My 3 Top Yarns (So Far)

Yarn.

It's what loomers live for and use everyday. Over the 3 years I have been looming I have a couple "favorites" I buy when money allows. Most of the time I use Red Heart Saver yarn due to cost but sometimes you have to "splurge".
I will be linking to Joann Craft And Fabric store since this is my local yarn store. Keep in mind these yarns may be available at other stores of course. l

1. Lion Brand Vanna's Choice I have used this with fingerless gloves. I love the softness of it for projects that are going to be against the skin. 
2. Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn If I have a choice I love this yarn for baby blanket, especially if you live where it snows and gets very cold. I have made adult blankets out of this yarn as well so don't think it is just for babies.  I linked to the bigger skeins of it but you can get it in smaller skeins. It's super thick and soft!
3. Red Heart Comfort Yarn I like to purchase the bigger skeins of this yarn because it lasts awhile. It is softer than the Red Heart Saver yarn but not as soft as the Lion Brand and Bernat I have already mentioned above. 

As I get to experiment with other yarns I'm sure I will have new favorites. What are your favorites? 

Adding "Ring" Handles To Bags

Sometimes I am asked how I attached the handles you see above onto bags. These handles are just "rings" and the process it not too hard. If you watch my "Earflaps On A Loom" video that is the start of attaching the handles. 

First, you want to create two "tabs" (aka earflaps) on each side of the loom (directly across from each other), whether a circle or straight loom. Width of tabs is up to you. 

Movie Titles With A Looming Twist

Okay, I admit it. I was a little bored this afternoon with a looming project so my mind began to wander. I can't be the only one to have done this so let's see how creative and long of a "movie" list we can come up with. Do you have any you would like to add? Take a looming break and comment below! 

The Foster Hat

This past week I was able to make a cute, simple hat for a child in the foster care system. She loved it!

Using 76 pegs in the round on the All In One Loom, I alternated color and stitches. I didn't have a set pattern, deciding for this project to just loom it. I started with a chunky, pink yarn and did a small garter brim. From there, I switched to a soft, pretty blue yarn and "winged" it by alternating the stitches. I use a few rows of regular e-wrap knitting then went into the Figure 8 Stitch for awhile, then to the Moss Stitch, finishing off with the e-wrap knit stitch and basic bind off. The girl was in her teens and the hat fit her and me. I was happy she loved it.

The yarn was actually given to me by a couple looming friends and I want to say "Thank You" again because I repaid your gift by making a gift for someone else.

That is part of what looming is about to me. This will be under "free patterns" even though I don't have "specifics" in terms of row count. Just trust your instincts for how many to do of each.

Bloglovin, Have You Heard Of It?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I have recently heard of "Bloglovin" and was curious if anyone else had as well? It is a place to follow and find blogs that you will love. Trying it out today while finishing a hat on my All In One Loom. I have no written pattern for this, just alternating stitches when I feel like it. Sometimes I just like to pick up a loom and see what happens. Never be scared to just loom.

"A Little Love" Diaper Cover

**NOTE: DESIGN IS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE DIAPER COVER

You will need:

Sock Loom 2 

Two different colors of worsted weight yarn (4). [Navy Blue and Yellow were used]

Crochet Hook

Loom Tool

Stitch Markers

Scissors

Pattern:

Before beginning determine what is your Main Color (MC) and what is going to be your Contrasting Color (CC). 

• Start with one side of the Sock Loom 2 (24 pegs). 
• Begin at the 6th peg and cast on 12 pegs. (You should have 5 empty pegs on each side of the stitches you casted on)
• Now do 17 rows of the garter stitch (knit a row, purl a row, repeat process)
• Attach the first row to the other side of the loom. Note: You will not be able to place them on the same amount of pegs, instead you will attach them on one less peg on each side as shown in picture below. 
  

• Now cut yarn leaving a tail. 
• Start a new cast on row at the beginning like normal. 
  
• Knit one row in a round, using all pegs on loom. You will be wrapping the loom twice so there will be some pegs with 3 loops on them. Simply Knit 2 loops over 1 on those pegs. 
• Work in a round for 5 knit rows (I used e-wrap method). 
• You have now created the holes for the legs. 
• Time to work the diagram below which is set up to work the pattern on BOTH SIDES of the diaper cover: 
  
• Make sure to pay attention to what color you are using either MC = Main Color or AC = Alternating Color. This is where stitch markers will be very useful!! 
• Rows 1-5 Knit in MC 
• Rows 6-8 K3 MC, K3 AC *repeat to end of row (when you cast on the AC color it will be on the first peg of the 3 you do in that color)
• Rows 9-11 K3 AC, K3 MC *repeat to end of row
• Now cut AC and tie it to MC color
• Rows 12-13 Knit MC
• Using stitch markers mark off the following for Row 14 (I have written it like this to help you check off as you set it up.):
• K2 MC 
• K3 AC 
• K2 MC 
• K3 AC 
• K3 MC 
• K1 AC
• K3 MC 
• K3 AC
• K9 MC 
• K3 AC 
• K2 MC 
• K3 AC
• K3 MC
• K1 AC 
• K3 MC 
• K3 AC 
• K7 MC
• Rows 15-16 adjust your stitch markers for the following below. I know it looks intimidating but there are only minor changes. This is to check your work.
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K11 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K9 MC
• Row 17 adjust to the following: (Again Minor Changes)
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K2 AC
• K10 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K2 AC
• K8 MC
• Rows 18-19 adjust as follows:
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K11 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K1AC
• K9 MC
• Row 20: 
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K3 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K3 AC
• K9 MC
• K1 AC
• K4 MC
• K3 AC
• K2 MC
• K1 AC
• K1 MC
• K1 AC
• K2 MC
• K3 AC
• K7 MC
• WOOHOO THAT PART IS DONE!! Love takes work right? 
• Now cut AC color and tie to MC color
• Rows 21-24 Knit in MC color
• Crochet bind off with 2 chains in between.
• For the "belt" I used 3 strands of yarn (1 blue, 2 yellow) and braided them together. I then worked it through where I had crochet bind off alternating "in" and "out" of the holes. You could use ribbon as well.
• I believe this will work for newborn or slightly bigger depending on the baby. 

