Hooray! A loomy ‘zine

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How cool is this? A loom-dedicated online ‘zine called, appropriately enough, The Loom Knitters Circle. Featuring patterns, articles, and a forum, this great site is just what loom knitters have been asking for. Visit it today!

As far as my own projects, I didn’t take any pictures but over the weekend I knitted four little hats for my nieces’ American Girls dolls. I used the blue loom, two strands of Moda Dea yarn, and invented a slightly different pattern each time.

I also finished my ziggy-zag scarf. In the end, I probably used 1.5 skeins of yarn. I’ll post a picture, soon!

Antique store find: Handee Revolving Wool Winder

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Handeewoolwinder2

Now here’s a little item I’m sure will be “handee” someday–a wool winder. It was just $5.50 at a local antique store. I had just admired three or four wooden ones, all very pretty but expensive, rickety, and too big, when I spied this one still in its vintage box. All the pieces are there (it’s metal) and it looks like something I’ll actually be able to use. Plus, the gal on the box is super retro cool, don’t you think?

Here’s what the box says:

Handee Revolving Wool Winder: “From Hank to Ball – In No Time At All”

“The Handee All-Metal Revolving Wool Winder makes it so easy and convenient to wind yarn yourself at any time. Instantly adjustable to take any size hank and any type wool. Rubber cusioned clamp can be fastened to chair or table instantly and does not mar surface.”

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A week or so ago, I had read a tutorial on how to wind yarn using a swift and an electric hand mixer. No, I’m not kidding. Visit Fig and Plum’s blog to learn something new.

I have the swift, I have a mixer. Now, all I need is some yarn!

Categories: Vintage

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Big Bubba comes to visit

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Yarndog2
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Kittyicicle
Bigbunny

So, what brought yarn kitty and yarn dog out of the house on a winter day? In the past week we’ve had 30″ of snow, and yet there they were, both staring at something.

Could it be? Could it really be that they spotted Big Bubba, the harbinger of spring?

The kitty peered cautiously through an icicle. The dog bounded, but Bubba was too fast and got away! And least I think he got away.

Okay, enough silliness! What I really wanted to say is knitting bunnies is a good way to trigger spring. Even with all the snow, the sun is shining and the ice is melting the day after a winter storm. So, never again doubt the power of a pink, knitted bunny named Bubba.

I made this bunny using the same pattern as before, only this time I made him much bigger. I cast on 24 stitches on the blue loom and knit back and forth to create an 8.5″ square flat panel. I used the flat stitch and two strands of yarn–one Bernat Softee and one Moda Dea Dream. Because this bunny is so much larger than the other two, I had to guess how much bigger to make his ears. I cast on pegs 1-6 and purled the two middle pegs. I added two additional rows, and that’s all it took to make the ears. I did sew them on backwards so they had a floppier look.
Bubba is a little bit big, and although he’s cute, he’s no where near as cuddly as the little bunnies. Plus, his back legs look a little distorted.

But if Bubba can bring about spring, who can complain?

And what does yarn dog think about it all? Can she complain? “Nope,” she told me. “Bubba was delicious!”

(Just kidding.)

Ziggy Zag Stitch

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Ziggyzagscarf

I started a scarf using the ziggy zag stitch. (You can find written directions for this stitch in the Yahoo Decor Accents Group. Go to Files, and then Stitches. Isela Phelps has written them up.)

To make this scarf, I’m using one strand of a beautiful blue wool blend. (Yarn Bee Mosiac Twist, Color: Moody Blue) and the red loom. This stitch needs an even number of pegs, so I cast on 12 pegs using the crochet cast on. Then I knitted one row and purled one row. This gives the scarf a non-curling edge. I then knitted back and forth for six rows using a stitch that’s described in Isela’s pattern. It’s a lot like the mock crochet stitch but instead of knitting three pegs at a time, you only use two. It’s an easy stitch to learn so I won’t describe it here.

Then, I started doing the ziggy zag stitch. This is a fun, pretty stitch but it can be a little complicated, so I’m posting some pictures of how I interpreted it. Please let me know if I’ve made a mistake.
Ziggyzag1
STEP ONE: To start, you flat stitch two pegs. In this picture (ziggyzag1) I’m doing the flat stitch on Peg One and Peg Two. Knit Peg One and then Peg Two. Don’t pull your yarn too tight. After you knit over Peg One and Peg Two, your yarn should be between Pegs Two and Three.
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STEP TWO: Bring the yarn BEHIND Peg Two, and then pull it in front of Peg One. Purl Stitch Peg One (ziggyzag2). Now, the yarn should be to the right of Peg One.

Ziggyzag3

STEP THREE: Bring the yarn BEHIND Peg One and in front of Peg Two so your yarn is now between Pegs One and Two. Purl Stitch Peg Two (ziggyzag3).

Now, you’re ready to move onto Pegs 3 and 4 and repeat Steps 1-3. Continue this pattern until you reach the end of your row. Then head back the other direction. (Check Isela’s pattern for clarification.)

This is a really pretty stitch. It gives a zig-zagged edging, too, so you may want to include a border on either side of your project.