Friday, August 24, 2007

Looking for loads of loom patterns for free?

Ok well the best source for loom knitting patterns that I have found so far, is

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/loom_knitting.php

they have tuns, Also Bev's Country Cottage has a tun of them too. Bev worked pretty hard and has done awesome at looming tips and patterns. She also does a heck of a lot of charity and good works.

they just did all the work for you, so instead of googleing one pattern after another you just chose a project and they link you to it.

They did a great job, and I think I love them.

And for learning stitches and having a great tutorial on how to's I go to Isela Phelps at The Purling Sprite

Isela is my Hero, She has a book out called Loom Knitting Primer and I highly praise this book!

When my hubby is too busy to make my looms I buy them at D.A. LOOMS

So yeah thats my thoughts for the day. I hope they have lead you somewhere useful!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Another Day with no loomin at all

Ok well today is a busy day, schools coming soon and I have to get the kidlets organized. I am working on a shorties pattern on the yellow loom. they seem to be knitting up pretty big though.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Saturdays always go by so fast.

Today is rainy and ikky or as Pooh would say a very very Blustery Day.

My friend Becki Is FINALLY throwing a house warming party. So I will go and party with her once the kiddlets are in bed.

Whats on the loom?

Red KK is full of wool, I am making some slippers extra wide because my hubby has big wide feet.

Long double sided knitting board has loads of pink/blue baby yarn and has a big blanket on it.

Smaller 28" board has a washcloth on it.

I went to The Yarn Cafe and OH MY GOD what an awesome place that is! Loads of yarns in hanks and comfy couches with a fireplace near by! Also you can order yummy food, wine, beer and pop as well as coffees and such. I was in Heaven!

i got some yummy wool and they also had Rowan Big Wool on sale for 3.99. It was a very fun time.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

How to make a Round Knitting loom

My husband was nice enough to write up his instructions for making a round knitting loom.

Here they are.

Steps to make a round loom


1) Choose a square piece of solid hardwood like oak or maple ¾” thick. Find the center of the square and mark it.

2) Use the following formula to determine the circumference of the circle you need. The example in the formula is for a 48 pin, ¼” center to center round loom.

3)formula:

Take the number of pins(48) and multiply by the
spacing you want .25(1/4")
this will give you the circumference of the circle
which would be 12" next divide the circumference(12") by 3 and this will
give you the diameter of the circle you need which would be 4". Then just mark out the 2 axis lines
and continue to go around in 1/4" increments.
This worked out for me and I wound up with 48 c pins
1/4" center to center.

This formula should work for any amount of pins you need.


4) Now that you have your circle drawn and the pin locations marked, I drill a 3/32” hole for each pin(when using 1/8” cotter pins). Drill hole 3/8” deep for each pin. I used a drill press but a hand drill will work as well and cut cotter pins to the correct height you want.

5) Next draw a circle 3/8” smaller diameter from the center point this will be the center hole.

6) Draw a circle a 3/8” or larger diameter from the center point, this will give you the outer edge of your loom.

7) Cut the outer circle using a jig saw, cut the inner circle by drilling a hole in the center then cutting with a jig saw.

8) To install pins I put a flat head bolt in my drill press, held the pin in place and pushed it down with the drill press 3/8” down into the piece of wood. (note: drill press was not turned on)

9) Sand inner and outer edges, top and bottom till smooth, coat with paste wax(available at hardware stores) or polyurethane. I used the wax, it dries faster and you can use your loom right away!

10) Congratulations! Your all done!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

making a round Knitting Loom

A lot of women from my yahoo group Roundlooms have emailed my hubby to ask him how to space the pegs on there looms. Here is what he has told them. If you would like more complete instruction just drop me a line or comment and I will help you out with that... Well HE will because he is a super talented man!

So here is what he told me to tell you all!

Take the number of pins(48) and multiply by the
spacing you want .25(1/4")

this will give you the circumference of the circle

which would be 12" next divide the circumference(12") by 3 and this will
give you the diameter of the circle you need which would be 4". Then just
mark out the 2 axis lines and continue to go around in 1/4" increments.

