LOOM PATTERN & VIDEO ALERT! Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well!
I wanted to announce to you today that my latest pattern is up on the vivaloom.com website! It is for my Chic Retreat Cowl with a lot of visual interest and texture. There is also a LOOM ALONG VIDEO, to go along with it & help you. I'd love for you to tackle this intermediate-advanced project to learn something new and exercise your creativity knowing there is a video to aid you the whole way.
You need to be able to use a small gauge loom with ability to knit in the round 96 pegs. It was written for the All-N-One loom but you can use the Martha Stewart loom with the for corner pieces and the two longest straight pieces & small pegs in every hole.
If you want to try a stitch sampler, cast on 17 stitches. Use the chart in the pattern to guide you. It will help with technique. The 17 stitches are for the chain lace part. The crossed sections won't be totally be even on crosses but you'll get the idea.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK:
This thought weighs heavy on me today. You don't have to get married or have children to define you as living or "having a life". Life does not START when you do. It saddens me when people think others HAVE to be married to define their life. Or that they are only a FAMILY when they have kids. That is bogus.
YOU DEFINE YOUR LIFE; not someone else.
What you do with your heart & passions speak about who you are. Use caution when making your religious question of "so when are you getting married?!" Or "when are you going to have kids". That may not be their desire or it could be but life has taken them different places. Why not ask "Tell me, what do you love?..." ;). THOUGHT FOR THE DAY, nothing more.
(....just thinking of hurt friends from well meaning but ill thought-out statements or questions from people. This recently happened to a friend of mine and one earlier in the year on the kiddo end. My heart goes out to them enduring years of this.)
It's the age ole adage. Put yourself into someone else's shoes.
What are your thoughts? Have you been hurt by comments like these? Have you unintentionally done this and hurt a friend? Maybe you or someone you know has. Comment below and tell us your stories.
Ohmygoodknits! Did you hear?! Loom Knitters Circle magazine is going to shut down again. That makes me sad. The next issue will come but after December it will go away again. Be sure to show your support and buy downloads of back & current issue of this fantastic online magazine! Maybe we can rally the troops a bit! http://www.loomknitterscircle.com/
Announced on their Facebook group today: October 18, 2012 "Dear readers,
We regret to inform you that LKC will be closing after the Winter 2012 issue. We had hoped that it would take off and that more submissions would be received. However, we have had the same few people submit every quarter. There are very few designers out there and unfortunately the magazine cannot sustain itself. The designers, columnists and the staff work almost free for each issue.
We had hoped that the sales of the magazine issues would help to pay fees and eventually increase the compensation to the designers, however, sales have not increased.
The next issue will be released at the end of this October. The last issue will be at the end of January.
Thank you for your support during our second try at the magazine" - Isela Phelps
Do you think you could help and pass the word?
I'd love to help hostthe site for back issues to remain avalable but not sure how.
I'd love to rally everyone and see what can be done but I know it needs a consistent audience to keep running an actual magazine. Let me know if you'd be interested in the issues still being available somehow. I've offered my help but we shall see.
Think of how impacting our loom knitting community could be if we all ban together to promote looming! That would be an amazing thing we could all do by going to our local Craft stores and bring some of our more unique items with looms to show to workers and passers by! It can just be you bringing your project bag at first. If it expands maybe they'll let some do their own demo table. Let's call it "Looms Occupy Craft Stores"! Or LOCS for short. LOL!!! LOCS of Love!
I could put together a video to promote it and even send mailers to people to pass out or email a PDF you could print and pass with a QR code to link to a video or my learning YouTube channel.
Let me know what you think!
Also PLEASE come request to join my Facebook closed type group mainly for loom knitters (open to needle & crochet, too!). We are on there 24/7 sharing ideas and helping each other. Here is the link. By the way it is a closed group to make our posts private to the rest of Facebook. It is also a safe zone there rated PG for my younger audience and friends. No bullying allowed. I hope you'll join us! Http://www.facebook.com/groups/LoomKnitClub
I have a fun & quick Holiday project to start, loom knit with jingle bell balls inside for you!!!
