My First Thoughts on the Martha Stewart Loom

On Friday I was finally able pull all the pieces out and check out my new looms.  I love how many different ways I am going to be able to use the Martha Stewart Looms.  I have been very anxious to try out a hat using a fine gauge and with my new looms this is finally going to be possible.  

As of right now my loom is set up with 2 semi-circle pieces and 2 of the straight 12 piece parts.  This is a total of 80 pegs.  I am using Lion brand Jiffy yarn in Caffe and only using one strand to do a knit 2, purl 2 for two rows and then switching to purl 2, knit 2 for the next two rounds.  I have only knit 24 rounds (2 inches) so far, but I am loving the look of this stitch.  

When I first started it was a little intimidating at first.  I have been using the Knifty Knitter Looms for so long and have gotten very comfortable and pretty fast on these looms, so switching to a new loom that is more of an oval shape and so many pegs took a little getting used too.  I noticed that I was having an easy time with the knit stitches, but the purl stitches every now and then were a little difficult.  When I was pulling the loop up it would get "stuck" on the next peg over, so I was having to pick up the stitch again to move it.   I used the stop watch on my phone to see how long it was taking me to complete a round.  On my second round it took me 7 minutes and 24 seconds!  Last night I could tell that I had picked up the pace and was able to complete a round in 5 minutes and 13 seconds.  Not too bad.

I would love to buy a second set of these looms, so that I can have more projects going at once.  I feel like I could get burnt out easily with the fine gauge, so it would be nice to change things up with working on another project.  That way I could just go back and forth between the two looms.  

I am very happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend the Martha Stewart Looms .  I hope to have pictures to post soon and will try to post a picture of my work in progress.  


Happy Halloween!

Finally!!

I have been waiting for weeks now after seeing all the reviews for the Martha Stewart Loom .  I have been checking my local Jo-Ann's and have not had luck finding it.  I knew I could order it on-line, but prices were a little high for me.  

This Sunday I found a Micheal's coupon for 40% off a regular priced item.  I crossed my fingers before heading in to the store today.  At first I didn't see them, but after looking at all the yarn I finally spotted them on an end aisle.  $39.99 and they were not on sale!  Woo-hoo! I was then able to use my 40% off coupon which brought the cost down to $23.99.  I am very happy with my purchase and can't wait to try them out.  I will be posting soon with finished projects made with the Martha Loom and let you know how I like it. 

Figure-Eight Reversible Headband/Ear-warmer Picture Tutorial

Figure-Eight Reversible Headband/Ear-warmer No Sew Picture Tutorial.

You will need:  long loom, knitting hook, crochet hook, and yarn of your choice.  

Pattern notes:  You can make this headband/ear-warmer as long and wide as you like. I used 6 pegs on both sides.  I used the figure-eight stitch.  The directions for this can be found in the pattern book that came with the loom or you can use this link on the loom knitting help website.  I also used two strands of yarn as one. 

Knit your headband using the long loom until it reaches the desired length you need.

 Take the stitches from one side of the loom and put them on the pegs directly across. 

 

 Once all the loops have been moved to the other side, take the bottom loop over the top loop.  Only 1 loop will remain on the pegs.

 You are now ready to bring the cast on row up through the loom.  Put the stitches from the cast on row back on the loom.  You will now have two loops on each peg. 

 Bring the  bottom stitches over the top stitches.  You will again have one loop on each peg.

 Starting on the side without the tail you will get your crochet hook and put the loops on the first peg on the hook.  Put the yarn from the second peg also on your crochet hook.  Pull the stitches through like a normal bind off for the long looms.  Continue doing this until you reach the last peg. 

 When you reach your last two stitches you can cut your working yarn leaving a short tail.  When you pull these stitches through make sure that you bring the tail through with the stitch.  This will make a knot. 

This is what the "seam" of the headband/ear-warmer will look like once you are finished. Go ahead and use your crochet hook to hide the yarn and maybe even make another small knot before cutting the yarn. 

