Super Afghan Loom or The S Loom

Last week while Jo-Ann's had the knitting board's (www.knittingboard.com) Super Afghan Loom ( S Loom) on sale I decided to buy it.

I'm working on the Basketweave Blanket pattern (60" x 42") that came with the loom. Other afghan patterns are included as well.

I'll let you in on some of my tips and tricks...

I found that I HAD to use a tool to cast on instead of using my fingers which I've always used with my other looms. This empty Bic pen threaded onto my skein of yarn first before starting the project worked great.

The 2 black markers mark the beginning and end of the loom row. They also mark to remind me that I need to slip that end peg at the beginning of each row. I used painter's tape to mark every 8th peg for the pattern. And to further mark the pattern I cut up a fast food straw in several sections to slip over the pegs marking the start of my knit stitch for 8 pegs. A thinner straw marks the start of my purl section of 8 pegs. This marker I move as I knit along - marking my next set of 8 purl stiches. But, I marked the WHOLE loom first with straw sections to signify the start of my knit stitch section of 8 pegs. As I knit the sections I remove the straw markers until I get to the end of the row and then replace them for the next row.

At first it was a bit awkward to cast on, hold and knit with, but you get into a pattern of how to hold it as you knit around the loom. It's well made, sturdy, just the right size (not too big) and using the pick that came with it makes knitting very easy on this loom.

I'm loving it and recommend it highly.

Today Was A Good Day

Today I received a surprise in the mail from Editor - Alexis Gargagliano at Simon & Schuster, Inc. I was lucky enough to score a free hardcover copy of Strangers at the Feast: A Novel by: Jennifer Vanderbes to be released/published August 3, 2010 by Scribner.

"Family conflict, fascinating social commentary, and a riveting plot coverge in Jennifer Vanderbes' stunning Strangers at the Feast, a thriller that also raises large and haunting questions about the meaning of guilt, innocence, and justice." - O, The Oprah Magazine.



And, tonight at Walmart I picked up in the crafts dept. Boye's I taught myself to LOOM KNIT . All the projects in this booklet complete with a DVD are by Brenda Myers who I'm proud to say is a talented Internet friend of mine. I have made a few posts here in my blog about little looming projects I've completed using some of her FREE patterns that you can find at her website.

Homemade Baby Rattles

Homemade Baby Rattles

Take a plastic Easter egg, a couple of jingle bells, some tape, some scrap yarn and a bit of skill and you can make a baby rattle.  Click on the photo for a close-up view.

I used Kelly Jones'  free pattern copyrighted in 2009 and made several changes to it.  Kelly's website is www.kellyknits.com - Her Patterns.
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BTW - I'm going to be a Grandma for the second time this coming September.  It's another boy!  :o)

Valentine's Day Mini Neck Scarf

Remember this that I started by Bethany?

Well, I screwed-up the bind-off. There was nothing wrong with the pattern directions. I just didn't fully understand the bind-off used so mine wasn't as neat and pretty as it should have been. So, I decided to crochet the bad end to make it look better and just call it quits halfway through the pattern and make this mini neck scarf with white, heart buttons for Valentine's Day rather than a Winter Whimsy.

But, I do want to actually make a Winter Whimsy, but find a different bind-off that I can understand for the board. I did the bind-off for the cast-on end that used waste yarn just perfect. This isn't the first time I've had problems doing a bind-off. I cast-on and knit along perfectly and then screw-up at the end. For some reason, I just have problems understanding some directions for it. I can't follow what the pattern is saying or follow fine and then lose my place as to what I'm doing - thus messing it up. Maybe one of these days I'll have a light bulb moment, and it'll all make sense to me.

Winter Whimsy By Bethany

Learning something new. Red for Valentine's Day.

Loom Knit Set

To start the new year this is the set of wrist warmers/fingerless gloves and matching scarf that I made for my daughter. Wrist warmers are popular again because of the movie, "New Moon".

