Knitting Without Needles » Loom Knitting books

Have another look at the I-cord Tutorial!

Denise — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:46:42 +0000

I wanted to pull up the I-cord tutorial for you all again as it is used for two of my sweater projects that are featured in the new Loom Knitting Pattern Book.

You can find and download the free tutorial by just clicking here!

Print yourself out a copy to tuck in the book, and you will have a little extra resource as you work! For full disclosure the I-cord cast on instructions were erroneously left out when the book went into print so here is the text that should be in the pattern notes of both patterns:

I-cord cast on: Make an I-cord the number of rows directed in your pattern. Hold the I-cord behind the pegs of the loom, and parallel to the base of the loom. Using the knitting tool, lift one leg of the stitch on the first row of the 1-cord up and onto a peg from behind. Work up one row on the I-cord, lifting stitches from the I-cord onto the loom. Work two rows of the I-cord, skip one and work two more. Continue in this manner until the desired number of stitches has been cast onto the loom.

You might want to highlight that text, right click on it and print selection and tuck that in your book as well! These things happen but not to fear, we have it covered!

I will be working on an publications page that will have pdf’s of the errata from my books so look for a new tab to pop up over the next few days!

Bookish Thursday on Tuesday! Two Books Hot off the Presses!

Denise — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:29:34 +0000

Have you ever been at a fiber festival and seen some lovely hand spun yarn and ultimately decided not to get it because you just weren’t sure what you would make with it? Or do you love to spin, but then don’t know what to do with your own yarn? (cough, Ashley, Cough)

Many moons ago, my Mother gave me some lovely hand spun yarn she had bought at a local festival. It sat forever in my stash. Some how hand spun gives some knitters knitter’s block and that is what this yarn did to me! It wasn’t until I found a 100 year old loom knitting book that I decided that the yarn was perfect for a stitch found in that book!

Well luckily for you, you don’t have to go searching out old books to find the perfect project for that hand spun yarn that catches your eye.

A new book A Fine Fleece: Knitting with Handspun Yarns by Lisa Lloyd is the go to book for this purpose. Lisa gives descriptions of many different fibers and their qualities by creature, also giving tips as to what sort of project each is suited to. She also gives tips to spinners on choosing and spinning the yarn with a particular project in mind.

The patterns are broken up in to different categories exploring themes:

Light and Shadow: Studies in Contrast
Forest and the Trees: Scale and Perspective
Conceptual Stitches and Emotive Design

All the patterns are beautiful. I don’t think there is one that I wouldn’t like to do given the time.

My first impression� of this book was to think it would be another ‘knock off’ of The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, but it is far from that. It is definitely a companion guide for spinners that can stand on it’s own!

The second book Tweed: More Than 20 Contemporary Designs to Knit by Nancy J. Thomas. This is a nice little volume devoted to the tried and true yarn that is tweed.� I know that tweeds often throw off people. They don’t quite know what to make of it, or with it. It is so thoroughly engrained in the weaving side of things that often knitters do not consider it.

This book will definitely change your opinion and give you some great history of tweed, as well as some great knitterly things to do with it!

I know my biggest fear with tweed was that I thought that I would have to just do miles and miles of stockinette, I thought that any pattern stitches would get lost when worked in a tweed yarn. Nancy quells this fear, by giving great tips on pattern stitches with tweeds and then goes on to give� a boat load of examples of stitch patterns that work with tweed. All in all this is a great little volume and would be a great addition to any knitter’s library!

And my loom knitting friends… This one is coming soon…!!! I can only say right now that I know it has 3 great designs in it by someone you know well ..hehehe oh .. well ok… I am sure they are all great!

The Latest and Greatest in Loom Knitting!!!

Denise — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:31:10 +0000

Here it is.. I have known this was coming out for a while.. Isela hinted at it a while back, and then I dragged it out of her!

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Looking forward to getting it.. That afghan on the cover is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Looks like it is not quite available yet.. but Annie’s Attic has it up on their site here. So you can keep an eye on it!

Congrats Isela!!!!

And for those of you who are avoiding the Black Friday shopping frenzy.. I found a new site to check out.. The Apronista!

pop on over they are having a great little givaway!

Oh.. and check out the lightning deals on my Amazon widget there on the left sidebar! I have seen a few sweet deals pop up there today! They change hourly!!

Does This Book Make my Brain Look Fat?

Denise — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:30:19 +0000

My mission for the next bit is to do some reading and learning. I also plan to get some ‘official’ knitting credentials on my resume starting with the CYCA certified knitting instructors program. With that in mind the following books have been procured and added to my library..

