At first glance, this blanket looks like it was plucked right out of a Looney Tunes episode and that it can't be real. But we assure you it is.
Anna Merinenko, the well-known extreme knitter from the Ukraine who made this blanket, says giant knitting is pretty much grandma's knitting, only on steroids.
Advertisement
"I think this type of knitting has become more popular because it is quite unusual but in the same time very traditional technique," Merinenko told The Huffington Post.
But while the stitches might be the same, the tools are not. In fact, the actual knitting needles used for these huge creations could definitely be mistaken for baseball bats.
Advertisement
And if you can't get your hands on the unique over-sized needles, people have been known to use broomsticks, PVC pipes and even just their own arms. Merinenko has used all of the above. The 27-year-old has been knitting since she was a child but only discovered -- and fell in love with -- giant knitting in the past few years. She now sells her handmade, over-the-top fashion and home decor creations via Etsy and says the demand for her pieces is sky high. She hopes to launch a Kickstarter campaign for her company in order to make her products, which are made out of giant merino wool, more widely available and more affordable.
The jumbo yarn that's needed to create these larger-than-life designs is hard to find and expensive. Due to its sheer size and softness, it's very difficult to find shops that carry it -- and when you do, it's going to cost a pretty penny. The amount of yarn needed to make a small 20 x 40-inch blanket could run you upwards of $125.
Joelle Hoverson, co-founder of Purl Soho, a knitting shop located in New York City, says that her customers are clamoring to get their hands on jumbo yarn.
Advertisement
"We're constantly selling out of our thicker yarns," Hoverson told HuffPost. "People are buying it like crazy."
Although the store doesn't sell the largest yarn that's out there, it recently started to carry a bulkier style they call Gentle Giant after it was flooded with pleas to offer bigger material. But it's still nowhere near the size of giant yarn.
"We're always asking the yarn companies that manufacture the yarn if they can make it bigger," Hoverson explained. "But there are limits to what they can do, technically."
That hasn't stopped folks from getting in on the giant knitting trend. Once they do get their hands on some supplies it's easy to create something eye-catching in no time.
Advertisement
"It's very simple. All you have to know is the knit stitch," Hoverson said.
Since one stitch goes a long way and intricate designs aren't needed with such bulky yarn, giant knitting is a great way for knitting newbies to get into the hobby.
With that said, if you've been inspired to try it out, take a look at these Instagram accounts of our favorite giant knitters and prepare to swoon over a few of their shoppable creations.
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.