3 Tips For Choosing Yarn

Over the years I have noticed there are three ways I decide on the yarn I want to use for a project.

• First: The gauge of the loom is the first consideration.
• Gauge is the space between the pegs. 
• The bigger the gauge the more likely it is I want to use a bulky or super bulky yarn so that I can use only one strand. 
• If I can't find a bulky yarn I will have to use two strands of a different weight yarn which I don't always like to do. 

• Second: Texture
• It is a great way to add to a project. 
• For example, Lion Brand Homespun yarn. I like the feel and texture of it.
• Is the project for a baby? Then I would want a soft yarn of course. Is it for home, like a dishcloth? Then I might want a more "rough" yarn. 

• Third: Cost
• A project like a baby blanket or adult blanket requires more yarn therefore more cost is involved.
• I have to figure out my "budget" for each project and choose accordingly for it. 
• Please don't go into debt with yarn. There are some wonderful "cheaper" yarns out there. I have found some great ones at a dollar store. 
• For example, the hat you see me wear in the logos on my Facebook Page and Video was made with a skein of yarn from the dollar store which only cost $1.00. 
  

So, there are my 3 simple tips for choosing yarn: 

Gauge, Texture and Cost.

Battle Of The Diaper Cover

This friendly diaper cover competition is between Virginia of Simply Intertwined and Bonny of Looming Exclusive Designs. Please check out Simply Intertwined's Facebook page on March 14 2014 between 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time) to view pictures and to vote on your favorite. You will not know who designed which one until voting is over that night.

The Mint Baby Hat Pattern

This pattern is similar to my Simply Two Will Do Hat but made more for a baby.

What you will need:

Sock Loom 2 or All In One Loom from Authentic Knitting Board

Two colors of yarn (weight of 4): Green and White were used above

Scissors

Crochet Hook

Loom Tool

Row Counter

Pattern:

• Using the Sock Loom 2 (or All In One) cast on 54 pegs in a round using e-wrap or other method.
• This is all the pegs on the Sock Loom 2
• Using the white yarn, K1P1 for 5 rows (K1P1= knit one peg, purl one peg)
• Add Green yarn at start
• Using BOTH the green and white yarn alternate the colors on the pegs as you still K1P1 for 4 rows
• I used green on my knitted pegs and white on the pegs I purled
• During your last row of K1P1 make sure to end with green, you need to Knit the last two pegs in green. This will help the rows line up for hat. 
• In white knit one row
• In green knit one row
• In white knit one row
• In green knit one row
• In white knit 3 rows
• Now go back to using BOTH colors and alternate like you did before when K1P1 for 10 rows
• Cut the green one leaving a tail. Tie this "tail" to the white yarn
• In white knit 4 rows
• Gather Bind Off 

Small Bow-Wow Sweater Written Pattern

You will need:

The small blue 24 pegs Knifty Knitter circle loom

Use two strands of yarn (weight of 4) at the same time (can be the same or different colors)

Scissors 

Loom Tool

Crochet Hook

Row Counter

Stitch Markers

Pattern:

• Using two strands of yarn do the e-wrap knitting cast on 
• You can use a different cast on
• Garter Stitch for 8 rows
• Bind Off 4 Pegs on each side as show below

• Now work on just two pegs in front for 6 rows

• Now wrap the empty pegs as you work your way around for one row of knit.
• The empty pegs will only be wrapped now and then knitted over in the next step.
• E-wrap knit for 10 rows
• Bind off 8 pegs 

• Now e-wrap knit for 10 rows as a flat panel on the other pegs.
• Do the garter stitch for 5 rows (ending on a knit)
• Crochet cast off with one chain in between

Videos That Will Help: (click on title)

Small Bow-Bow Sweater

Garter Stitch

Crochet Bind Off

10 Signs To Stop Looming...

...at least for a little while.

1. Your hands hurt. If you are in pain please take a break. 
2. You compare your work too much to others. When you feel yourself start to compare too much, take a break and remember why you love looming. 
3. You have the "have to " attitude because someone is waiting for what is on the loom. They can wait. You will loom crappy if not in the mood to loom. 
4. It is a beautiful day out. Enjoy it. 
5. You want to loom but not sure what to loom. A break will do you good.
6. You have "frogged" a project so many times you could be in the Guinness Book of World Records.
7. You have been sitting so long that when you stand up you are still in a sitting position. 
8. There is an indent of a looming tool in your hands. 
9. When you have more than 10 projects going on at once. Step back, breathe and tackle one at a time.
10. You have run out of yarn.

Do you have any to add? Comment below! Have a great day!