The question of the knit stitch(s)…

Posted on January 13, 2011 by gettinitpegged

The following is an excerpt from a very interesting post by my friend at Rostitchery.com.

learnToKnit19b lion brand image

“a stitch by any other name is still just a loop…

a few days ago a question was posted on the gettin’ it pegged! loom knitters clique facebook page that got my mind whirling:

“Do you prefer the true Knit Stitch, the U-Knit Stitch, the Flat Stitch or the E-Wrap (Single) Stitch? I think I prefer the U-Stitch.”

it is often said in needle knitting that there are only two stitches:  knits and purls.  everything else is a variation on these two stitches.  i contend something a little different:  that there aren’t actually two different stitches at all, but two variations on the same stitch:  a loop…”

Please take a moment to pop on over to Rowena’s site and read her intriguing article… then come back here and read my response.   I was just going to post in her comments, but I figured that this is such an interesting topic that it deserved it’s own blog post! 🙂  So go ahead….mosey on over and read, read, read!

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Interesting idea isn’t it? …and one that I’m sure many people will agree with.  I do myself on most of the points, except a few. 😉

First of all, the e-wrap can’t be lumped in with the knit stitches and generically called a “loop” when really, this stitch is actually the “Twisted Knit Stitch” or “knitting into the back loop” in knitting terminology.  It is created differently and has a different texture than a knit stitch.

As for the others, I believe that the “true knit” stitch, which is really the method of physically working and lifting the stitch on the front of the peg and the U-stitch can be used interchangeably….it all comes down to a possible matter of gauge difference, but the use of either of these can really be left up to the knitter.

The flat stitch, however, is a super tight stitch which has it’s own uses and (in my opinion) should really be avoided unless the pattern specifically states to use this particular stitch.  Yes, the yarn wraps itself around each other to create the same “loops” as in a knit stitch (which it still IS essentially), but it is not the same in practical use as a knit stitch during loom knitting.

Do Loom Knitters need to stand up with confidence, take ownership of their knitting ability and make some of their own decisions in what methods to use as they work through patterns where none are specified?  YES!  I highly agree! 🙂  Do some patterns require specific methods of knitting in order to get the projects to turn out like the original?  The answer is: Yes again. 😉

Thank you so much, Rowena…and Stasia, who asked this question in the first place, lol…for this informative and very tasty dialog on the merits of standardization of loom knitting stitches!  We do need this to happen, but we also need to be fully aware of what those standards should include, combine, or eliminate. 😉

Would you like to carry on the discussion??  Do you have your own idea of what  loom knitting patterns and techniques should be and include?  Pop in a comment below!

Bethany~

Posted in Blogging, Knitting, Loom Knitting, Looming Patterns | 17 Comments

Our first WiNNeR is….

Posted on January 12, 2011 by gettinitpegged

Yes, you heard that right!  We have a winner!

“What was that?…a winner for what, you ask?”

Well, simply put, a winner for the year of 2010! 😀

Let me explain…

Over in the Gettin’ It Pegged! Yahoo Loom Knitter’s Chat Clique (it has to be a long name to contain all the fun, lol) we have a yearly tradition.  We have several ways to participate in loomy contests throughout the year, and then when we get to the end-of -the-year-beginning-of-the-new, we have a few games, maybe a loom along, and then we have some prize drawings for all those folks who have participated in all the above things throughout the year.  Pretty cool, huh?

Well, this year we’ve had a few different ways to win things:

Loom Knitting Skills Checklist: We’ve been working on compiling a database that has all kinds of loom knitting skills with the links to where these how-to’s are found, and/or the best example of that skill in a book.  This is a terrific resource for all loomers out there, and for us as a group, it’s an ongoing project to pin down all those cool techniques. 🙂  Each instance of participation has earned that loomer an entry into the drawing.

Loomy To-Do Progress List: This is a place for listing all those projects that we have hanging around on our looms and just can’t find their way to being completed…yes, UFOs! (Un-Finished Objects)  For each UFO that was completed during 2010, the loomer receives an entry into the drawing.

Countdown to Christmas at the Clique 2010: This is where we get to plan our loom knitting projects that we intend for holiday gifts.  It helps to see them all in one place, organized and easily refreshed with our progress.  For each completed gift in 2010, the loomer received a drawing entry.

Group Games: We’ve played a few games in the group, such as finding and linking to the picture in the group that has provided the most inspiration to them personally…and group activities such as filling in their profile, birthday and people map, to help us get to know one another a little bit better. 🙂

Loom Along: The Loom Along to usher in the new year has been the Loom Knit Oven Mitt!   This has been keeping us very busy indeed, and  each person   who   turns in a completed picture of their Oven Mitts to my email: Bethany@Gettinitpegged.com will receive an entry into another drawing! 😀 I’d love to feature them here at the blog and on the Clique Pics page as well.  If you haven’t started your mitts yet, no worries, as we’ll be working on them through the month of January….so come on and join in on the fun!  🙂

So, without further ado, I’d love to announce the winner for the participation in the Loom Knitting Skills Checklist:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Stasia Renfrow!

This is rather perfect, because the whole thing for the checklist was really Stasia’s idea, lol.  I’m so glad that the random numbers generator knew what it was doing! 😉  To visit her new website just click on her name above… she’s beginning to compile all kinds of great information about loom knitting all in one place… be sure to check on her progress now and then, because I think it’s going to be a wonderful resource!

As we decided long ago when we started compiling the database, the winning person would receive this 2 Cool 4 Stix Tote!  Congratulations Stasia! 😀

(Sadly, this isn’t the best photo of this bag… it definitely does not do it justice.  The bag is so cute and fresh, and I LOVE the fun green and teal combo and little belt loop ribbons!  I hope you enjoy it Stasia! 🙂 )

I’ll be back very soon with more prize announcements to make… yep, there’s more goodies to be handing out for all those other categories!

Until then…have a wonderful  rest of the week!

Bethany~

Posted in Blogging, Contests, Free Loom Patterns, Gettinitpegged Gear, Holidays, Loom Alongs, Loom Knitter's Chat Clique, Loom Knitting | 11 Comments

Just a little something…

Posted on January 4, 2011 by gettinitpegged

…before we get into New Year’s Goals and Resolutions here at the gettinitpegged…

Back in December, I needed a quick baby shower gift for a gal in our local knitting group.  I had seen some super cute gnome type baby hats in photographers sample pics and at Etsy, etc.  I decided to try my hand at making one using a humongous crochet hook and some brightly colored Jiffy Thick and Quick.  I really haven’t crocheted in a long while, as my hands really hurt afterward, but this was pretty quick so I figured I’d be okay. 😉  I did end up a tad sore, but nothing too detrimental.

This little thing is what I came up with:

So…what do you think???

I just winged it, so there’s no pattern at all…just good old fashioned crafting by the seat of the pants, lol.  😉  The fun thing is that there is another gal in the knitting group who is also expecting a baby, so the shower was actually a double baby shower for them both.  I made one more little baby hat which IS loom knit!  I’m saving that one for later, as the mama is due any time now and she has given permission for a photo shoot with her little sweetum’ and the new loomy hat.  🙂  I can’t wait to show you, as it turned out so cute!

Hope you’re all keeping your own noggin’s warm in this chilly January weather!

Bethany~

Posted in Crochet, Kids, Loom Knitting, Looming Patterns, New Projects | 13 Comments