Thank You

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I just wanted to take a moment to say "Thank you" to all of you. When I began looming in 2011 I never expected to to go far. Now, it is more than I imagined because of the support of all my Facebook "Fans" and Youtube subscribers. You understand when life happens and delays video making. You encourage me to continue. I have gained friendships through looming I never thought possible.

So, tomorrow I will give "Thanks" for the many wonderful aspects of my life and ignore the "hard parts", at least for a few hours. If you do not have family to celebrate with then put on one of my videos and let me be your family for the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Flashback: Simple Adult Blanket

Flashback 2011

This was on our queen size bed, not queen size though.

I made this blanket for my mother-in-law in 2011 and she loves it when she sitting in her recliner. It was very simple to do. I used an "S" loom (DA Infinity II loom you have seen in my videos but isn't made anymore). I just did the whole blanket in the e-wrap knit stitch minus the garter stitch at the beginning and end.

I used Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn (3.5 oz skeins of Peachy & White) the following way:

Need: S Loom *May end up a little different than showed due to differences in S looms. 

         (4 ) white 3.5 oz skeins

         (7) peachy 3.5 oz skeins

1. white

2. peachy

3. white

4, peachy

5. peachy

6. peachy

7. peachy

8. peachy

9. white

10. peachy

11. white

Each skein was used fully (as long as I could finish a row). It was easy, once one was done, move onto the next. You can still do the garter stitch to help with curling at the begining and end or easily modify this by doing either knitting or purling for each skein.

*This was around 5ft wide, as for length I don't remember but it is on a queen size bed in the picture. 

Freezer Pop Cozie

Freezer Pop Cozie

Very simple, like 5 minutes, project. Using the bigger side of my spool loom and some leftover Bernat Baby Blanket yarn I created this quick pop cozie for my daughter to use. Just wait until after you insert the freezer pop to open it. You will need to wiggle it through since it may catch a little during the process. But still, quick and simple.

I inserted the yarn through the spool loom first so there was at "tail" to gently pull on the other end to help the project come through. Because of the thickness of the yarn and the smaller opening on the other side, having the "tail" worked well. I did the e-wrap knit until I had the length I wanted (a little more than the length of the spool loom) and did the crochet bind off with 2 chains in between.

My daughter loved it! Make sure to use a thick yarn. Yarn used was a weight of 6.

Hooded Scarf Pattern

I have noticed some recent comments on my "Hooded Scarf" video so I thought I would provide the notes I have associated with it.

Click here for video

HOODED SCARF (Used Green Long Loom Knifty Knitter)

1.       5 rows “U” pattern, you are leaving what will be the front of the hoodie part open by NOT wrapping all the pegs.

2.       Then  decrease your way “down” the U

a.       Note: Keep original loops on ALL the pegs wrapped in the beginning but will be creating a pendulum effect.

3.       Then increase your way “up” the U, reversing what you did in step 2.

4.       Once all pegs have been rewrapped and knitted over, decrease what will be the “back of the hood” 4 pegs. You will be moving the peg that is in the middle of the U formation over to one of the pegs next to it and knit over, then continue on.

5.       Decrease front of hood by 1 peg.

6.       Wrap whole loom again once.

7.       Decrease the back of the hood 4 pegs again.

8.       Now you will be working on the scarf area. You will be working on one side at a time and then will do this on the other side. KEEP THE ENTIRE PROJECT STILL ON THE LOOM! No casting off required until you finish one side.

9.       You will need to determine how wide you want the scarf to be, and decrease as you see fit for the width you want it to be. What I am providing is to be used as a guide. Modify what you see fit.

a.       Scarf Side 1: Knit 20 rows.

b.      Decrease 1 peg in front

c.       Knit 20 rows

d.      Decrease 1 peg in front

e.      Knit 20 rows

f.        Decrease 1 peg in front

g.       Knit 20 rows”

h.      Decrease 2 pegs  in front

i.         Knit to desired length   ?? rows (For me 60 rows)

j.        Crochet Cast off –two “chains” in between.

10.   Repeat on other side by casting on like normal and do step 9.

Basic Fingerless Gloves for Men

Basic Fingerless Gloves for Men

I had made these very simple fingerless gloves for a man using a worsted weight yarn (4) called Red Heart Comfort Yarn (Black)--click here for link to it at Joann's. My husband is "modeling" them. He is a big guy so these should work for most guys but may need to be tweaked for a thinner man.

 I used the sock loom with the metal pegs (since I had projects on my other looms). 

