[Nfb-krafters-korner] Nifty Knitter information

Wed Nov 17 00:49:35 UTC 2010

Basic  Information on loom sizes, number of pegs etc.  
Provocraft  Knifty Knitter looms - approx. 3/4" apart from  top of one peg 
to top of next. Diameter is measured from top of one peg to  opposite peg on 
other side of loom. NOTE: The Green loom pegs are slightly  farther apart 
than 3/4" and the yellow loom pegs, slightly  closer.

Blue 24 pegs 4 3/4" diam. - is for  large preemies and small newborns
Red  31 pegs - fits children 2 - 5
Green 36 pegs - fits older kids, teens, small  adults
Yellow 41 pegs - really  large heads

Making hats  with  Knifty Knitter Looms
Approximately 4 rows  = 1" 
Newborn Loom 
Brim: 12 rows
Finished brim: 6  rows
Finished hat with brim: 15 rows

Baby  Loom
Brim: 3"
Finished brim:  1.5"
Finished hat  with brim: 6.5" to 7"

Child  Loom
Brim:  4"
Finished brim:  2"
Finished hat  with brim: 7" to 8"

Adult  Loom
Brim 4"  to 5"
Finished  brim: 2" to 2.5"
Finished hat with brim: 8" to  9" 

Some Abbreviations and Stitches for Round Loom  Knitting
_VIDEOS_ (http://imageevent.com/isela/roundloomstitches)  of how to do purl 
stitch, double stitch and more 
_Purl Stitch_ 
(http://www.provocraft.com/projects/kniftyknitter/stitch.purl.html)  
SS = single  stitch  
DS = double  stitch  
CBS = chunky braid  stitch  
PCS = popcorn  stitch  
FS = Flat  Stitch  
Single  Stitch 
Wrap the yarn  twice around each peg.  Lift one stitch over one to knit.  
This is a  looser stitch. (I often use 2 strands of yarn when doing this.)   
*  Double Stitch  
Wrap each peg 3  times.  Now lift one st over 2 each time. This makes a 
tighter stitch than  a plain Single stitch.   
Chunky  Braid Stitch 
Wrap pegs four  times around then knit three wrapped sts over one. (Leaves 
one st on the peg  each time.) Next round, wrap with 3 wraps again so you 
have 4 sts on the  pegs.  Knit 3 wraps over the one again.   
Flat  Stitch 
Wrap  pegs one time as you normally do. On the second time around, when you 
normally  wrap, don't wrap.  You just 'lay' the yarn over each peg around 
the outside  of the entire loom.  (This is like I do to remove the sts) Knit 
sts over  the yarn that is just flat up against the peg. (not  wrapped) 
BASIC E-WRAP for  round loom 
1) One of the keys is to anchor the yarn in the little thumb tac at the  
beginning of your round - I leave a 3" tail of  yarn.    
2) WRAPPING THE  PEGS:  
Hold  the loom in your hands or lap with the pegs and hole in the middle 
facing  you.  
3) Wrap LOOSELY (I place my left  thumb near where I am about to wrap each 
stitch - see photo#1 below.  I  loosely wrap the peg, and gently push the 
yarn/wrap down,  holding the  loosely wraped yarn down until the next peg is 
wrapped and then I do the same  with that one.)  
Go  CLOCKWISE around the loom  to wrap. The actual peg is actually  wrapped 
in a counterclockwise direction- under  and over and around - to form a 
letter 'e'.  It should form a cursive  letter 'e' as you wrap each one.  
4) Go all around  the loom, wrapping each peg ONE time, with 2 (or 3) 
strands of yarn.  Now  you are back at the thumb tac or beginning. (Photo 1 below)
(Photo 2 shows  how the wraps should look underneath.) 
(1)    (2)  Underneath    
5) Start wrapping  around each peg one more  time for single stitch  - go 
all around.   
***  For a  tighter weave, you can use ONE strand and wrap the pegs 3  
times instead of just twice -  this  gives a tighter 'knit' to the fabric and 
it's called DOUBLE STITCH-- prefered  for warmer hats.   
When you are done wrapping twice around, anchor the yarn to the tac  by 
wrapping it around the tac again so it doesn't all  unravel.  
You  are ready to knit.

