Knitting Without Needles

Our Internet has been down today, and no pleading or harassing of our Internet provider would get it back in operation! At least they said not until tomorrow morning. (aka Wednesday) But it seems it worked out and we are back online! (but if you emailed me today, please send it again because those did not seem to make it through the outage!)

While the Internet was out, we were a bit.. er.. without something to do. So we made some knitting looms with things around the house!

I’ll tell you about two styles that we made.

First up is the simple easy peasy loom.

Here is what you need:

a cardboard tube i.e. a toilet paper or paper towel roll
4-6 popsicle  or craft sticks (guess what we had for snack today!)
a ponytail holder, or rubber band
tape of some sort the best would be masking tape or duct tape

Using the ponytail holder or rubber band, band the  sticks to the outside of the tube like this:

2. Make sure the sticks are distributed evenly around the tube,with the sticks extending about 3/4 to 1 inch above the top of the tube.

3. Tape them in place with your tape.

4. KNIT!

The second style is a little more complex, but a great way to recycle those plastic juice, and drink mix containers!

Here is what you will need:

a plastic juice or plastic drink mix container
ruler and/or tape measure
scissors
permanent marker
paper

So here is what you do with all of that!

1. Measure your container at the point you expect to cut, you want a container with an even measurement, like 20 inches no fractions like 17 1/2!

2. CAREFULLY cut around your container. (usually there are lines on these you can use as a guide!)

3. Make a template on your paper for how you want to cut the pegs into the edge of your container. I used a half inch wide and a half inch deep, I think 3/4 inch deep might be better. line your template up with the top edge of the container, and trace the peg cut lines with your permanent marker.

4. CAREFULLY cut your pegs out, cut the sides first then the bottom line. You might want to cut a slit in the bottom to hold your yarn while you are working (see photo below)

5. KNIT!

By far the Kool Aid drink mix container was the best.

I think the paper tube ones would make a great make and take for a fiber show or craft show, or even for a scouting or church group. It’s so easy!

*** and if you don’t know what to do with the loom once you make it.. check out my loom knitting basics tutorial on my tutorial page!! And any of the loom knitting sites in my links will have some great resources as well!*****

I am hoping to submit a tutorial to Whip Up for a foldable portable knitting loom, so look for that there some time in September!! (crossing my fingers!)

Well Brian is cooking dinner tonight so I am off to finish another peice of the project for Shepherd.. really they are not naming him that.. it was a little joke.. that stuck! Hang on Jesse I am almost done!