This is my first picture tutorial and I would love feedback.  Please let me know if this helped you or if there is anyway I can make it better.  :)

Fall Sale at Etsy

I have added some new items to my etsy .  I have new adult hats and some fun kid hats.  I would also like to share a coupon code that can be used to save 15%.  Use the code  FALL11BLOGSALE at check out.  Feel free to share this code with your friends if you think they would like any of the items that I have listed.  I hope that you find something you like.  And, remember that if you see something, but would like it made in a different color, I would LOVE to do a custom hat.  Let me know at anytime during the sale and I can make a reserved listing for you, so you can use the coupon code.

I also have a facebook page that I am working on getting ready with blog updates, finished projects, and just a way to get word out general.  Please consider clicking the "like" button to follow my page and tell your friends. 

Garter Stitch Ear-flap Hat Pattern

Garter Stitch Ear-Flap Pattern

 

 

Supplies needed:  loom, knitting hook, yarn of your choice, and yarn needle.

I used the green Knifty Knitter for the hat in the picture and Caron brand Simply Soft yarn.

Skills needed:  You will need to know how to e-wrap, knit, purl, and how to increase. 

You will be increasing when you make the ear-flaps, so you will just do a basic e-wrap on an empty peg.

I knit this hat using 2 strands as one.  So anytime I say in the pattern to cast on (there will be a total of 3 times) you will be using 2 strands of yarn as one.

In the parenthesis I will put the peg number of the pegs that will be wrapped to help you keep up with your increases. 

1.  You will cast on peg 8 and 9 for the first ear-flap.

2.  purl pegs 8 and 9 and make an increase.  (7, 8, and 9)

3. knit pegs and make an increase. (7, 8, 9, and 10)

4. purl pegs and make an increase.  (6, 7, 8, 9, and 10)

5. knit pegs and make an increase. (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11)

6. purl pegs and make an increase. (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11)

7. knit pegs and make an increase. ( 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12)

8. purl pegs and make an increase. ( 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12)

9. knit pegs and make an increase. (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13)

You now have a total of ten pegs wrapped.  

10. purl all ten pegs.

11 - 23. continue with the garter stitch pattern.  Knit a row and then purl a row.  You will end on a knit row.  

24. Cut your yarn, but make sure that you leave a tail that you can decide later how you want to finish.  Either with a braid, an i-cord, or just sew and hide like the hat in picture.

You are now ready to start your 2nd ear-flap.

1. Go to pegs 28 and 29 and cast on with your basic e-wrap.  

You will do the same pattern that is above to make an e-flap that matches.  This means that the ten pegs that will end up with loops will be 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33.

Now that your ear-flaps are complete you will begin to work on the brim and body of hat.  I used two colors (obviously), so I will give the instructions for what I did for that.  You can always choose to make the hat with one color and the color change instructions will not apply. I will make a mark in the instructions for if you are not using 2 colors.

1.  Cast on all pegs using the basic e-wrap.

2.  Purl all pegs.  When you get to the pegs that have 2 loops on them you will be purling them, but you will be lifting the bottom two loops over.  *Leave a comment if I need to explain this better and I will do my best. *

3.  Knit all pegs.

4.  Purl all pegs.

5. Knit all pegs.

6. Purl all pegs.

7. Knit all pegs.

8.  Purl all pegs.

9.  Knit all pegs

** 10. Here is the part where I made my color switch. If you decide to switch colors you will do this now.  When you add the color you are going to knit all the way around with your new color.  11. Then second time you go around with your new color you will purl.  And so on with your garter stitch pattern.

**10. If you decide to NOT add a color, continue with the pattern above 3 - 9 until your hat reaches the desired length. 

When hat reaches the desired length go ahead and decrease the hat by half.  Move loops on peg 1 to 2 and knit over.  Loops on 3 to 4 knit over.  Continue doing this all the way around the loom.  
You are now ready to gather the hat.  

Once your hat is complete you can decide to add to the ear-flaps.  Some people like to add braids, or an i-cord, or you could just leave them simple like I did.  Because the hat is made using the garter stitch the ear-flaps will not curl, so there really is no need to add anything to hold them down.  

I hope you like this pattern.  If there is anything that I need to explain better or if there is anything that you may need help with, please leave a comment.  


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