Loom Knitting Will Get Me Through..............

..........the summer heat and humidity !  UGH !  Hate it so much.  Thank-goodness I have a little something to keep me out of it !  :)  

I'm still having fun with loom knitting.  I've made a couple ruffle scarves and have started another blanket.  All that fun is also causing me some allergy issues.  sigh.  It's always something with my nose for cryin' out loud !  Would seem it's most likely dust causing me so much trouble.  The process of manufacturing the yarn then winding it all up in a skein or ball traps all that dust.  Unravel the yarn to knit with and wha-la - all that dust is released.  That's the consenses anyway.  And yes, it goes right up my nose.  Solution:  Wash the skeins/cakes or wear a dust mask.  I have done both.  Washing the skeins, so far, seems to have worked some.  Onward and upward.  

This semi-new fun has started a whole new collection of tools, holders and yarns.  Just what I needed right ?  lol !  I've already gotten quite a collection of hooks together.  Have purchased several new looms and of course, all that yarn !  lol !  Need yarn for the blankets, need a different yarn for the scrubbies and yet another type yarn for the ruffle scarves.  lol !  It's just fun.  Of course making a blanket or afgan you can use just about any type of yarn.  

So here is a couple photo's of what I've accomplished so far.  It's a shame but I will be "frogging" the blanket I started the other day.  I feel there are too many mistakes and don't want to do that.  Anyway, photo's please:  

This first is of the second afgan/blanket I made.  I love the colors !  Didn't turn out as long as I had hoped but that's ok.  Will still keep a body warm and comfy.  

My first ruffle scarf made on one of my new looms.  Too much fun to make and I bet alot of fun to wear !  Has a sparkle to it which you cannot see in the photo.  

Scrubbies !  I actually made these before the scarf.  Made these while taking a break from making that second afgan.  Nice to have around the house.
 

   
Ruffle scarf #2.  Oh so pretty !  Also has a sparkle to it that just won't show in the photo's.  I gotta figure out a better way to photograph !  Love the colors on this one !  This one is longer too measuring in at 76" long.

  
My tool collection, looms and yarns will be the subject of yet another post in the near future.  Hope you come back for a visit !  Thanks for coming by !


 
 

 

Spring Fun - Or How To Avoid Summer Heat

Answer:  Find another craft to keep you busy inside with the AC running.  Yep.  I'm one of those people.  Can't stand the heat and humidity of the South.  It knocks you down and makes you unable to breathe !  UGH !  With near 90 degree temps all last week, I hibernated as I do every summer.  Only venturing out when I must.  I dread summer coming at all.  

Ok, so I haven't posted in a few weeks.  It's really due to that first loom knitting project.  I actually finished it in roughly 6 weeks - give or take a day here and there.  Loaded with mistakes, attempting to fix mistakes and finding it heavier than I really thought it would be - I finished it !  It's big, about 65"x58" I think it was.  Something in that range.  Nice size for getting nice and cozy warm.  Which who needs that in the summer but hey, it's available.  :)  
I'm not sure I like the way the yarn ended up after washing.  It's very "fuzzy".  It washed up great !  It's soft to be sure.  No issues there.  Even the repairs I did held up really good.  Still, I don't care for the fuzz.  This yarn is really nice in hats and scarfs though.  I love how it looks.

Since finishing my first afgan, I started yet another one with new yarn.  I LOVE the new yarn but had to "frog" the project.  Why the term frog to end a knitting project ?  I'm not sure but might as well keep with the lingo right ?  :)  Anyway, I learned the purl stitch.  Never did that stitch before and found I really liked the look and it was something different.  Also learned the other 3 basic stitches.  On the new project I used both estitch and purl.  Decided I really liked the yarn alot and was going to buy more but because I was unsure I would get even close to same dye lots, figured I better not.  So the project was frogged.  Anyway, I got practice on the stitches.  