Use your scrap funky yarn for this and start churning them out!! :-) My idea for these fun decorative balls were to use them as ornaments, in a cluster hanging from a door knob or wreath in a bowl in holiday or non holiday colors, or any other cool idea you can come up with!
Watch the VIDEO below, Here are your supplies pictured below:
Knifty Knitter or Boye 12 peg bloom loom or other 12 peg large gauge loom.
scrap yarn with sparkle or other funky or special yarn you like
2 1/2" syrofoam ball or plain ornament ball about 2 1/2 "- 3"
jingle bells (optional)
felt or scrap contrasting color fabric to your yarn choice (covers ball inside)
scissors & something blunt to poke & scoop the styrofoam (can just use kid safety scissors)
loom knitting tool & crochet hook
Use a 12 peg bloom loom. Give as gifts or tie to a wrapped packages as well. Instead of styrofoam balls that I show with jingle bells inside, you can put these around your plain existing ornament balls as well. As a bonus i included my gift bow tutorial below it if you'd like to add a bow at the base of these balls or in a cluster on a door. (Learn How to Make a Bow) Have fun!....Here is the LOOM ALONG Video!
Need MORE? Watch how to Wrap a Package!..yup I'm whipping these out! LOL! Have fun everyone.
Kristen Mangus
GoodKnitKisses
http://www.goodknitkisses.com
http://www.facebook.com/groups/loomknitclub (JOIN US and Post your Pictures! :-)
http:/www.youtube.com/goodknitkisses
The photo above illustrates some of the most popular loom knitting picks or hooks on the market for your tool box. Some of these are included in kits found in local crafts stores or bought online only from reputable companies. I've laid them out side by side and set level at the bottom to illustrate height as well as the grips in better detail. Below, and in the photo, are the names of the companies with the name of the product. This blog is for illustration purposes only. It does not reflect my opinion or view. This is just to be used for reference. Thanks for checking it out. Feel free to pin this, share on FB or link to your own blog. Links are found by clicking the name of the company. This is not a complete list as it is ever growing. Feel free to comment if you have one I should add to the list. Again, some of these are NOT sold separate from the kits at this time.
A. Authentic Knitting Board - large ergonomic knit hook with comfort grip (sold exclusively at Jo-Ann's in stores only at this time)
Kristen at GoodKnitKisses hosts International Loom Knit and Crafting Club. This is a fluid and changing CREATIVE community that is open 24/7 for YOU, the crafter in Fibre Arts!
Follow GoodKnitKisses on YouTube, Twitter and especially our Facebook Group to hang with other crafters. We range from young to not as young, newbie to expert and everything in between! Everyone is super helpful, encouraging and creative! If you are in a slump, just ask for help at 3am and someone will answer soon I promise! We have many international fans to chime in as well so it really is a 24 hour/ 7 day a week community! Have fun and Happy Looming!! -Kristen
More on GoodKnitKisses:
Free Video tutorials on how to knit without needles on a loom, crochet, crafts and a few easy short cooking videos. Learn how to use a loom and patterns to make items on them. Various loom Along videos are constantly being created, filmed, produced and uploaded to YouTube just for you! Create your own design after learning the basics or loom along with Kristen at GoodKnitKisses as you go! Mikey aka Micheal Sellick at the Crochet Crowd, also has featured videos on crochet basics and crochet along tutorials as well. Get the latest loom and loom knit book reviews in video blogs as well! These are free to you!
Kristen does sell a few select patterns at vivaloom.com and her ETSY shop. In the future these may be offered in full video form as an unlimited rental on YouTube if we get enough positive feedback! :-)
Scroll down on the main channel page (main page from the YouTube link) To FEATURED PLAYLISTS. These are organized categories to help you navigate to the area you want first. Click the title and get your own personal link to bookmark for that playlist in the future! How cool is that?! If you play a video in the list, the next video will pop up right after the other is finished; this eliminates searching high and low!
We hope you join us!! Happy Crafting!! -Kristen
(adapted from the “Loom Knit Mesh Bag” by Kristen Mangus)
KnittingBoard All-n-One Loom (or other small gauge adjustable loom with at least 18 pegs to be made in the round). Can also be used on one end of 48" Universal S loom with wedge in place (use same number of stitches to cast on).
