knitting loom

[annabella1]

I took a week off work for vacation and went downstate to visit my granddaughters. I had been thinking about making them a knitting loom like I had when I was their age, but I never had the time. While I was at Walmart I checked in the crafts aisle and guess what they had a set of knitting looms for $12. That's cheaper than I could make one for. So I bought them taught my granddaughters to knit on them. The instructions that came with them were really vague, so I had to teach them from memory how to do it.(It's really easy but it's been years) Their mom got interested too and I taught her. She said "This is addicting" she has already made 2 scarves. One of my granddaughters made a hat and the other made a pair of socks. I made a knitted vest, for both of the girls. So when I got home I bought another set for myself. I have made a scarf with the Chicago Bears colors (dark blue and orange) and I tambour embroidered the "C" emblem in the middle. I was thinking of giving it to my husband, but now he and my three sons are all fighting about which of them should have it. (Maybe I'll keep it for myself) I wish the Bears were playing better though.

[bookwormom]

this sounds interesting annabelle. I have never heard of a knitting loom. does it go faster than with needles? Next time I go to town I'll check out wal mart.

[FloridaWyld]

I love my knitting looms; I can't knit with needles, but they let me make just about everything I can think up! Here's some pictures of stuff I've made with them in the past.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/366186770_44cc4a3fc5.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/368940567_875ff36033.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/227662170_3e9c3d71ca.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/216257797_f79af53440.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/216789395_39187ebd18.jpg

A wrap- this picture was before I finished the fringe. It's actually fairly large- it's set out on the dining room table:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/416861586_8816f0d25f.jpg

Drawstring bag:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/218018956_e4472b57f2.jpg

[annabella1]

Nice pictures Florida, yes I love my knitting looms too. The thing that makes them nicer than needles is that you can just throw them down any time and pick them up again, it's not hard to tell where you were at. With needles I always had problems with dropped stitches. On the frame you don't drop as much and you know right away if you have (before half your project unravels) It is also easy to teach to young people. It's not necessarily faster than needles but it is much easier to learn, and with practice you can go really fast. I can do it without even looking at it.

[Katrina-Sisu]

Whoo! I love my looms also, got them for 15 bucks from Michaels. You can buy pattern books too if you need.

I'm working on a shawl with my straight loom but can churn out 2 hats a night on my round loom lol.

It's much easier on your arms if you have fibromyalgia or carpal.

Kat

[nancy1340]

$15 !!! :o

Dango, have someone cut you a donut shaped piece of scrap wood and a few horse shoe nails and your good to go. For what............$2 ?

[Katrina-Sisu]

$15 !!! :o

Dango, have someone cut you a donut shaped piece of scrap wood and a few horse shoe nails and your good to go. For what............$2 ?

:D lol

It's plastic and darn near indestructible lol. It's also good for home defense lol :D

Kat

[annabella1]

The $12 I paid was for 5 looms and the knitting pick. You can make them, that was my original plan But better to use cotter pins than nails because the pins give you a groove to put the knitting pick in to pick up the yarn easier and the wood needs to be very smooth so not to snag the yarn and they don't have to be circles. You can make them flat and as long as you want for extra big pieces of knitting. There was a web site a while back that had directions on making a knitting loom that used cotter pins and had a fancy tension control doohicky. I'll try a search and add a link here.

here's the link:
http://home.earthlink.net/~dickrobinson/

[bookwormom]

so if you had a wide enough loom you could also make sweaters.
but by looking at it, I think I am faster with needles. still, a great way for non knitters to be able to knit.

[annabella1]

Yes you can make sweaters, you can make panels the size you need and connect them or you can make a big loom and make them seamlessly.

[FloridaWyld]

I have hubby working on a big S loom for me so I can knit an afghan in one single piece instead of in panels. Very excited and can't wait to use it!

[rhondalynne]

:D I have the round and long looms, the spool loom, the flower loom, and the mitten looms! I LOVE them! I've made hats, scarves, mittens, placemats, dishcloths, potholders, and even doll clothes! I'd love to find more uses for them!