Comfort Doll : Little Lady – FREE Pattern

August 24, 2013 Comments: 15

Comfort Doll

The Comfort Doll is also known as Izzy Dolls, Duzuzu Dolls and sometimes known as Softies Knit Dollies. They are easy to make and are needed world-wide by orphaned, sick, homeless and impoverished children. Comfort dolls are requested by many organization to do just what their name implies, to comfort. Maybe even the little girl in your home would love to have one of these soft dolls.

So needed is this doll that I designed a loom knit pattern (which will always be FREE) to make sure that ALL knitters, with or without needles, can make it happen.

This will be the first of a series of Comfort Dolls. This Dolly in the picture is named Little Lady. I think she is very pretty. Below is the FREE pattern.

To purchase a downloadable PDF: Click HERE

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Bridge and Beyond – A Charity Review

August 17, 2013 Comments: 3

Bridge and Beyond

The blog for Bridge and Beyond does more than just invite you to knit or crochet for the homeless community of Ohio, it educates the reader. The information available is useful whether you’re in Alaska or in London.

For those willing to embrace the recommendations, the knitting experience is not just fun but practical and the end product more useful.

I was impressed and inspired.

Knitting for the Homeless

Some may believe that Anything is better than nothing and so there is no need to consider what would work best when knitting for charity. I will agree that Something is better than nothing when options are not available. If all you have are bunny slippers and there is a man walking around barefoot by all means give up the bunny. But if you have the option of some brown, sturdy shoes allow the man the dignity of the shoes and give the bunny slippers to your Mom, or Aunt Mary for her birthday. You, Aunt Mary and the barefooted gentleman would all be happier in the end. I’m sure you can agree with this fictional scenario.

The point is that if you have the time, the money, the will and the love to knit for the homeless why not do the best job you can with the resources you have. There are special and unique needs and preferences in this community. Bridge and Beyond helps give you the information to make the best choices. Choices that will count positively and greatly benefit the receiver of your precious handmade gift.

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Serenity Loom – An Alternative

August 13, 2013 Comments: 5

Serenity Loom – An Alternative

The Serenity loom is no longer widely available. This could be because of all the issues presented by those folks that actually used the product and were dissatisfied. The complaints were in abundance. However the concept was a great one. A loom that would allow to loom knit a blanket , afghan or throw without the need to seem together several pieces.

Authentic Knitting Board seems to have taken the concept while making sure not to adopt the flaws of the Serenity loom.

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Knifty Knitter Product Review, Size Guide and Free Patterns

August 9, 2013 Comments: 41

Knifty Knitter

Knifty Knitter products are getting harder to find. My local Wal-Mart and my favorite craft store no longer stock them. It would seem a waste of time to do a product review. But it isn’t, by a long shot. If you loom knit for ANY amount of time you will encounter the name Knifty Knitter again and again in books, magazines and of course YouTube and I promise you that will want these looms sooner or later.

Luckily, if you have a computer and access to the internet your marketplace is global. Amazon and eBay give you a huge variety of GREAT deals. I say luckily because I believe these looms to be superior to most of the commercially available and reasonably priced looms. You do, however have to compare apples with apples. So when I say other looms I am comparing them to mass made plastic products like Darice, Boye and Martha Stewart and not say Cottage Looms, CinDCraft Looms or KissLooms.

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Chemo Cap – Free Pattern for Loom

August 3, 2013 Comments: 15

Chemo Cap

Loom knit a pretty chemo cap easily and quickly with this free pattern. The key here is the yarn. By having a bulky weight yarn the project can be finished a lot faster and the end result is a soft hat that breathes well and is warm without being itching. Also works well for people suffering any form of Alopecia.

Cancer patients have a few unique needs when it comes to hats. If you want to make one that is not just appreciated for your kind intentions but for the practical use of the gift I want you to have not just a FREE pattern but some important information.

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Mushroom Kitty in the Knitted Outfit

August 2, 2013 Comments Off

Mushroom Kitty

When I saw this picture of a kitty in a knitted mushroom outfit I went through a cosmic range of thoughts and emotions within seconds. I started with, Wow too cute, then immediately thought Wow that’s cruel. Can you believe I was wrong both times. The kitty was not being spoiled nor exploited. There is a real story behind this goofy,funny picture and it’s short but beautiful.

It’s a must read. Here is the link: Click
Here

Mens Knit Hat – The Parthenon – FREE PATTERN

July 30, 2013 Comments: 59

Mens Knit Hat

A great Mens knit hat. The Parthenon, is a good-looking manly hat. Currently a Free loom knitting pattern on this site. It proves that classic and sporty can be worn at the same time on the same head. Only stitch skill needed is Knit and Purl.

I love ancient Greek architectureespecially the ones that include the Doric columns. Round top over strong straight columns. Simple but powerful looking, like the man you have in mind for this hat.

Try this one out, then come back with your comments and any questions. All are greatly appreciated.

