Gettin’ It Pegged…Loom Knitter’s Clique

Click the pic for all the details!

Sometime back, during one of my college classes, we were discussing the need to have something other than post-it notes to keep our places while knitting with charts.  I’ve been mulling this little problem over in my mind ever since, constantly keeping an eye out for “just that perfect thing” that would be able to magically transform into a doable row marker.

Well, the other day I found it!  Michaels now has small metal strips in their wood crafting aisle.  Coupled together with magnet strips, this turned out to be just the ticket!  Here’s how I made mine:

Gather:

• your favorite paper bits and bobs leftover from scrapbooking/card making.
• your favorite adhesive…needs to be strong!
• pencil, scissors
• ink pad to coordinate with paper, or antiquing brown
• you might need some fine sandpaper
• and these items below…2 metal strips & sticky backed magnets

Step one: Trace around the metal strips with your pencil onto your decorative paper.  Cut out.

Step two:  Apply adhesive to the entire back of your cut out paper, remove the adhesive circle tabs from the back of the metal strips, and press the strips, back side down, onto the paper.  The back sides of these are kind of rough, so I preferred to have them covered up.

Step three:  Carefully press the sticky edges of the paper down onto the edges of the metal strips with your thumbs.  If this isn’t working to keep them down, then you might want to use your sandpaper, and sand the edges of your strips, so that the extra paper overlapping them is whisked away.

Step four:  On the back of the strip you intend for the back of your pattern, firmly apply the sticky side of two magnet strips end to end. 

Step five:  I love objects that are thoroughly antiqued.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to add a little ink to the edges of your projects.  It just seems to make them more interesting and dimensional.  See the right hand photo below for how to do this easily.

Step six:  Embellish!  I added a sweet little old fashioned wooden bunny, and some ribbon to mine.  I thought that was perfect, since I’m Angora!  ;)   But anything you like will do the trick…or you can leave it just your pretty paper.  What ever you decide, this is the part that really makes this your marker…all your personal touches!

Now you’re ready for your most difficult to follow knitting chart!  This won’t slip and slide, and you won’t have to worry about your sticky notes running out of stickum.  It’s also great as a place marker in your favorite pattern book while travelling, etc. 

Hope you’ve enjoyed this little tutorial…happy chart reading!

Bethany~

I thought when you sleep…you’re supposed to be counting sheep.

Apparently my mind thinks that instead of counting the sweet little fuzzy things…it should be counting patterns! 

When you’re sleeping and dreaming, have you ever thought that you were having a major epiphany that would be earth shattering, only to wake up and find that your insight was sheer jibberish?  Last night I dreamed up no less than 5 new patterns for working on the looms!  Not only that, but exactly how to do them, including tricky techniques that I had no idea I even wanted to do…and they made perfect sense when I woke up! 

*Now, that’s cool!*

So, I sketched them out as soon as I woke up and realized what I (or my subconscious)  ;)   had done.   It’ll be really cool to be able to knit them up and know that this thing I’m holding in my hands is literally a dream come true! 

I was so inspired by my sleep tutorials, that I had to play with paint and draw a memento of my experience, which is what you see up there at the top.  I just love the little sheep!  I think I’ll use them every so often, here and there, where a little fuzz is required.  

Just a Reminder!

There are only a few more days to get your pics in for the drawing which will be held on the first of February!

Not sure what in the world I’m talking about?  Just click here for all the info…  CLICK!

Thanks so much!  I can’t wait to see your wonderful pictures!

Bethany~

Here’s the newest kidlett craft for the Southwest Washington Family Magazine…

Sweet Lil’ Love Birds…

just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Just click on the pic to see the instructions close-up…Enjoy! 

Bethany~

I found something else I really wanted to work on, and just couldn’t wait…

The poor cables scarf had to be put on hold for the January Loom-a-Long with Isela…Plushy House Socks!  Yes, I finally got my invitation to join Ravelry…it actually wasn’t that long of a wait…about a couple of weeks.  Not bad with how many they have clammering to join in on the fun!  It’s so huge there!  I couldn’t believe my eyes…it’s like a yarn internet inside the internet.

So…I am making progress on my sockies…this one is ready for the toe, then to make the mate…my feet will be so comfy cozy!

 I didn’t find the Berroco Plush yarn that this pattern called for, so I found another chunky, fleecy substitute…this yarn is called Poker by Skacel.  It’s an Italian blend of tactel, new wool, acrylic, and nylon.  Feels very nice!

I promise….

