Book Review: Loom Knitting Made Easy

This neat little booklet found it’s way to my house last week.  It’s published by Red Heart Yarns.  The instructions and patterns are written by Isela Phelps.

The first half of the booklet covers loom knitting basics.  You’ll learn about the tools used most often in loom knitting, a couple of cast on methods, how to e-wrap, knit, and purl, and how to bind off your project.  Then, the booklet goes into some slightly more advanced techniques, including how to create a few cable stitches on knitting looms.

The second half of the booklet has 6 new patterns so you can put your loom knitting skills to good use.  The projects in the booklet use the yellow round Knifty Knitter, the green round Knifty Knitter, and the purple round Knifty Knitter.  The loom knit designs include a cute baby blanket, a lovely full size blanket, a gorgeous lace shawl, a flirty ruffled scarf, a sweet hooded scarf, and a fabulous cabled hat. The instructions are easy to understand and the photography is really excellent.  At the very end of the booklet, there is also a little information about yarns, gauge, and how to block a project when it’s finished.

Whether you are thinking of learning this fun skill, or you are already an experienced loom knitter, this booklet will be a welcome addition to your crafting library.  You can download the booklet right from Red Heart’s website or find it in stores that carry Red Heart products.  Happy Loom Knitting!

 

The looms used for the projects in the booklet are the yellow round Knifty Knitter, the green round Knifty Knitter, and the purple round Knifty Knitter.

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Change is nice :)

I know it’s been quiet over in this corner of the net.  We’ve had birthdays after birthdays, end of school and then work, work, work!  But it’s all good.  Busy keeps us out of trouble

We did manage to sneak off for a bit of fun on Memorial Day.  We took hubby’s Mom up to Fernwood Recreation Park in Layton for a picnic.  All through lunch, the kids kept begging hubby to take them exploring on a trail.  He finally relented, telling them they were only going to go for a few minutes.  Hub’s Mom insisted I should tag along and she would just sit and rest at the picnic table.  So, I grabbed the camera and took some pics of the walk that turned into a hike.

Make your own free digital scrapbooking design

So, let’s talk about change: I’ve been quietly making little changes to each and every page on this bloggie.

I started with the Me page. It’s a bit more personable and blah, blah, blah

On the Let’s Learn page, I’ve added in a few tutorials that were completed but just hadn’t found their way here yet.

I updated the Free Patterns page and added a few patterns that had been lurking around on my computer just waiting for me to find a minute to rescue them.

The Doodley Do page has a new addition too.  Little Doodles is a fun collection of sketches I did a while back.  These would be perfect for handmade cards, miniature embroideries or fun for the kiddos to color on a rainy day.

Finally, the biggest change – I added in a new page:  Guppy’s Goodies.  I’ll be adding fun little things to this page from time to time so be sure to check in often.

Okay, remember these?

The pattern is now available on the Guppy’s Goodies page.  This little pattern is slated to be up for sale on another site in the near future but I was told it didn’t have to be exclusive and to go ahead and offer it from my blog too.  And that is what’s new in this little nook of the net   Hope you have a great night!

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Time for play

“Sweet childish days, that were as long, As twenty days are now.” – William Wordsworth

Isn’t this so true?  I remember days that seemed to stretch on forever when I was younger.  Especially the hours spent at school.  And it felt like holidays and birthdays would never arrive.  Now the days and weeks just zip on by.  Life keeps me busy, busy and that makes the hours fly.   

Still, I’m not complaining.  It’s all good as long as I can find a bit of time here and there to squeeze in a little yarn play

These little fairies have been waiting to come out and play since late last September.  I have a pattern written up for them and all ready to go.  I’ll let you know when and where it gets posted.

I was so thrilled with how this little project turned out.  Isn’t it sweet and cheery?  I did this little gift bag for an article that was just published in the Loom Knitter’s Circle magazine.  If you’d like to check it out, visit the site, click on Articles and mine is the first one – Let’s Get Ready to Scrumble!  Exploring Free Form Loom Knitting.  This cute little giftie went to kiddo’s bus assistant.  She fell and broke her hip back in February and probably won’t be able to return to work.  This pretty bag flew out the door as soon as the strap was sewn on.  We gave it to kiddo’s bus driver to take it to Miss Nancy.  Hopefully it is helping to cheer her through her recovery.

Here is a little something fun that you won’t catch from the article in the Loom Knitter’s Circle:

This is the flip side of the little gift bag.  As you may (or may not) know, I crochet, needle knit and loom knit – along with various other crafts.  I couldn’t resist slipping a bit of crochet in on this cute little bag.  It’s rather perfect, don’t you think?  Combining two of my favorite crafts into what I think may be one of the prettiest things I’ve done with yarn so far.  Well, it made me smile at least, haha.

I’ve also been tinkering with my little lady bug pattern.  I’ve made a few improvements and modifications and will be putting together a new pattern for it.  Here is a look at the new, improved little critter:

This one is also in a sort of limbo but I’ll let you know when it’s available as well.  Alright, better run – there is work to be done.  Wishing you all a great day – and if it’s busy, may you still find a bit of time for play

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