Tag Archives: loom

7-1-2016 Garden Update & Misc

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P1030246The asparagus beans have done well so far this year growing/running up the decorative corn and the twine. However, next year we plan to plant the asparagus beans in a row of their own and make a trellis for them to run on. It’s awfully crowded in the corn rows now that both are maturing and fully leafed out.
P1030402Our decorative corn stalks are getting their-ears-on. We’re hoping the deer doesn’t decide to sample the ears before they mature and we can harvest some.P1030450We’ve been getting only a few regular green beans compliments of the deer. There’s wasn’t enough for a mess to cook or freeze, so we broke them up with the asparagus beans and froze them all together. We froze 4 1/2 quarts of asparagus/green beans. I think that’s pretty good. We’re already looking forward to cooking them. 😉

P1030375My 50+ bell pepper plants are beginning to put on fruit. I figure by the end of the month we’ll be covered in colorful bell peppers. I’ll be freezing them for soups, stir fries and other tasty dishes. If most of the plants put on fruit, I’ll probably be giving oodles of them away.

00I added a much needed set of new screwdrivers to my tool collection. My husband is enjoying helping me fill my toolbox with new tools. I like having my toolbox of tools here in the house ready to use anytime day or night. I don’t know why I didn’t think to get my own set of tools decades ago.

P1030394aI made a stacked tuna salad and it was so pretty I thought I’d share a photo of it.
A stacked tuna salad is layers as follows:
crushed corn chips,
tuna salad
chopped tomatoes
shredded mix cheese
with a cherry tomato on the top

P1030279The walnut tree is loaded heavy this year. My husband had to cut some of the heavily ladened limbs off. They were hanging low over the driveway and could do damage to our vehicles when they dropped walnuts or if the wind caused them to break.
I’ve always heard that a bountiful season for the nut trees means an extra cold winter. I truly hope not…

P1020348t09017Just in case the walnut tree is predicting some bad winter weather,
I got busy and made me a new hat on my green Boye knitting loom. Hey, it never hurts to be prepared.

Happy July 1st to you all!
It’s hard to believe half of 2016 has passed already.
Have a safe and fun filled weekend!
I wish you all a wonderful July full of blogging & smiles.ec-sunny

Red Heart Laptop Knit and Loom

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IMAG0224_1When I first saw a photo of a ‘Red Heart Laptop Knit and Loom’ posted on a loom forum, I knew I had to have one. I had high hopes for this loom.  It’s rated for children ages 6+.  I figured since it’s rated for young children that the quality would be better than average.

I ordered The ‘Red Heart Laptop Knit and Loom’ online because it wasn’t available in my area yet. Coincidentally, a week after I ordered it, our local WalMart got them in. The shelf price was $24.97. I got mine for $19.97 and I didn’t have to pay for shipping since I had some other stuff to order that totaled their minimum for free shipping. I was surprised when I received my order a week before it’s predicted arrival date. ~happy dance~

IMG_6106What’s in the box:
Instruction Booklet
3 soft skeins of yarn
Collapsible storage bag
Loom set – outer case, loom circles and rectangle loom
52 pegs
Knitting Hook
Large plastic needle

*I like that The ‘Red Heart Laptop Knit and Loom’ is bigger than I thought it’d be, it’s about 15″x12″.
*The instruction booklet is adequate for learning the basics. In my opinion the Comprehension level of the booklet is more for older than 6.
*The yarn is soft and lovely. (I haven’t used it yet)
*The rings of pegs rotate and makes handling the project easier.
IMG_6178-0*The collapsible storage bag falls off the 4 rectangle-side-pegs too easily, but even so, it’s a good idea to use it to help keep the project cleaner and neater. Or use it like a basket to hold extra yarn and things.
*The side compartments of the loom case doesn’t always open smoothly.

IMG_6150-2a.
*My number one issue with the ‘Red Heart Laptop Knit and Loom’ is the pegs fall out of the holes on their own. I declare it’s worse than using a Martha Stewart loom. Even if you’re skilled in loom knitting and are careful, the pegs continually fall out. It’s frustrating and disappointing.
The pegs falling out  slows down progress because of having to take time to stop and replace the peg. Also, if you’re not careful it could cause drop stitches.
This is a very sad flaw in an otherwise potential fun creative experience for a child.
I don’t know what the inventors/manufacturers were thinking to allow such an important part of the set to be so low quality.