This worked out for me and I wound up with 48 c pins
1/4" center to center.

This formula should work for any amount of pins you need.

I hope this helps!

More Loomy Goodness

Well this was a super fast knit. I used Rowan big wool in color Tricky.

I used the red KK loom and the pants took about 1 hour and the hat about 20 minutes because I had to stop a couple of times for life.

Here they are.

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and a pic of the yarn I used

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Ok So here is what I did.

I took the red KK loom. and I cast on 14 stitches then I used 2 by 2 ribbing .. thats knit 2 purl 2 for 4 rows.
then I just knit a flat piece for 25 rows using the ewrap, measure the infants leg.. i just guessed at the row number for newborn size. I cut the yarn and left it hanging in the middle of the loom.. then I skipped to pegs and cast on another 14 pegs (you should have two empty pegs on one side and one on the other) so then do another 2 by 2 ribbing for 4 rows. then another flat piece for 25 rows. using the e wrap. then I did NOT cut that yarn. I simply started knitting in the round along the whole loom even the pegs in between that where bare. I knit for 14 rows then started doing my 2 by 2 ribbing for the waist. I did this for 4 rows. then I used the super stretchy bind off. and seamed up the legs and crotch. and voila! wool longies.

then I just used the small blue loom to whip up a hat really fast.. this hat has NO brim I think it is less then 20 rounds though.

Good Luck!

Longies Pt 2

Ok well I am currently making some wool longies and a matching hat. I am trying to make an infant size 6ish months. To make for a friend who recently welcomed a new baby girl.

I am using Rowen wool in the colorway Tricky.. I think it is going to make a sweet looking pair of longies and hat.. I am worried about the wool and the hat though... not too sure if it will be scratchy.. so far it feels soft to me.

I will update with pictures and another how to on a red loom.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Longies on a knifty knitter

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these are about a 18-24 months in size

materials: Green knifty knitter round loom. 2 balls of wool yarn for longies... or regular worsted weight yarn for leggings. knitting tool of your choice and a tapestry needle.

leg number 1: using two strand held together,or 1 strand of thicker yarn cast on 16 pegs and knit 2 x 2 ribbing for 6 rows. 2 by 2 ribbing is simple.. Start first 2 pegs in the knit stitch next 2 pegs are purls next 2 are knits .. continue knit 2 purl 2 through the rows for 6 rows. then just e-wrap and knit for a flat panel, You want to measure your child's leg. I used 45 rows for this.
Now when you are done the 45 rows cut the yarn but don't bind off.. leave the yarn tail in the center of loom.


Leg number 2 :
move over 2 peg 16 pegs and make a second leg. when you have the desired number of rows, don't cut the yarn.. just start knitting in the round the whole loom even the pegs between. With the green loom you should have 2 empty pegs on either side, just knit them too. I knit about 25 rows. if you need to measure your child's rise that will help you too.. measure under the crotch to waist.

waist: knit another 4 rows of 2 by 2 ribbing. remember thats knit 2 purl 2 all the way around the loom.

I binded off using a stretchy bind off method used here: http://yarngear.com/looms/tips.htm

It seems hard but once you get the first 2 or 3 its easy peasy.

I took red yarn with my tapestry needle and just weaved it in the waist and legs.. and well done a pair of longies in as little as 2 hours, especially if you knit faster then I do. This took me about 3 and a half hours.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

So I did it!

I figured out how to make longies on a knifty knitter.

there was a huge storm last night and I was able to have nothing else to do but loom. SO I sat down and figured out how to do it.

For those that might not know.. Longies are wool or close to wool pants you knit up to put over diapers.. like cloth diapers. But I also know people that put them over disposable diapers to, because they have a super soaker kid that soaks through everything.

Wool longies are awesome I used them for my daughter and still do sometimes at night.

So I have 20 more rounds to go.. I have figured out it takes a little over 3 hours for me to do this. probably a little less for more speedy knitters.

I will post a pic of finished project and I will tell ya all how I did it!