____________________________________

KNITTING:  
6) Simply start at  the 1st peg (one to the right of the 'tac' - clockwise 
- when the peg tops are  facing you).  Place the hook under the first row of 
wrapped yarn, the first  stitch.  Lift it up and over the top yarn wrap on 
that peg. VOILA!   One stitch made :-) You will be doing this in a CLOCKWISE 
direction to  actually knit.   (I  have left handed friends who knit 
counterclockwise)

7) Repeat knitting around the ring.  
You have completed  one row of knitting!  Now wrap each peg again once 
around loom.   Anchor the yarn on tac and knit another row.  You are now loom  
knitting!  Keep wrapping and knitting off. 

Standard Stitches 
We all have seen it on patterns, stuff  like Garter Stitch, Stockinette, 
Ribbing, double Ribbing, but what does it all  mean? If you are new to the 
world of loom knitting or knitting in general, these  terms are unknown to you 
and as such may make a pattern that is really _simple_ 
(http://isela.typepad.com/loomknitting/##)  into  something quite confusing. Let's take a closer 
look at what they all mean and  how to get them done on a loom, shall we? 
Garter stitch: Garter stitch has one of the best characteristics out there, 
it creates  reversible fabric that has a horizontal ridge. Also, Garter 
Stitch fabric lays  flat--meaning, it doesn't curl on itself.  
How to loom it: it is done the same in  the round (a circular item such as 
a hat or sock) as in a flat panel (such as a  scarf or blanket) 
Row/Round 1: Knit 
Row/Round 2: Purl 
Repeat Row/Round 1 and 2 until you have  reached the desired length 
The two rows/rounds make one Garter Stitch Ridge. Some patterns may tell  
you to make 20 Garter Stitch ridges which in turn will mean to work 40  
rows/rounds.  
Stockinette: nice  and fancy name, it must mean something quite difficult, 
actually, you are  probably already doing it each time you loom a hat. 
Stockinette refers to the  smooth side of the fabric, the one that has all the 
little v's. _Watch_ (http://isela.typepad.com/loomknitting/##)  out,  fabric 
done completely in stockinette stitch will curl at the edges.  
How to loom it:  
As loom knitters, we are very lucky as we  don't need to do go through the 
trouble of purling on the wrong side rows to  make the smooth fabric. To 
create stockinette on a loom, it is the same if you  are working in the round 
or a flat panel. 
Row 1/Round 1: knit
Row 2/Round 2: knit 
Repeat Row/Round 1 and 2 until you have  reached the desired length.  
Reverse  Stockinette: Simply refers to the opposite of stockinette, instead 
of  the nice smooth side, we want the bumpy side to be on the right side of 
the  fabric. As in stockinette, Reverse Stockinette also curls on itself, 
so plan for  it. 
Looming it: To create reverse stockinette  on a loom, it is the same if you 
are working in the round or a flat  panel. 
Row 1/Round 1: purl
Row 2/Round 2: purl 
Repeat Row/Round 1 and 2 until you have  reached the desired length.  
Lastly, let's look at ribbing. What  exactly is ribbing and no it is not 
going to the local rib _joint_ (http://isela.typepad.com/loomknitting/##)  and 
 eating until your tummy explodes.  
Ribbing: Elastic  and reversible fabric with vertical ridges, mostly seen 
on cuffs or hems of  sweaters. There are various types of ribbing, the most 
common single and  double.  Single involves 2 stitches, double 4  stitches.  
Looming it: 
Single: Involves 2  stitches:  
Row/Round 1: *k1, p1; rep from *. What  does it mean? Knit 1 peg, purl 1 
peg, repeat from * to the end of the row/round.  
Repeat Row/Round 1 until you have reached  the desired length. 
Double: Involves 4  stitches: 
Row/Round 1: *k2, p2; rep from *. What  does it mean? Knit 2 pegs, purl 2 
pegs, repeat from * to the end of the  row/round.  
Repeat Row/Round 1 until you have reached  the desired length. 
Now that we have deciphered what the  terms mean, go and loom something 
with them and come back and share with me your  pictures and your loomy 
discoveries.  
Keep on looming! 

Joyce  Kane
www.KraftersKorner.org  (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com 