February Yarn and Product Review of the Month

New CinDwood Wedges 

I found that this product is made solid and have the ability to make loom knitting very versitile. It is easy to function with the washer and nut assembly, and moves fluidly inside the loom when in use. Soo much easier than the Knifty Knitter Clips. I would in fact suggest getting the loom and wedges for some of my older products that folks are finding the clips hard to get. Get the 90 peg 3/8" gauge with 2 wedges, in fact I am thinking about getting 2 more. Everything of my old stuff is possible with this combo. Patterns I have used the wedge with. The Mermaid link and the Snow Princess link

Loops and Threads Powdery

Cost: $4.00

Weight: Bulky (5)

Contents: 85% Acrylic / 15% Nylon

Skein Weight: 3.5 oz. / 100 g

Yardage: 126 yd. / 116 m

It was a simple yarn to work with, and works great with 1/2" gauge looms. The gradient is lovely, and I feel you get plenty of yarn. It has a moderate softness, but is stiff when worked into a garment. You get a decent amount of yardage for the price. You can only get it at Michael's which if you don't have one near you, you can order it. Otherwise it is a lovely yarn for making nice winter hats. I made a bonnet for my daughter.  Link for pattern Here. 

Premier Isaac Mizrahi Crafts Sutton

 

Cost: $7.00

Weight: Super Bulky (6)

Contents: 85% acrylic, 15% wool

Skein Weight: 4 oz. / 113 g

Yardage: 68 yd. / 62 m

This I felt was a pricey yarn, and you get very little yardage. I was barely able to make a full hat with the stuff. It is soft for a wool blend and has a wonderful gradience in color but I just wasn't happy with how little for the price. Don't plan to sew too much with this yarn it will fall apart if tugged on too hard. It fuzzes up a lot just wearing the garment. I honestly wouldn't suggest this yarn for anyone. It was rather a pain to work with because it wanted to fuzz a lot. If you do want to use it, it is best used on 1/2-5/8" gauge looms. You could use 3/4" gauge as well. I made a hat with it click here for the link for the pattern. 

February Tip and Tricks, Quick Loom Knitting 2 at a Time

Quick Knitting 2 at a Time!!! 

Ever wondered how that is supposed to work, well it works best and quickest with a long loom and wedges.  

1. You will start on the same side on both garments, like starting on the left and on the same side. 

2. Work like you are doing a tag team race. Start on the one side knit down to the other side, pick up the other garment and knit down that side. 

3. Knit around the curve and knit to the end of the second garment which should complete the row, then pick up the first garment yarn and work the rest of the row. You have completed a single row on 2 garments. 

Try this with socks, mittens, gloves, sleeves, anything that is needing 2 of something.  

 

Link for the Snow Princess Pattern

February Stitch Pattern Checkard Heart Stitch

The Checkard Heart Stitch 

is an easy stitch pattern with knits and purls only.

 

You will have to do a traditional knit for the heart to really show up, keep that in mind. I am also including the 6 stitch patterning and the 10 stitch patterning. Please feel free to print the graphed images for quick reference on projects. The 10 stitch pattern has been incorporated with the "Loving Bonnet" pattern which you can purchase on Ravelry.

6 Stitch Pattern

Flat:

Row 1: P1 K1

Row 2: P3 K3

Row 3: K1 P1

Row 4: K3 P3

In the Round:

Row 1: P1 K1

Row 2: K3 P3

Row 3: K1 P1

Row 4: P3 K3

 

 

 

 

 10 Stitch Pattern

Flat: 

Row 1: P2, K1, P2, K2, P1, K2

Row 2: K1, P3, K1, P1, K3, P1

Row 3: K5, P5

Row 4: P2, K1, P2, K2, P1, K2

Row 5: K1, P3, K1, P1, K3, P1

Row 6: K5 P5 

 

In the Round:

Row 1: P2, K1, P2, K2, P1, K2

Row 2: P1, K3, P1, K1, P3, K1

Row 3: K5, P5

Row 4: K2, P1, K2, P2, K1, P2

Row 5: K1, P3, K1, P1, K3, P1

Row 6: P5, K5

 

Loving Bonnet

Ravelry Link

 

 

February Tutorial of the Month Ruffle Short Row Bonnet

Ruffle Short Row Bonnet

Items:

36 peg 1/2" gauge loom

looming hook

1 skein of Red Heart Ruffle Yarn

1 skein of Red Heart Soft Yarn

Terms:

RCO: Ruffle Cast On

K: Knit

P: Purl

D: Decrease

K2tog: Knit 2 Stitches Together

YO: Yarn Over

WT: Wrap and Turn

BO: Bind Off

CY: Change Yarn

R: Ruffle

Y: Yarn

Place every loop of your ruffle yarn onto each peg, this is worked flat, so you will go back and forth a total of three times. When you reach the end count 3 slots forward to start the next row of ruffle. None of the loops will be tossed. You are presetting the ruffle yarn to get worked into garment.

RCO 36 peg Flat (You will be tossing over the top row of ruffle yarn only.)

