January Loom Alongs!

Posted on January 12, 2010 by gettinitpegged

Hey there everybody! 🙂

How about a little Loom Along for the rest of the month of January???

I thought it might be fun to work up a project step by step throughout the next couple of weeks… what do you say?

This is what I thought we might like to make:

a Winter Whimsy!

It’s up to you and your whimsy how you wear it… as a Cozy Cowl,  a Snuggler for your hands,  or a Pocket Purse!

Winter Whimsy~

Gather your materials and we’ll start the Loom Along this Friday,

January, 15th…

just keep your eye out for the publication of the first part of the pattern.  😉

Materials to Gather:

  • Knifty Knitter long pink loom (or any other regular/ large gauge double knit loom with at least 12 sets of pegs)
  • Approx. 140 yrds of #5 bulky yarn, or 280 yrds #4 ww yarn double stranded
  • Small amount of contrasting color waste yarn
  • Loom Tool, 5.5-6 mm Crochet Hook, Yarn Needle, Scissors, & 2 Decorative Buttons.

Okay…that’s about it for that!  I’ll see ya’ on Friday for the LAL!

Oh! I almost forgot.  If you’re interested in looming up some sweet little Frosty Friends, there’s a LAL going on in the Ravelry Loom Along group this month that’s all about snow people…how fun is that?!  Just head on over to join in on the fun.  🙂

Happy Looming!

Bethany~

Posted in Classes, Free Loom Patterns, Loom Alongs, Looming Patterns | 11 Comments

Kissie Fishing Game!

Posted on January 5, 2010 by gettinitpegged

My great friend Jenny Stark, aka Guppy Girl, has this sweet little pattern on her site: Kissie Fish.  These little darlings can be knit up in no time on the KK 12 peg Flower Loom.

Well…I got the fun idea to take these little swimmers one step farther and make a game out of them for a Christmas gift for a dear friend!  I always loved playing those fishing games when I was a kid… especially the ones at carnivals where I threw my line over this mysterious looking curtain and after a tug on the line, and a quick reeling in, discovered a nifty new prize on the end of my hook…how cool is that?!

This one is super easy to do:

Just whip up some of Jenny’s marvelous little Kissie Fish…

then make some poles: I used some doweling and the 3 peg side of the Wonder Knitter by Clover to make pole covers using some chunky, cushiony yarn (I think I actually used Homespun by Lionbrand).

I started with a Drawstring CO, then to make it super easy, I actually stuck the dowel down inside my knitted tubing and just bound off using a gathered BO when I reached the top!

The string was knotted securely to the top of the pole, and then I created the “hook” by using the 6 peg attachment and the same instructions as the beginning of the Kissie Fish, binding off after about 5 rows of the main body.  I tied the end of the fishing string inside the hook to the CO tail, shoved a bit of extra yarn inside the hook and again used the finishing instructions of the Kissie Fish pattern to cinch up the ends of the hook, with the “mouth” facing down.

Strong magnets were hot glued into place inside each of the mouths of the fishies and the hooks. The best way to make sure you have the correct polarity of the magnets is to glue the first into a “hook” and then attach a magnet to it, add some glue to the back of  the 2nd and then attach a fish.  You can do the same for the 2nd hook.

**hint: you don’t want to skimp on magnet power here, as the fishies are slightly heavy and need that extra oomph to make the game successful. 😉

So…what are you waiting for?

Fishing season has now officially begun!  😀

Bethany~

Posted in Crafting, Family Fun, Free Loom Patterns, Kids Crafting, Loom Knitting | 8 Comments

Musings of the New Year & the Old~

Posted on January 3, 2010 by gettinitpegged

I’ve been wracking my noggin’ over the last week about what I want to see happen in 2010.  I keep thinking it should be something fantastic, as it’s the first new decade into the new century of the new millennium!

But….then I think to myself, it’s just another day, passing into another year, as it inevitably does every year.  Why should this year be any more special or grandiose?  I think I’m not quite finished perusing the possibilities for the  new year ahead.  I guess I’m on retail time, lol.  I’ve worked in retail so long, that I think the idea of the old year not being completely finished until inventory has taken place, usually by the end of January, has rooted itself in my mind and emotions so completely that I can’t quite finish out the old year until the excitement from the holidays completely subside, and inventory of the previous year has been accomplished.

So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to mull over and reminisce a bit before thoroughly deciding what the new year should be about…is that okay?

First of all, I’d like to share a bit of loomy goodness that was passed out during the holiday celebrations as gifties to my friends and loved ones…

You’ve already seen the Double Knit Colorblock Scarf I presented my hubby in the previous post..

This was given to my Great-Nephew Blake.  It was created with him in mind and he’d had the fun of meeting it long before the holidays for photo ops.  It was neat to see him finally get to open his gift and find his Silly Snake nestled inside. 🙂

The new baby in the family, my Great-Nephew Tristan, was given the dapper clad Bailey Bear.  He’s a tad too young to really appreciate this little guy yet, but soon he’ll be learning how to dress and undress this furry little friend, I’m sure!  Actually, he could probably wear the little booties right now, lol!

My 10 year old  niece, Trinity, was given the Felted Rosette Handbag to keep as her very own… with a lovely gold and amethyst swarovsky crystal necklace tucked inside.

My family holds a large gift exchange at our big Christmas gathering… we each bring a present that is either for a girl or a guy, depending on what you are, lol!  This year, we needed to bring 3 girlie gifts for myself and my 2 daughters: 2 of them just happened to be some loomy goodies!

Warm Woolies

The first was a Cabled Mug Hug and mug, with some coffee, cocoas, and teas, of which my sister-in-law, Michelle, wound up receiving.  The second was one of my newest creations: Warm Woolies!  These were given to my neice, Justine, who apparently loves to wear mittens, and hers were starting to wear out…so perfect timing!

My 4 siblings and my parents received some kitchen goodies along with some Scrubby-O’s!  My mom and dad had a couple new double knit dishcloths added into their package, which I can’t believe that I completely forgot to photograph, as it is a new design of three that I’m working on for sharing with you all!  Silly me…I’ll have to make up another one, or see if I can bring my camera next time I go visit and take a few shots, lol.

My girlies were not left out and received some fibery goodness of their own, but unfortunately I can’t quite share it with you as yet, as I’m thinking of making that a surprise for later… 😉

I also have two more goodies to show you that involves gifties for the holidays, but I’d like to spend a little more time dedicated to each one.  One is a brand new design, that I’m thinking would be an excellent Loom Along for right here on the bloggie (!!!) and the other is a new twist on an older, yet no less adorable, little loomy project!

So…while I’m ruminating about how to go about spending this new year that’s beginning to unfold right before our eyes, we’ll still be going about having a bit of fun along the way.  🙂  I hope you’re all having a wonderful beginning to this fresh new season, filled with joy and comfort and many blessings over flowing!

Bethany~

Posted in Family Fun, Goals, Holidays, Loom Alongs, Loom Knitting, Looming Patterns, New Projects | 1 Comment