Skill Level: Beginner
USES: Small drawstring sachet size bag for small items or stretches for soap as a mesh.
YARN: 1 balls cotton or cotton blend (use scrap yarn less than 30 yards). Lion Brand Cotton Ease used in sample.
(Watch http://www.youtube.com/goodknitkisses for video tutorials on this bag design or SEE BELOW PATTERN POSTED)
Abbreviations: EW = E-wrap P = Purl
FLAT PANEL-
1. Set adjustable loom to 18 pegs. Using both strands of yarn E-wrap Cast on 7 stitches to loom in a flat panel. Counter clockwise to the starter peg, work as a flat panel in EW 10 rows making sure your working yarn is back to the starter peg for the next row.
BUILDING BASE OF BAG –
2. Leaving the panel on the loom, stretch the panel across the loom to the opposite side and place on pegs across. Now take the side stitches and place loops on adjacent pegs to stretch flat panel to fit on all pegs of the loom. Make sure to pick up ALL side stitches so your bag will not have an open hole. This is the bottom base of the bag. Wrap all pegs EW in a full circle and knit over leaving only 1 strands.
MAIN BODY OF BAG –
3. *Purl 2 rows
EW 5 rows* repeat *,* for a total of two sets
Purl 2 rows
EW 2 rows
BIND OFF –
4. Loose Bind off - This is similar to the Basic bind off. However, after each stitch moved over, and knit off, wrap the peg and knit off again before moving over. Begin Basic Bind off by wrapping the first leading peg & knitting off. (See GoodKnitKisses video tutorial for help)
DRAWSTRING –
5. Using a size I, J or K crochet hook, chain 50. Do not tie yet.
Weave the chain into the top of the bag between the knit stitch columns, just below the cast off . Weave back and forth between the outside and inside of the bag till you come to the beginning end. Tie the ends together and weave tail into the chain or simply cut off. The tied in can be repositioned into the inside of the bag if you like. Weave in all loose strands. Drawstring to close.
See end of review video for cast off at about 10 minute mark. For now till new video made.
USES:
Use as a sachet for potpourri or scented candle chips, feminine hygiene packet for purse or bag, other small items. Can stretch to use as a soap bar bag.
FLAT PANEL-
1. Using both strands of yarn E-wrap Cast on 5 stitches to round 12 peg loom in a flat panel. Counter-clockwise to the starter peg, work as a flat panel in EW 10 rows making sure your working yarn is back to the starter peg for the next row.
BUILDING BASE OF BAG –
2. Leaving the panel on the loom, stretch the panel across the loom to the opposite side and place on pegs across. Now take the side stitches and place 2 stitch loops at a time (the two held as one) on adjacent pegs to stretch flat panel to fit on all pegs of the loom. Make sure to pick up ALL side stitches so your bag will not have an open hole. This is the bottom base of the bag. Wrap all pegs EW in a full circle and knit over leaving only 1 set of two strands (the two color choices). For example the side stitches have 3 sets of two before knitting over on a few pegs that have extra side stitches.
MAIN BODY OF BAG –
3. Purl 2 rows
EW 5 rows
Purl 2 rows
EW 2 rows
BIND OFF –
4. Loose Bind off - This is similar to the Basic bind off. However, after each stitch moved over, and knit off, wrap the peg and knit off again before moving over. Begin Basic Bind off by wrapping the first leading peg & knitting off. (See GoodKnitKisses video tutorial for help)
DRAWSTRING –
5. Using a size I, J or K crochet hook, chain 50 with both strands held as one. Do not tie yet.
Weave the chain into the top of the bag between the knit stitch columns, just below the cast off . Weave back and forth between the outside and inside of the bag till you come to the beginning end. Tie the ends together and weave tail into the chain or simply cut off. The tied in can be repositioned into the inside of the bag if you like. Weave in all loose strands. Add bar of soap and pull drawstring to close.
CARE:
Hang bag up in shower or tub, wash as needed. Suggest making one for each person using the bag with many on hand to switch out for hygiene. Be sure to inspect for mildew and clean.