Now we come to yesterday.  I got my latest shipment of yarn !  Oh yeah !  I'm addicted because I could not WAIT to get those packages.  Only 2 arrived.  lol !  More to come.  Anyway, so I started yet another afgan as soon as I could yesterday.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this yarn !  OMG !  Soft, chunky, beautiful colors !  I bought 2 colors of this stuff and I know I'll go back for more.  Bernat Blanket Yarn.  YUMMY !  Doing what is called the garter stitch - which is nothing but knit a row, purl a row.  Love it !  Will have to add a photo later.  Still in camera.  

So, as it is with my glass addiction -  it is also with loom knitting.  :)  I'm not complaining mind you.  Oh no, I'm enjoying it totally and completely.  And have already shown that it's not just the yarn or the loom or the actually knitting - it's the gadgets that go with it !!  lol !  Oh brother..................

Time to get my day started.  Thanks for coming by.  Have a great week !  Enjoy life !  



  

           

Long Overdue and Something New - Sort Of

Since I haven't been able to torch in a very long time due to weather, pollen, illnesses, etc etc, I decided I needed something to do with my hands to keep me out of trouble !  lol !  Yes, I get into trouble when I become too idle.  Go figure ! :) 
So I started doing some research on various things and remembered I have a pretty good stash of yarn and needed to get rid of it somehow.  Began searching the web and you tube and wha-la - found what I was looking for !  I wanted to make an afgan.  Tried knitting needles - if only my fingers and hands could figure it out.  Same with crochet.  More researching brought me back to looms.  I have looms.  Round, straight, short, long, big, small, metal and plastic pins.  Didn't know an afgan can be made on some of these looms.  Did more searching and found the "S" loom.  Ohhhh I thought, that's new and looks like fun and you can make an afgan with it !  Bought it and never looked back ! 

Ok so here I am, in the middle of a WIP afgan and decided I needed a loom holder which I found by mistake on FB by a couple that make them.  They make 3 styles and I chose the round one which holds the "S" loom just perfectly.  Thing is, when I saw it and got it home, I knew there was going to be one "problem".  The longer the afgan got, where would it go and how would the holder work ?  Especially if you're using the bulky type of yarn like mine is in this, my first, afgan.  It gets all bunched up underneath the loom.  My solution, see below. 

This is only the way I do it.  Yes, the loom holder still spins on the "lazy susan" that is attached underneath.  It does not spin as smoothly because the afgan is "hanging" out from the holder and you do need to hold the holder sometimes.  Your thinking oh what a headache and the afgan is getting dirty.  Nope, it's not.  Easier than you think and if you have a clean working surface, no dirt.  Easy as that besides, aren't you gonna wash the afgan before anyone (or you) uses it ?  :)  Plus, leaving it in the loom holder, you don't get hot with the afgan laying on you all the time !  lol ! 

If you have an idea on how to solve this particular issue, comment below or contact me on FB on my All My Beads Page All My Beads I'd love to hear about it or try it out myself.  :)  More links below the photo's including to the page where these loom holders can be purchased. 

See photo's below.
 
Photo #1 - Shows WIP afgan on "S" loom laid flat.  Afgan measures about 33" long.

Photo #2 - The round loom holder with one end piece removed.  Can easily be reattached when needed.  Set that piece aside because it isn't needed from this point on.

Photo #3 - Place loom back in holder with afgan still laid out.  Once loom is back on holder, fold afgan.  Mine is folded twice at this point. 

Photo #4 - Side view of loom in holder with folded afgan.

Photo #5 - Back view of loom in holder with folded afgan.

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for coming by my blog page.  I'll come back with updates on my looming journey.  It's been a lot of fun ! 

Hopefully will be back at the torch very soon !  I do miss making beads ! 

 

My Facebook Page - Debs All My Beads

Where to Buy the loom holders - Loom Knitting Gadgets

 

 

 

A quick note.  My Etsy shop will be closing on May 15th.  I still have my hand dyed silk cords available there until closing.  If you have a moment, check it out.  Link is near the top on the right.  Just click on any of the photo's there or the link just below the photo's.  Once my shop closes, everything will be available on All My Beads Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads 

 

Thanks again !