What are the advantages of knitting boards?

The last time I knitted with a knitting board was in kindergarten. I wonder who uses something like that? Compared to regular knitting needles, it seems incredibly time-consuming to me. Why do people even use knitting boards—are there any advantages?

Hey there 😊
What exactly are knitting boards? I’m familiar with those knitting rings—which are basically just large knitting dolls. Is that what you mean?

Best regards, Nina

Hi Nina,

yes, the technique is the same. I’ve known about the “Strickliesel” since my earliest childhood—it was basically my first knitting project. Knitting rings are larger. Knitting boards come in straight or coiled varieties. They’re also called knitting benches, knitting rings, knitting frames, or knitting looms.

I think the term is “looming.”

I’ve seen one with almost 200 stitches—I can’t imagine working with something like that. It’s definitely faster to knit with needles.

Hey there!

Maybe they’re a good option if you can’t work well with both hands (anymore) or if you only have one hand. Or if you’re prone to tendonitis but still enjoy working with yarn.
Or if you just don’t have a “knack” for regular knitting.
For kids, these are also easy ways to “knit” if they’d like to but can’t handle knitting needles yet or don’t have anyone to teach them.
I can definitely see that.

Maybe there’s someone here who likes working with these tools and can correct me or enlighten us.

Best regards, Nina

I did some research.
These knitting boards are supposed to make it easier for children to learn how to knit.

Hi Nina, if your hands are in bad shape, these knitting boards aren’t really the answer either. I had some and gave them away. One of my grandsons (27) saw them and asked what I was doing with them. I said they were going out because I had thought they would make things easier for me. He just said, “No, Grandma, Mom should show me how it works,” and now he uses them to *knit*. He says it’s a great way to balance out his woodworking with saws and the like

Best, Inge

I had to Google it and watch a video. Oh my gosh, no—knitting is faster. The knitting dolly already drove me crazy, but this? Ugh!