IMG_6153*The pegs falling out can be managed to an extent by using masking tape or painters tape. I’ve read some folks use a piece of yarn to help secure the pegs.

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IMG_6136-2I made a hat using the inner 36 pegs of the green ring and double strands of Red Heart 4ply yarn.
It fits my head snugly. If I make another one, I’ll probably use the next size up.
I free-handed it and my basic pattern is:
Drawstring Cast On
45 rows of e-wrap
6 alternating rows of e-wrap and purl stitch
Chain 1 Bind Off

I hope this review helps if you’re thinking about purchasing a loom like this.

Happy Looming!

smileywreath

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Knitting Loom Grinchy Stocking

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IMG_8229I made my first ever loom-knitted stocking. I made it for my 14 year old grandson for Christmas. (He liked it and also liked the goodies stuffed inside. 😉 )
IMG_8506-1
I used a round red Knifty-Knitter loom.

Unfortunately, the website where the basic stocking pattern was posted has disappeared, so I had to delete the link.

I’d never attempted a sock type pattern on a knitting loom before. The heel part always seemed so intimidating. The  pattern’s instructions were simple enough that I was able to do okay with the heel. (I may even try to loom-knit an actual pair of socks or house shoes someday)

The colors I chose for the stocking were so Grinchy that I couldn’t help but try to add his face to the stocking. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as well as I hoped, but it serves the purpose.

It was fun making the stocking for my Grandson.
I’m not very skilled at looming, but I do enjoy it.

I hope you all have a nifty week.

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Memorial Day Wreath

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2014-memdayI made this wreath in honor of our Military for Memorial Day.
It’s a small but sincere effort on my part to show my appreciation to the troops past & present and their families for all they’ve given and still give for us. Their sacrifices are great.

Using polymer clay, I sculpted one rose for each month of the year and the pearl centers are for the tears shed for the troops continual sacrifices 12 months a year.
salute

The wreath base is made from newspapers and covered in camouflage fabric. I covered the base with blocks made on a cardboard loom using camouflage yarn.

Here’s wishing you all an awesome week.
🙂

~*~
Here’s why I’m making a ‘Wreath of the Month’ for every month of 2014.
~*~

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Martha Stewart Loom set

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4-msloomMy blogging buddy Renee inspired this post. She mentioned that she didn’t know that Martha made looms.
It occurred to me that she may not be alone on that. I figure I should post some photos of my Martha Stewart loom set to show what I talk about so much in looming.

2-msloomHere’s all the pieces parts straight out of the case.

Pros:
You can weave or knit oodles of stuff in a lot of different sizes.

It’s fun to put together. (Brings back nostalgic memories of tinker toys. 😉 )

Lion Brand web site has info and patterns for the Martha Stewart looms.
Lion Brand – Martha Stewart  has a lots of videos on youtube on how to knit and weave with the looms.
The cast on and the bind off was tricky for me to learn at first, so I was thankful for the videos.

Aggrivations:

5-msloomsetThe Martha Stewart loom hook isn’t good quality and bends/breaks easily.
I do like the handle of the MS loom hook. I wish they’d put a little more time in the actual quality of the hook part.
Fortunately, I had ordered a Knifty Knitter loom hook and didn’t have to use the MS one for long. The MS hook wire was getting weak and would’ve broken in no time.
I now use a super sturdy loom hook that came with my Kb Afghan Loom, so I am good to go.

loomtapeSome of the pegs fit loose and I use painter’s tape to hold them in and some of the pegs fit so tight I carefully hammer them in.

3-msloomThere’s not a comfortable way to store the pegs in the plastic case of the loom set, oh I could put the pegs in bags and stuff them stuff in the back, but I don’t like that at all. So I bought a 6 pack of little waters that my Grandson happily helped empty. I soaked off the labels and use them to store my pegs in. The little bottles work like a charm.

1-msloomI must confess that all-in-all I really enjoy the loom set. In fact I enjoy it so much that I bought a second set. Well, it was on sale and I thought if I had a second set I could put the parts together with my first set and knit or weave some really big stuff. lol Also I can have more than one project going at once. I haven’t used my second set yet, but I have it if I ever take a hankering to use it. 😉

This is all for me at the moment.

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday
and a wonderful weekend.
🙂

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