Row 1: K (CY Y)

Row 2: P

Row 3: K

Row 4: CY R K

Row 5: CY Y K

Row 6: P

Row 7: K

Row 8: CY R K

Row 9: CCY Y K

Row 10: K1, *D-> YO K2tog 17x**, K1

Row 11: P

Row 12: K35, WT

Row 13: K34, WT

Row 14: K33, WT

Row 15: K32, WT

Row 16: K31, WT

Row 17: K30, WT

Row 18: K29, WT

Row 19: K28, WT

Row 20: K27, WT

Row 21: K26, WT

Row 22: K25, WT

Row 23: K24, WT

Row 24: K23, WT

Row 25: K22, WT

Row 26: K21, WT

Row 27: K20, WT

Row 28: K19, WT

Row 29: K18, WT

Row 30: K17, WT

Row 31: K16, WT

Row 32: K15, WT

Row 33: K14, WT

Row 34: K13, WT

Row 35: K12, WT

Row 36: K12

Row 37: K12, K2tog

Row 38: K13 K2tog

Row 39: K14 K2tog

Row 40: K15 K2tog

Row 41: K16 K2tog

Row 42: K17 K2tog

Row 43: K18 K2tog

Row 44: K19 K2tog

Row 45: K20 K2tog

Row 46: K21 K2tog

Row 47: K22 K2tog

Row 48: K23 K2tog

Row 49: K24 K2tog

Row 50: K25 K2tog

Row 51: K26 K2tog

Row 52: K27 K2tog

Row 53: K28 K2tog

Row 54: K29 K2tog

Row 55: K30 K2tog

Row 56: K31 K2tog

Row 57: K32 K2tog

Row 58: K33 K2tog

Row 59: K34 K2tog

Row 60: K35 K2tog

Row 61: K

Row 62: K2, P2

Row 63: P2, K2

Row 64-71: Repeat rows 62-63

BO

Sew up corners and thread ribbon through holes created at the face area. You're Done!!!

February Sale of the Month "Any Loom, Any Hat, Any Time" $5 Ravelry

February Sale of the Month "Any Loom, Any Hat, Any Time" $5 On Ravelry!!!!! This book takes you through 8 basic hat styles and uses basic math formulas to teach you how to make any of these styles on any loom!!!!! A wonderful go to book for designing hats!!!

January Yarn Reviews

Bernat Softee Baby Colors
DK Weight (3)
$4-$6
310 yds
100% Arcylic
I think it has great color options, and the colors work up lovely. Easy to get from about every where, and reasonable in price for the yardage you get. Best used on 3/8" gauge looms. It doesn't was up well, if you are using for socks it will leave fuzzy ends after washing. Has nice spring to it, and is soft as it states. I would suggest this yarn to anyone.

 Ravelry Link For Pattern

Patons Silk Bamboo
DK Weight (3)
$6-$9
102 yds
70% Bamboo 30% Silk
Beautiful color options, and works up lovely as well. Very soft, but not quite as soft as the bamboo cotton blend I have gotten in the past. I think it is thicker than a typical DK weight, feels more like a worsted weight. Little pricey but you are getting natural fibers. It is typically found online, I haven't seen it in stores. It has some spring, but a beautiful drape because it has some weight to it. A great yarn for summer projects, for the natural fibers are breathing fibers. There is a enough to make a hat, or some baby items, but you would have to order more skeins if you want to make something larger. I would most likely buy more of this yarn as I really enjoyed looming with it. It also does best on a 3/8" gauge loom.

 Ravelry Link For Pattern

Premier Isaac Mizrahi Crafts Little Red
DK Weight (3)
$4-$7
232 yds
100% Acrylic
The gradient in color worked up nicely and has a soft but firm feel to it. The price is not bad either, but I would say not easily found. I got mine at Michael's, and that is the only place I have seen it so far. It washes up really well, I have washed a pair of socks a couple of times and still looks awesome. It has good spring, and a nice drape. It is a true DK weight in my opinion, and works best on 3/8" gauge looms. I would suggest this yarn to anyone making items they intend to wash a lot.

 Ravelry Link For Pattern

January Tutorial of the Month Seamless Baby Mittens

Seamless Baby Mittens

Items

24 or 28 peg 3/8" gauge loom

looming hook

Dk or Worsted Yarn (great use of scrap yarn)

Terms:

KCO: Kitchener Cast On

K: Knit

P: Purl

WT: Wrap and Turn

K2tog: Knit 2 Stitches Together

MBO: Modified Bind Off

28 pegs: circular:

KCO 28 pegs

Row 1: K

Row 2: K13 WT, K12 WT, K11 WT, K10 WT, K9 WT, K8 WT, K7 WT, K6 WT, K6, K6 K2tog, K7 K2tog, K8 K2tog, K9 K2tog, K10 K2tog, K11 K2tog, K12 K2tog, K13 K2tog K14

Row 3-9: K

Row 10-16: K2, P2

MBO

Make 2

Tighten Your Cast on

24 pegs: circular:

KCO 24 pegs

Row 1: K

Row 2: K11 WT, K10 WT, K9 WT, K8 WT, K7 WT, K6 WT, K6, K6 K2tog, K7 K2tog, K8 K2tog, K9 K2tog, K10 K2tog, K11 K2tog K12

Row 3-9: K

Row 10-16: K2, P2

MBO

Make 2

Tighten Your Cast on