When I finish with these, I will put that Cables Scarf right back on my little blue loom and finish it, for goodness sake~! 

 …along with the other 2 items I mentioned below!  

Bethany~

I hope you’re all having a fine weekend!  Mine has been spent fighting a cold…I’m to the point where I think I need to make a trip to the dreaded doctor’s office tomorrow.  Yuck! 

 But…being forced to spend a little down time, has given me the opportunity to plan about 16 new projects for the looms!  And let me tell you…they are going to be cool!  :)   I so love it when a good plan comes together, as I hope these will. 

I also now have three projects going on my looms…as if one isn’t enough!  ;)   I have a lovely scarf in a tealish color that I’ve been working on since the fall…it’s a new stitch pattern that I hope to share with you soon.  The next is a project from Isela’s cables book, the classic cables scarf, that I am knitting to go with the mitts (also from the same…) made for my daughter for Christmas. 

And the project I decided yesterday just couldn’t wait for me to finish the others, is a project of my own…a lovely handbag that incorporates my new found knowledge of cables…I am going to get them mastered completely!!!!  Hence the new project, to see if I can recreate them in something of my own design.  Well, I started over about 3 times, before I finally figured out what I really wanted it to look like and what size.  Oh well…we learn by trial and error, right? 

Well, that’s about all for today…I will keep you posted on my progress of the new projects as I go!   Enjoy your day! 

Bethany~

My name is Silly Meg…  

I’m here to remind you to send in yer pictures of all the projects you’ve created using patterns from the Loom Knitter’s Clique…

Bethany has a bad head cold and needed to stay in bed…yuck!

Attention to all you who have taken local classes from Bethany…All those projects count!!!  So snap some pics and send them in pronto! 

How do you do this, you ask?…and why?  Follow the link here to discover all the details on how to enter the Clique Pics Contest!  You have until January 31st before a name is drawn to win a gift certificate to Decor Accents!    Yippee-Skippy!   Now that’s a right fine, knee slappin’ deal! 

Now I need to hop along and make up my best country fair winning recipe of healin’ homemade chicken gumbo soup.  Between you and me…Bethany’s a tad grumpy when she’s under the weather, and I need to get her back to bee’s knees healthy in right snappin’ good time!  Ya-all have a good day, now, ya-hear?

Silly Meg~

Angora – Soft and warm
“Angora has a warmth that rivals cashmere and softness that rivals qiviut. Best of all, it comes from cute little bunnies that look for all the world like furry footstools with ears.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Angoras are eager to please and are highly sensitive. Flexibility and adaptability are your strengths and sometimes your weakness, as well. You are essentially a warm and feeling person, and little escapes your impressionable mind. You are generous with others and strive for harmony in your relationships.

—————————————————————————————————————— I don’t usually take these quizzes, but I thought the little buttons were so cute, I had to give it a whirl.  :)   I think this is a fairly accurate description of me as well.  I don’t know what my close acquaintances might think, but I like it!  ;)  …and I know I love bunnies!  Why don’t you give it a try?

Just in case you didn’t know…check the posts below for the juicy details of the Clique Pics Contest happenin’ right now, through the end of January…hurry & get in on the fun!

Bethany~

Well, how’s your monday going so far?  Mine’s been a little crazy…too many irons in the fire!  But I wanted to pop in and leave a little hellllllloooo!  to all you happy loomies out there.  I hope your fingers have had a chance to get some excercise today. 

Just thought I’d give a little peek at my January Jewelry project for class…

A Taste of Wine…

 very preeettty! 

Here it is all twisted up…

even preeettierrr!

*Just a little reminder…There is a fine, how-do-you-do contest happenin’  right as we speak…you have until January 31st so you’ll want to get those pics in ASAP!

Bethany~

Click to join GettinItPegged

In celebration of our little clique topping 1o,ooo views…we’re holding a little contest!

Details:  Pop on over to the new Gettin’ It Pegged!…Loom Knitter’s Chat Clique, and sign up for membership.  Within a day, your membership will be approved, and then the fun begins…

We will begin our new Clique Pics page by uploading your favorites from the projects offered here at the site.  From these pics, a few will be randomly selected to grace our Clique Pics page, and will occasionally be rotated with others, so that everyone has a chance to shine!

For each uploaded picture, your name will be put in a drawing to win a $10 gift certificate for Decor Accents, Inc!  The more the merrier! 

So, hurry on over and get set with your pics!  I can’t wait to see them!  

Bethany~
Click to join GettinItPegged