[Nfb-krafters-korner] Kiss Looms

[Blindhands at aol.com]

I have been asked what KISS stands for in the name of Kiss looms.
 
Well here it is from the maker of Kiss looms...
Keep It Simple
 
I have corresponded and spoke to Cliff the maker of the Kiss Looms and  
Kelly his [maybe sales person] and I am happy to say I received 3 sample looms  
Cliff asked me to test out.  My first try will be with the modular  loom.  
Let me give you a bit of a description on this one.  it has 4  sides to 
create the circle or round  
Example Mine has 6 pegs on each side making it 24 pegs 
You can  purchase larger pairs or sets of these sides to create larger or 
more peg count  going around.    Example I can get a pair of 15 pegs and by 
using  2 of my 6 pegs as sides I then would have 42 pegs going in a circle.  
They  have them ranging 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 30, 40, 60 and I think they just 
came out  with a new 77  peg. Don't quote me on that.
 
Now I need to describe a big difference that you have with this and all the 
 Kiss Looms.  Depending on the type of loom you purchase and from what I  
have been told[remember I can't see the website to compare the looms], but 
all  but the sock looms that are not adjustable in 2 directions [not positive 
here on  the sock loom] , the modular and adjustable looms have another 
piece of wood  with what they call pins that are attached with large screws that 
hold the row  of corresponding pins to align staggered to the pegs.  This 
is where you  get the adjustment for thickness of yarn.  Washers can be put 
between these  2 wooden strips that have the pegs and pins attached.  Think 
as this being  the adjustment in using different size knitting needles.  Each 
stitch is  made by going around a knitting needle.  The larger the knitting 
needle the  more yarn you use to go around it.  So if you are using a thin 
sock yarn  and large needle it uses more of the thin yarn to go around the 
large needle  making a loose knit stitch that gives a lacey texture.  
 
When using this loom you start with the yarn on the Peg. All pegs are a U  
shaped wire.  This allows you to put your  tool into the u shape to  slide 
up and down for doing the stitch.  The circle of the U is on the top  and the 
base is into the wooden base.  Now the pins are straight metal and  are as 
long as the pegs to hold the size of the loop constant.
 
Using different weight yarns and adjusting the stitch size:  With  knitting 
you would use different needle sizes, with the kiss loom you adjust the  
different space between the pegs and the pins.  To do this you add or  
subtract washers between the 2 wood bases of the peg and pin piece.  
 
This is what I am loving about this loom you can use any type of yarn  
thickness by adjusting the washers!  You can even purchase extra washers  and 
use cording or whatever.
 
There is at  least 5 or 7 washers that when you receive your loom are set 
up with it.   It comes set up equal to what the Knifty Knitter is.  It is 
suggested that  you start off with this size to become familiar with the way 
you make the  stitches on the Kiss loom.  You do not just use the E wrap 
stitch, but they  do have a few choices for cast on stitches.  Working the normal 
stitch for  the Kiss loom is a U wrap.  This is just like the ribbon candy. 
 This  is suppose to make a stitch like using knitting needles.  The e wrap 
is a  ttwisted stitch  which especially for socks are not suggested.
 
I have not  gotten past this part so you need to wait for my next report.
 
I am really anxious to learn about the 2 way adjustable loom.  That is  
what I want to purchase besides the sock loom, but they definitely advise not 
to  jump into a sock loom to start off with.
Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com