This is an Instructable on how to make yarn out of used bicycle inner tubes- perfect for everybody who has ever thought that their jumpers aren't rubbery enough.

Dead bike inner tubes are in abundance, ask your nearest bike shop or community bike workshop to give you some.

Not only can you knit (or crochet, sewing or whatever-else) for free, but you are reusing a waste material.

It is inspired by my favourite Instructable by Marcellahella- Knit With Inner Tube Thread

I have a few adjustments though, I feel my method makes the yarn a bit stronger.

You will need:

1 dead bike inner tube.
Scissors. (Not your best ones, this will blunt them rapidly.)
Piece of scrap cardboard.
Wooden knitting needles. (Preferably wooden but not essential.)

Step 1: Cut the Air Valve Out of the Tube.

Start with an intact inner tube.

Cut the air valve out of the tube by snipping straight across the tube either side.

You don't need the air valve now.

You are now left with a long tube of rubber.

Step 2: Cut Along the Seam of the Tube.

Run your scissors along the entire length of the tube.

You now have a really long flat piece of rubber.

Step 3: Cut the Rubber Into Yarn.

I have found the easiest and strongest way to cut the rubber into yarn is as follows:

Cut a thin strip up the long length of the rubber.

When you get to the top, turn a right angle with your scissors, continuing to follow the outline of the rubber strip.

Keep going with your scissors, following a spiral pattern, moving inwards, until you have one huge length of rubber yarn.

When you cut round the corners, keep the cut as rounded as you can.

The corners will have little excess flappy bits. You can tidy them up later if you want, depending on how bothered you are about neatness in your end knitting.

The thinner you cut the strips, the longer your yarn will be.

Different thicknesses make for interesting knitting!

Step 4: Make a Yarn Spool.

Cut a Capital "H" shape out of a spare piece of cardboard, and wind your rubber yarn round the bar in the middle.

Step 5: Do Some Kinky Knitting!

You can now get knitting!

I am using wooden knitting needles as there is less friction against the rubber.

I like my knitting to be quite loose- you need to experiment to find out what works best for you.

If you have plastic needles, you might want to add a bit more talc to the rubber (the white stuff which is already in the tube is talc.)

You can wash the talc off when you've finished knitting- that's the beauty of rubber.

Hope you all have rubbery knitty fun,
and stay kinky.