LoomTech column in LKC

 

The 2012 Spring edition of the Loom Knitters' Circle (LKC) e-zine is now available and packed full of creative patterns, features and other invaluable information. We even have our very own "loomy comics" called, Side Stitch, by a very talented young lady, Megan Dailey. (Note: past issues of LKC are available here.)

I'm always excited with the publication of each issue of LKC, but this current issue was very special to me. It was not only published on my birthday, April 15, but includes a new column that I will be writing called LoomTech. In each issue, I will focus on specific knitting techniques as they apply to the knitting looms and include a pattern that will allow the reader to "loom & learn" the featured technique. The current LoomTech article is "An introduction to slip-stitch knitting" as an easy way to add color to loom knitted projects. The slip-stitch technique is demonstrated with a project pattern dishcloth designed especially for the large gauge looms called "Bunnies in the Garden" (shown above). Once you get into the rhythm of the stitch pattern for this dishcloth, you can easily make one in about two hours (more or less). 

I would love to hear feedback and/or suggestions for future topics for the LoomTech column.

Wild hares

Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land is the master of tiny knit creations and one of my favorite amigurumi artist.  Winners from her recent Tiny Baby Bunny Contest are currently being featured on the Mochimochi Blog. I did a loom knit version of her free Tiny Bunny pattern for the contest, but my time was limited and the competition was fierce. Never-the-less, these were such fun to make and easily converted to the loom.

My loom knit Tiny Bunnies were made using the 10-peg CindWood Thumb Loom and one strand of Red Heart Super Saver in assorted Easter colors. For the bunny's body, I used the drawstring cast on, flat knit for ten rounds and did a gathered bind off. The I-cord ears were also done on the same thumb loom using two pegs. Otherwise, I basically followed the original pattern.

These are great if you need a quick "basket-stuffer" for Easter. 

Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd

As usual, I'm always late, but I just discovered this last Friday "Light It Up Blue" as a symbol for World Autism Awareness Day. I had a battle with food poisoning over the weekend, so we only did simple LED blue light lanterns for the doorway this year. Next year will be better - I hope.

A sign of the times??

About.com states that, "Autism was first described as a unique disorder in the 1940s. In the early 1990s, autism diagnoses began to soar. In the 10 years between 1993 and 2003, the number of American schoolchildren with autism diagnoses increased by over 800%."

The CDC Data and Statistics for Autism Spectrum Disorder indicates a rise in autism prevalence from 1 in 150 children in 2004 to 1 in 88 as of 2008. Please note that the data is for children whose birth year is 8 years prior to the surveillance year. So if I'm understanding this correctly, this does not include children born after the year 2000. If this is the case, the statistics may be an even higher ratio than indicated on the CDC data. Never the less, this is a tremendous increase from 1 to 2 in 10,000 in 1980. To sum it up, autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.

Get all the facts about autism from Autism Speaks.

Lucky leprechaun mug hug

"To-go" coffee cup lids have always reminded me of little hats and when I saw this houndstooth-check stoneware cup with the little black "top hat" lid at Michaels, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, what better way to drink your Irish coffee than in a mug wrapped in a leprechaun mug hug in colors of the Irish flag? 

Lucky Leprechaun Mug Hug

Size: 4 inches tall for a 16 oz. mug

Materials

• 24-peg round Knifty Knitter loom
• Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Paddy Green, White and Pumpkin; Black for embroidering face
• Yarn needle

Instructions

(Decrease rows in each section for a smaller cup or mug)

1. With two strands of green held as one, cast on using chain cast on method.
2. Work garter stitch pattern (alternating between flat knit rows and purl rows, ending on a knit row). The green area should measure between 1 inch and 1.25 inches, or about 4 garter stitch ridges.
3. Change to white and flat knit for about 12 rows or 2 inches
4. Change to orange and work the garter stitch pattern as in Step 2. (You should have the same number of garter stitch ridges in orange as you did for the green, but I got sidetracked and added an extra one on mine...oops!)
5. Work a loose basic chain bind off by knitting peg-1 and peg-2 to begin; move the loop from peg-1 to peg-2 and knit the bottom loop over the top loop; return the loop to the original peg. *Working with pairs of pegs and the working yarn at the first peg, knit the second peg and return it to the first peg, knit the bottom loop over the top loop and return it to the second peg.* Repeat between *'s until all pegs have been removed from the loom.
   (Note: When using this method to bind off, I immediately replace each "bind off stitch" back on the empty peg as a "spacer loop" to avoid a "too tight" bind off edge and continue the bind off procedure. After completing the bind off, I remove all the "spacer loops" from the pegs. This results in a bind off that closely matches the cast on edge tension.)
6. Finishing:
   Beard: Use 12 pegs, one strand of orange and chain cast on, work the following modified chain bind off:  *flat knit three times on first peg, one time on the second, return the loop from the second peg to the first and knit one-over-one; return the loop to the second peg; tighten the stitches after each bind off. Repeat from * until bind off is complete on all pegs. Using the picture as guide, whip stitch the beard in place.
   Face: With black, embroider two French knots for eyes and a "V" shaped mouth. Thread the yarn needle with white and embroider a "puffy" nose by working loosely back and forth in the ladders between knit stitches.
   Tie off and secure all the yarn tails.

Little Hearts Shamrocks

Here's another quick little St. Paddy's Day project based on the Little Hearts pattern from the previous post.

All you need for these sweet little shamrocks is the directions for the Little Loom-knit Hearts with the following modifications:

• Use one strand of green on any of the following: 12-peg Flower Loom or either end of the Knifty Knitter or Boye spool loom. 
• Make the hearts following the general directions for the Little Hearts, but to prevent curling work purl stitches on the odd rows and knit stitches on the even row. Also, on the purl row you need to flat knit the last stitch to retain a nice chain edge when slipping the next row. 
• If you are using the 8-peg end of the spool loom, you will need adjust the bind off edge so the point of the heart is formed between pegs 4 and 5. When making these on the 5-peg end of the spool loom, I leave off the extra chain stitches near the beginning and end of the rows and work the heart point between peg-2 and peg-3. This results in a shamrock leaf that is a little off-center, but they still look pretty good (see center shamrock pictured above).
• Make three "heart-shaped" leaves. Turn the leaves upside down and place them back on the loom using the small opening at the point of the hearts and three pegs on the loom. Attach a new strand of green yarn to the pegs and work a 3-stitch I-cord, tightening the tension after each stitch, until the stem is about 1 to 1.5 inches long. Shape the leaves and secure all yarn tails.
• Add a pin or a magnet to use as a fridgie to the back.

Now, wear your shamrock and pour yourself some Irish coffee in celebration! I leave you with this toast:

May your troubles be less,
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.