I had planned to buy�The Knitter’s Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn�by Clara Parkes (of Knitter’s Review fame) at Rhinebeck, and get her to sign my copy. That carefully thought out plan was thwarted by the publisher when they offered me a review copy.� Now who am I to turn down a free knitting book? So rather than a signed copy, Clara, also agreeing that no one should turn down a free book, kindly signed the back of my Blogger Bingo card, so I might paste the sentiments into the book when it arrived. I planned, sight unseen to keep this book forever.. and now that I have it… not even the temptation of 10 pounds of qiviut could pry it from my hands.. er.. well.. I don’t think so. A full review later. Lets just say I am devouring this book quite in the same manner my children are devouring their Halloween candy!
�Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop, if my brain looked skinny before reading this book, it has gained about 10 pounds after getting through about 1/2 of it. I have learned so much from this book and I think that even dedicated loom knitters would benefit from this one! So if you are at the library and they have it check it out!
This one hasn’t hit my mailbox yet so it is not in the pile but I thought No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo & Other Delights�by Amy Singer, was a must have! I made a trade for this one on Ravelry, and look forward to learning a bit more about these non-wool fibers, though this book might be a bit redundant after reading the Yarn book.
Barbara Walker’s Knitting from the Top�has been tauted as a must read. I will be looking at this one carefully, and seeing how knitting from the top can best be applied to looms!
A beautiful volume fit for the coffee table is the book Unexpected Knitting�Debbie New nudges the creative side of knitting in this book, which includes a knitted lace BOAT!! yes.. you heard me right, a knitted boat! (and yes it floats!)
Modular knitting is demystified in Dazzling Knits: Building Blocks to Creative Knitting�by Patricia Werner, I am hoping that I can wipe de-mist from my brain and learn some of these techniques!
Another review copy came along with the Clara’s book,Kaffe Knits Again: 24 Original Designs Updated for Today’s Knittersthis book is gorgeous! Another coffee table book for knitters! I had to immediately look up the location where the photos were taken.. and sigh… it is in England.. Anyway a full review on this one later too!
I also�recently added Marla Richard’s�Knitting Board Book to my library as well. This is a great little volume for loom�and board knitters. �Great instructions on many of those ‘fancy’ stitch patterns like cables, and ripples and lace and all for knitters who balk at needles!!
An old classic Mary Thomas’s Book of Knitting Patterns is another great one to wade through slowly.. trying EVERYTHING out as you go. The organization of this book is so well thought out, each technique is explained, then built on I have barely had time to touch the surface of this one and plan to have a whole lot of swatches by the time I am done with it!
And what knitter doesn’t need a little know how with a hook? Crocheting School: A Complete Course should help with that, but I think I might just pick up a crochet class at the local Joann’s as well.
Last but certainly not least, the DVD A Knitting GlossaryI picked this up at Rhinebeck as you know, and it is very much worth every penny and more! Not really an item for new knitters, but if you are in the advanced beginner, or intermediate level, then you will want to add this to your Christmas list! I am surely glad I picked this one up!

I will have to share some of my other goals tomorrow.. let the learning commence!

How-To’s Day: How to Loom for Less!

Denise — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:06:37 +0000

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Here are some little tips to help you loom for less!!!

First up! Annies Attic is having a big 4th of July sale!

Hmm lets see.. My book..

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$3.95!!! Check it out!

I might even pick up a few copies at that price!

Of course there are other things on sale.. like there is a S-WEEEET price on some wool yarn on page 8 of the sale items..

On page 14 there is a super deal on Lanscapes yarn… great for felting!

Next.. you should check out Create For Less!!

They always have low prices and sometimes they are ridiculously low!

When you are shopping online ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do a search for discount or coupon codes before you hit that checkout button! I have saved quite a bit online by doing this simple thing!! From free shipping to multiple discounts it pays to look!

Also take time to sign up at your local craft store for their newsletter or mailing list. Quite often you will get some great coupons for mailing list members only!�

And don’t forget the dollar stores, Big Lots, Ollies, and other discount, closeout stores! They are usually hit and miss but sometimes you hit on a great deal!!!

So keep your eyes open, and your ears to the ground and let me know if you have a money saving tip that will help us all loom for less!

�I’ll just uh, step out of the way now so I don’t get trampled…Enjoy!

There’s a new loom book (almost) in town..

Denise — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:34:33 +0000

So far we loom knitters have had the short end of the stick. There are not many pretty glossy new loom knitting books out there. While needle knitting, crochet and other fiber arts books overflow on the shelves at our local book stores, you just don’t see any loom knitting books! Well slowly but surely we are getting ours! Yep there is yet another loom knitting book coming out.. but you have to wait till October!

Well thanks to a tip from Isela here is some info on The Quick and Easy Loom Knitting Set.

Weighing it at 128 pages with a hard cover it looks like it could be promising. It’s put out by Reader’s Digest and I generally find their books to be really good! It lalso looks like it will be�a kit perhaps a loom and some yarn. Who doesn’t need another loom and some yarn to add to their stash??

I personally will be digging into this:

this weekend. A Yoga Mat Bag to carry my new pink softball bats in will just fit the bill!!�Woo Hoo!! Add a little buttoned loop at the top to hold my glove and it’s softball with style!

There is also another project screaming to be made..the window in our walk in closet needs something..so out comes the knitting board to the rescue.. just wait till you see what happens with this one!!! Brian bought some supplies for this project a long time ago and he will be saying it’s about time!! However there is one more thing I need to get at the store to make this little project happen.. stay tuned!

Another window that needs an upgrade is the one in front of you, I am working on a blog makeover so if you see something weird or wonky or get a sneek preview of my new look well pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain!