes: Sounds good. When we first got married, Jack put a stop to my knitting in the car. I guess, given air bags, he's been right all along, so we compromised: crocheting in the car doesn't freak him out. Still, you need to contain the stuff! I've been using those oversized, lined, straw handbasket-type purses to keep my latest project portable. There's usually a little pocket in the side for the tiny stuff, and the rest is hard to miss. Always have a portable project!
Posted: 10:45 am on September 16th

Tina_Hilton writes: I love that idea and love those snacks. Guess I need to hit the snack asile...and then the gym!
Posted: 9:20 pm on September 15th

kmd811 writes: My Mother use to use those snack cans to put one skein of yarn in and cut a slit in the top to pull it through. It wouldn't tangle than. Whenever she would crochet anything.
Posted: 8:20 pm on September 15th

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