• Use 44 pegs in a round.
• Cast On (I just did an e-wrap cast on)
• Garter Stitch 4 rows (knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row)
• E-wrap knit 16 rows
• Create thumb hole by moving loops off pegs and moving over like below
•  Knit over when you move the loops over, three pegs should be empty like below

• Work in a "U" for 20 rows
• Now continue doing an e-wrap knitting (wrapping the empty pegs as you go) for 26 rows
• Garter Stitch for 5 rows (knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row, knit a row)
• Crochet cast off 2 chains in between 
• Done! 

I hope it works for you. 

• Note if you do a flat knit the gloves may become tighter.
• Also if they turn them inside out, the "wrong" side might look cool too.

Getting Help With The Design Process (LOL)

I have been wanting to make myself a sweater for awhile but being plus size I know it will require some thought about yarn and design. My daughter saw me looking at some sweaters online to get an idea of what I might want it to look like and she decided it should be blue, green and white. (Not sure if I will do it in those colors. LOL) Then she asked to see the sweater and I said "I haven't made it yet. I have to think of the design first." (If only I could wave a wand and have it done, right?) She decided to help by rubbing my forehead thinking it would help me think of a design.

What a kid! She did a good job rubbing; I might have some ideas to plan out now. I've had the sweater in the picture for YEARS; it used to belong to my best friend. I think I've had it for 10 or more years. Definitely time to upgrade.

A "Crazy" Idea?

I have an idea. 

But, am I crazy?

Is it "stupid"? 

Who cares! LOL 

So, I had the idea to make hanging files out of yarn, using "scrap" yarn. I have some regular hanging files to use as a templates. I plan on cutting the hanging part out to weave it into the project. I will create holes to put it through at the top and bottom. This is the starting of the idea. I still have to go through with it and see if I like the finished project. But, that is how my creativity. Don't knock an idea until you try it. 

I even talked to a fellow loomer Bonny about it to hear what she thought; we had a nice little laugh over it. What are some "crazy" ideas you have had?

Don't hesitate...

GO FOR IT! 

Favorite?

I've made a lot of projects over the years but can't really pick a "favorite" one. Do you have that problem too? Is it easier to pick a favorite yarn over project? Favorite loom?

For me, if I had to pick a "favorite" loom it would be the All in One Loom from Authentic Knitting Board.

I prefer the gauge of this loom over the others. As for yarn, anything that is soft. I know that doesn't really narrow it down, does it? If I had to pick a project I would say maybe fingerless gloves. They can be finished within a day or two if I'm focused.

Fingerless Gloves On The All In One Loom

Remember the video I did Fingerless Gloves On The All In One Loom in August? Here is a written pattern to go along with the video.

Using the All in One Loom:
* I used Caron Simply Soft Yarn (Red)

1. E wrap Cast On 34 Pegs
2. Rows 1-10: Knit 1, Purl 1 (Rib Stitch)
3. Rows 11-15: Purl
4. Create thumb hole by moving loops off of two pegs and placing moving each to peg next to it, like picture below. Knit over. 
   
5. Now work in a "U" back and forth. Rows 16-23: Purl
6. Rows 24-34: Purl, this time wrap empty pegs as you go around. Purl on the second time around.
7. Rows 35-45: Knit 1, Purl 1 (Rib Stitch)
8. Rows 46-50: Knit
9. Crochet cast off 2 chains in between.

Priority Pyramid

I was on the blog "Gifts We Use" and came across the free printable, Priority Pyramid. I thought this would be a great tool whether for looming or just life in general. I plan on printing mine out and filling it in. Knowing what I want (and should) spend my energy on will be helpful in my life.

How would it apply to looming?

Well, it will let me focus on what projects are a priority and which can wait to be completed. Also, what elements of my business (Simply Intertwined) need my attention. But, I do plan on using it for the greater picture of my life in order to remind myself what is important to me. I just thought it was a great tip to share to my fellow visual learners. You can print more than one so it would be great for me to have one for my business and one for my life.

I plan on 2014 being a better year for me and for my business to grow. Getting a 9 to 5 type of job isn't as important to me as it once was since I began looming and teaching it in 2011. I found a new passion for this and want to have a career I enjoy that doesn't make my anxiety go crazy.

Hope it helps you as well if you decide to download it.

New (And Hopefully) Improved Experince

I have decided to take Simply Intertwined to the "next level". Instead of a regular website, I have decided to have a blog instead. You can still access video list as you can see but this will also allow me to write more about my looming (and other) experiences.  I hope this is a great, new way to simply be connected to my loomers more.

Although I will still be selling items and patterns on my Etsy, this way I can provide the occasional free pattern or notes to projects I have done. I hope you join me as we make entering into 2014 more fun, more intertwined.

Have a great day!