I started out making wrist warmers using an on-line pattern and then created my own pattern. But, this pair was made using that pattern making a few changes of my own along the way (ie. a smaller thumb hole and a longer length) and using a different size and brand of loom after looming a pair as per pattern directions.

Yarns used:

Wrist warmers - Red Heart Super Saver in the color 0360 Cafe (100% Acrylic - #4) held together as one with a discontinued yarn by Universal Yarn, Inc. called Twister Space in the color #26 (44% Polyamide, 34% Wool, 17% Acrylic, 5% Cotton - #5 Bulky).

Loom Used: "In The Attic" purple, flexible mitten loom (the larger of the set)

Scarf - Red Heart Super Saver in the color 0360 Cafe (100% Acrylic) held together as one with Bernat Softee Chunky in the color Natural (100% Acrylic - # 5 Bulky).

Loom Used: I used the same loom for the scarf as I did the wrist warmers minus 2 pegs I believe - flat panel loom knitting.

I was much happier with the wrist warmers than I was with the scarf. The next scarf I make will not be e-wrap a row and then purl a row. It took forever. I have yet to learn how to use the KK purple board and my other wood boards. I'd like to make my next scarf using one of them.

Finally...

these loom knit Scrubby-Os look so much better. Not surprising when you follow the pattern correctly. :oP Bethany's Scrubby-Os

Etsy On Hold...

UPDATE:

All have been listed at my Etsy shop with FREE Shipping. Check them out...
http://www.sewartitisbykittyred.etsy.com

Blue, butterfly purse key chain has been ~SOLD~

Some mini, purse key chains that I designed and crocheted earlier this summer and have yet to get them listed in one of my Etsy shops. It's been such a busy summer for me where crafting and Etsy have taken a back seat to gardening. I think it's been pretty slow over at Etsy anyway with the slow economy, but soon Christmas shopping will be in swing - hopefully. Surely I can get them listed by then...



Also waiting to be listed is a set of 4 loom knit coasters and matching napkin ties that should have been listed at the start of summer before July 4th. *sigh*

What I'm Working On Now

I kinda took a vacation from loom knitting for about a month because of my hand/fingers hurting. But,...

I'm now currently working on a set of coasters using a fine gauge loom and cotton yarn.



I've been watching a lot of video demonstrations lately on crochet and needle knitting that makes me want to get my knitting needles and crochet hooks out again and start a project for both.

My New Grandson William

Here's a couple of pics of my grandson with the Butterfly Pocket Hat and the Bunny Security Blanket that I designed and loom-knit for him.

He's 2 months old here. Is he a cutie or what?!?

More Knitted Wire & Bead Bracelets

All knitted with nylon-coated wire bought at Walmart, "fashion cord" - Silver, .45mm and Gold, .30mm.

I'd like to try making a wide, cuff with little beads and wire that will bend and stay stiff.

Knitted Wire & Beads

I was playing around tonight trying my hand at loom-knitted wire and bead jewelry. My inspiration came from Bethany here.

I knitted this bangle bracelet out of 24 gauge wire and glass pearl beads. The gauge of wire wasn't really what I wanted to use, but that's all I have right now. I need to get a thinner wire that's easier to work with, but it was a good practice piece as I'd never knit with wire before.

Click on the pic for a closer view...

Tube Bed Socks/Slippers

I've never been so glad to get a loom-knit project done.

These tube bed socks/slippers I designed for hubby were supposed to be for Christmas and when I didn't get them finished (was knitting a lot of baby items) they were to be part of his birthday on January 14. Well, at least I finished them before January is over. :o) I hate stuff sitting around unfinished.

I don't know if it's the yarn I used (that looks and feels like wool, but isn't - Red Heart Super Saver - Aran Fleck) or the stitch I used or both, but I ended-up with a blister and really sore hands making them.

I used two stitchs (right now I forget what they are called) where you knit 2 over 1 for 1 row and 1 over 2 for the body of the sock which makes them thick. The yarn is vintage from my mom's stash, and it doesn't stretch very much. If the photo isn't clear it's a creme with flecks of brown, black, rust and grey.

