Loom Knitting - Or How to Become Addicted to Yet Another Craft

I'm sure everyone that's ever done more than one craft/art already knows what it is to become "addicted" to that craft/art.  sigh.  It pretty much takes over your life.  lol !  We don't mean it to do that but it does.  And ususally without realizing it has until it's too late.  Then you are so far into it that it's just too late TO do anything about it.......except enjoy it, have fun with it and find as many places online or locally as you can to spend time with others that have that very same addiction !  :)  Been there - done that and am there AGAIN !  lol !  

This loom knitting thing is extremely addicting.  It's like with my beads.  I love it, can't wait to work on my project and look forward to learning something new.  I enjoy connecting with folks who are same minded.  There are LOTS of Facebook groups dedicated to loom knitting and of course a few on Ravelry.  I have enough looms for now.  Got all of them years ago except for the new KB "S" loom I am using now.  And I really have lots of yarn left over from all those years ago however they are not the type I need to use on these looms.  I bought them for Kumihimo  (yes that was another addiction too ! ) braids.  I am really drooling over all the yarn these days !   Especially all the newer types like the cake yarns.  So yummy but I am really controlling myself.  I recently used a gift certificate I had for Hobby Lobby all on yarn !  lol !  My next project already in my head.  lol !   

So yes, it's easy to become "addicted" to an art/craft - once you step into it.  So be careful.  No matter what it is  - it will take you in and hold you there until you can't take it anymore !  If that day ever comes.  lol !  

I'm still working on my first afgan using my KB "S" loom.  I've used up all the left over yarn that I had that worked in this project.  I wanted to keep it all one type of yarn - polyester so I still have left over yarns that I can use in other projects later.  I purchased 6 skeins of same namebrand yarn I started with and have 2 1/2 left.  As of today, I have about 50 inches of afgan knitted and thinking I need another 20 inches give or take to get a full 6 ft. long afgan.  Turns out those skeins are making only about 6 1/2" of afgan so I may end up having to buy another skein or two to finish UNLESS I just end it after the next two skeins.  I think it just depends on how "impatient" I get during the process to see the end result !  lol !  

Photo is of where I ended up a couple days ago at about 45".  Not to shabby I think for a first try at an afgan.  I made plenty of hats and scarves years ago and even a bag or two but never an afgan.  So, there it is.  

    Of course with loom knitting, you must have a few loom knitting tools - or as I call them, picks.  I just find it easier to say picks is all.  :)  I did have several already that came with the looms I had previously.  One came with the s loom as well.  I found they are all too short or too skinny or just plain uncomfortable in MY hand. As with the clothing industry - one size DOES NOT fit all with these picks.  So I searched and found a few that are longer and ordered.  One came yesterday.  I also saw a link posted in one of the FB groups of a video of how to add "padding" to the picks to make them "softer" or cushioned using those tiny rubber bands.  The handles of these picks that come with the looms are hard plastic and quite uncomfortable and even painful.  So I ordered some of those tiny rubber bands.  Those came on Monday.   Watched the video and made 2 rubber band "holders" for 2 of my picks and wha-la !  It works !  Easy to make, fun to make, fun to look at and most importantly - it HELPS tremendously !  I'll post the link to the video below.  Pictured are the two picks I added the rubber band holders too.  The red/orange/yellow colors represent the flame since I do make glass beads at my torch !  :)  The longer one is the one that I purchased and am thinking of ordering another one.  That one is 6" long.

     
Links:  How to make the loom knitting tool holder:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P762Ai88p8s

My FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads/   Here you can find LOTS of items for sale such as my hand dyed 100 % silk cords/strings, jewelry clearance items, beads and Kumihimo braids.  

Thanks so much for coming by.  I hope you come back again sometime and join me on my loom knitting journey !  :)  

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 !