Other uses Kristen suggests to use as a sachet for potpourri or scented candle chips, feminine hygiene packet for purse or bag, other small items (suggest using one more strand to hold small items).
Music change! So if anyone noticed I changed my video music on my latest video in making a Cowl for Lion Brand Yarns on the Martha Stewart Loom. I cannot go back and change my old videos to this, unless I upload again, but I recently found out the music was associated with a terribly explicit song! DON'T ask me to tell you. It is shocking, embarrassing & really had me upset.
The jingle was originally written & approved for free use for Apple iMovie years ago but this "artist" put it in his music later and it's now registered so YouTube analyzed and flagged it. (The jingle in iMovie was named Buddy). My video was flagged for explicit lyrics, since I started to put the whole song in this time, can you believe?!!
So....you won't be hearing my old jingle anymore. It is a shame since I really liked it. But now, although I can legally use it and fight to win, I cannot get those awful lyrics out of my head. They do not represent me or GoodKnit Kisses. Thanks for reading!! -Kristen
Tell me your thoughts in comments below! Do you think I should have kept them? Do you like the new jingle?
Hello my fellow loom knitters! It's been awhile since my last blog. I've had many requests in the past & recently on how to make an Elf Hat for babies or newborns. Below is a written description of what I do to get that gradual cone shape & also a video on the decrease principle I use. We will use this technique over an over a few times to get that look. Please try this once with scrap yarn on the looms suggested to get the technique down first. Then try adjusting it from different loom sizes on your own. Please appreciate I cannot transpose to every loom for everyone but if you use the basic strategy it will work for you. Feel free to add rows or change it up to for your pattern. I'd love to hear back from you or in a video response on YouTube. Have fun!!
Let's say you are making a newborn Elf Hat on the 24 peg KK loom. I make my hat a few rows shy of the crown length I want to fit it to & then start my decrease. (Divide all pegs into 4 sections of six. Use my video but instead of knitting over 1 row after moving over the pegs, add 1 more row.) By the time you are done and have 12 pegs left on the loom, you will have 3 extra rows created to make it longer plus the 3 rows of decrease. [see video for decreasing by *Principle of Six - SEE BELOW POST]
Now thread a contrasting yarn through all the loops and transfer over to the 12 peg KK Bloom loom (or 12 pegs of a long loom with a loom clip). At this time go ahead and pull on the extra slack in the yarn so that your ladders between the stitches get smaller and so do the transferred loops. (Divide into 2 sections of six and decrease exactly as you did before adding an extra row. After this you should have 6 pegs with stitches on the loom and have added 3 extra rows to the length plus the 3 rows decreased.
Next transfer again, with contrasting yarn, to a long loom with a loom clip at the end. You will use the loom clip as 1 peg and 2 pegs on each side plus one end of the loom. Pull up the slack. Now you have the *"standard 6 pegs" to decrease again as before. Add 1 row extra between each decrease row as on the two looms before. You will have 3 pegs left.
Move the three pegs close to each other and pull up the slack. Knit two stitches together and continue as an i-cord until you have reached the length desired. Knit the last two together and knit last stitch. Cut a tail and pull through. Add a pom-pom and weave in any ends. Basically it's the same decrease over and over again with adding in extra rows along the way for a gradual decrease and cone appearance. (The hat in the picture above I did not continue with an i-cord to show what it would look like to leave short).
*PRINCIPLE OF SIX - My decreasing method divide the loom into sections of 6 pegs. The first round of decrease move all the 2nd pegs to the 1st peg. Wrap all remaining stitches left and knit off (KO). Next move all the 4th pegs over to the 3rd peg. Wrap all remaining and KO. Last, move all the 6th pegs to the 5th and KO. If a hat this finished the decreased crown, just cast off at this point or continue with transfer if for a longer crown. (On some looms the last section may be 5 or 7 pegs in the section. In this case just wrap and KO. If 8 then add one more row to move the 8th peg to the 7th, now wrap all left and KO.
LOOM PATTERN & VIDEO ALERT! Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well!