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Knit Squares – Free Pattern

July 21, 2013 Comments: 32

Knit Squares – FREE Pattern for a Perfect Square from Any Shaped Loom

Knit squares on any loom. A perfect square had been my dream for a long time. I had been asked by some students if I could teach them how to make a baby blanket. The best way to make any kind of blanket, throw, afghan on a loom is to knit squares together. I had made a few that were great on the bottom, terrible on the top. After a lot of bad ones I finally got it.

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Add Yarn to Your Loom Knitting Project

July 16, 2013 Comments: 8

Add Yarn or Change Color

Add yarn or change colors in the middle of a loom knit project with no problems. Here are two quick and easy tutorials to show you how I do it. One is text, the other a 2 minute video. The purpose was to answer the question, “What do I do if I run out of yarn“. This technique also works for changing colors.

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Knit and Purl Stitch – Text Picture and Video Tutorial

June 30, 2013 Comments: 22

Knit and Purl – the Dynamic Duo of Stitches

Knit and Purl is an awesome combination of two simple knit stitches with incredible possibilities. Depending on the order and the number of repetitions this dynamic duo creates some interesting and beautiful patterns. I use many of the combinations in almost all of my knitting projects. But I must admit that up to now my range of combinations has been the 8 stitches in the Stitch Guide by Isela Phelps.

I had no idea of the number of combinations available until I found a listing on Loom Knitting Central. I did a double take when I saw this, I believe there are 110 if not more. What ever the exact number is, I was day dreaming about blankets and hats made with this perpetual list of stitches.

But first lets start with the basics…

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Flat Drawstring Cast Off / Bind Off

June 27, 2013 Comments: 67

Flat Drawstring Cast Off

The Flat Drawstring Cast Off by Jeannie Phillips is my favorite method of closing a hat. It eliminates that Loom Hat Look you get from the gathered method. Best of all you only need to know the knit and purl stitches to do this technique.

Note the picture on the left. I have knitted the Flat Drawstring cast-off on my basket-weave hat in a different color to make sure you could see the details clearly.

Jeannie is a truly gifted knitter always eager to Bless. She does beautiful work. I invite to take a virtual trip over to her blog, www.aplaceformycards.com look around and leave a thank you comment. She would love that.

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Loom Knit Hat – The Belt Loop Hat

June 23, 2013 Comments: 53

Loom Knit Hat: Belt Loop

The loom knit hat pattern for the Belt Loop Hat is now FREE for personal use only. It is a simple yet elegant knit hat. There is a hint of the Roaring Twenties. The key to this hat is to use two different types of yarn. One that is bulky and a bit rough and one that is smooth and silky.

Scroll down to see the HIS version as well as a slouchy version of the hat. For the Flower Pattern (Made with 24-Peg Loom ) : Click Here

I hope you like this pattern. If you use it PLEASE send pictures to share here and consider making some for donation.

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Yarn Bombing

June 20, 2013 Comments Off

Yarn Bombing – Knitted Graffiti

Yarn bombing is a brightly colored yarn art craze started in Texas that has literally made its way through the entire world. Streets from China to London, New York to Australia are literally blanketed with the knitted graffiti.The labor is sometimes very intense, the pictures are spectacular.

Ugly images of pain and destruction are synonymous with the word bombing.. Yarn bombing is the literal opposite. Corny as it sounds, it can turn the worst frowns into smiles.

Bright blues, whites and contrasting pinks, oranges, greens connecting with shades of purple make up the squares, blocks and swirls of yarn that can cover just about anything standing still. I love the pictures and they are in great abundance. I found so many online it was hard to choose a few to share.

Car Image Credit: La vie en 2CV

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Brain Hat

June 19, 2013 Comments Off

Brain Hat by Alana Noritake

Brain Hat is a design by medical student Alana Noritake. It is a shocker when you take your first look at it. Talk about a unique work of art. This thing belongs in a museum. Just love it.

If you know how to knit the pattern is available on Ravelry for $5. I contacted Alana in the hopes that she will allow me to convert the pattern for loom knitters. Stay tuned …

For a link to her pattern: Click Here

Loom Knitting Stitches – A Guide by Isela Phelps

June 18, 2013 Comments: 25

Loom Knitting Stitches An Easy to Follow Guide

I am always researching loom knitting stitches to put together a comprehensive list. While online I bumped into a guide in a downloadable pdf format. It was written by Isela Phelps, author of “Loom Knitting Primer”, Amazon’s best-selling loom knitting book, pattern designer, online moderator and blogger. If you like to loom knit you know that this lady is a loom knitting genius.

She is also generous and in her generosity she has given us loom knitters the gift of this great resource. I can’t believe it’s free! It has such easy to read instructions. Personally I love the diagrams of the stitches which I can follow so much easier than a written list of rules. This list can be used for any project you might have in mind from hats to scarves, socks to sweaters. They are all are awesome!

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