If anyone wants the pattern - Here it is quickly...
Next time I will use a softer yarn...This pair is a little stiff, but they should be warm.

Bed Tube Socks/Slippers - Fits men's size 11-12 (women's size 8-1/2-9).

Two strands of #4 yarn held together as one. (2 skeins, 5 oz each, 260 yds - not completely used)
Knifty Knitter small, blue loom - knitting in the round.
Stitches/methods used - E-wrap CO, E-wrap stitch, 2 over 1 for 1 row, 1 over 2, U-stitch, and Gather BO.

E-wrap cast-on all pegs.

E-wrap stitch for 12 rows (Knit 1 over 1) Pull-up for cuff.

Row 13 - Knit what's on the loom without wrapping - 1 over 1.

Wrap the loom twice - you will have 3 sets of 2 (each 2 strands = 1) on each peg.

Row 14 - Knit 2 over 1.

Wrap the loom twice - you will have 3 sets of 2 (each 2 strands = 1) on each peg.

Row 15 - Row 100 (70 for women's) - Knit 1 over 2.

Row 101 (71) - Knit what's on the loom without wrapping - 1 over 1.

Row 102 (72) - Row 106 (76) - Switch to the U-stitch and knit for 5 rows.

Gather Bind-Off (Like you would do for a hat).

More Completed Projects

A tote for my 10" Authentic Knitting Board.
I made-up the pattern as I went along...




Changeable Towel Holder - My fav towel holder ever...
Pattern By: luvtoloom.wordpress.com

Felting Before & After

My first knitted felting project. I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.

You can find the free Rosette Clutch pattern here...
http://gettinitpegged.com/freebies/

More Brenda Brilliance

I finished 3 more of Brenda's bells and finally made her Belle Angel too.

I revised the pattern a bit for mine, but I love her picot cast-on/stitch. That would make a great edging for a hat.

My angel's hands are in a muff, and for the body and head I used the small end of the KK spool and did the e-wrap stitch instead until 4" long. It makes a slightly bigger head and rounder face.

Once again patterns for both can be found at Brenda's BLOG.

Now, I need to get to finishing-up hubby's Xmas present.

More Bells

Brenda's Knifty Christmas Bells Pattern

I finally got one of Brenda's ornaments done from my on-line looming class. It took me 2 days (or was it 3 (?) to find where I'd put my jingle bells in my craft room...lol.

I used "Home For The Holidays Glittering Yarn" by Darice that I bought after Christmas last year at Michael's for only 10 cents. It was only .3 oz. on a card, and I used almost all of it for this one bell.

I combined it with Hobby Lobby's - "I Love This Yarn!" in Mistletoe Ombre. I think it came out rather nicely only that glittering "yarn" (which is really kinda like plastic tinsel on a string) doesn't stretch hardly at all so I ended-up having to take out the pegs of the KK flower loom to finish it.

I'm anxious to try another one using only 4-ply yarn. I also want to make a gold cord bell and an angel if time permits.

You can find all of Brenda's wonderful patterns here at her blog:
http://loomlady.blogspot.com/

Love This Cotton Yarn's Color

Folded and ready for the guest bathroom...
Cotton Yarn used: Peaches & Creme in Peppermint #191

The bookmark was knit on a FG 6.5" knitting loom with a crocheted border. It started out to be half of a dishcloth that I was going to piece two together to make one , but because my hands were hurting working the knit stitch on the fine gauge loom I turned what was going to be a dishcloth into a bookmark instead.

I finally did knit a washcloth/dishcloth using the Knifty Knitter round, blue loom (smallest) instead.

We're knitting a flat panel, Wrap 3 times - Knit 1 loop over 2 until about 9", Crochet BO, Crochet edging on two sides (the CO and the BO sides).

Featured Project

I'm honored that my Bunny Baby Security Blanket/Matching Booties which was made from a pattern that I created and wrote was chosen to be the first featured project of a new Yahoo group - The Knifty Knitter and Loom Knitting Group.