[Nfb-krafters-korner] looming perfecting questions

[Lisamaria Martinez]

So, I took Cathy's awesome mitered square scarf class. I love the
design and have been getting many compliments from people watching me
loom on the train or at work.

I've been noticing some problems I've been having while looming
though. I did find out, however, that part of my problem, a biggest
part, was my 2-year-old son. On BART, I've noticed I have been
dropping stitches. I've fixed most of them but they are causing ugly
spots in this beautiful scarf. My son has been fascinated with my
projects lately and wants to yarn with mama. so, he usually is tugging
on the yarn (which shouldn't necessarily drop a stitch on the loom).
But today ... I caught his little hand in time to feel him actually
pulling the loops off the pegs ... which I'm sure is the reason why
all the squares knitted on BART are all the squares with ugly spots.

He got very upset when I got upset at him and told him he couldn't do
that anymore. When I asked why he was doing that, he said, "I count
mama." Which is pretty much what I tell him when he asks me what I'm
doing while I'm crocheting or knitting. I  tell him, hold on, mama is
counting.

Anyways ... to my loom questions about perfecting technique ...

Some stitch patterns  on the loom make a very open weave. What's the
best way to weave in a tail for something so open? Cathy suggested a
technique, but I am not certain I am doing it right. basically, I pull
the tail through several loops like I'm purling, but without lifting
loops on and off. It seems to work, but when I cut remaining yarn
there is a little bit of the tail that just won't tuck in anywhere.

Also ... any suggestions on what to do when you drop stitches? I feel
like I've gotten better at fixing a mistake, but only if I catch it on
the row it happened. Do you wrap the pegs back like the original
pattern called for?

Lastly, I am placing my slip knot on peg one and also starting my
first stitch on peg one. I don't think I should knit off the slip knot
with the first stitch that needs knitting off because when I do that,
it looks ugly. But, what does one do with the slip knot? I use to
place it around the anchor peg but I feel like that causes me to
tangle my yarn. Any ideas on what I can do?

Many thanks,
LM