Review: Sock Loom Basics by Leisure Arts Inc.

Sock Loom Basics by Leisure Arts Inc.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since I haven’t read every single pattern in this book, I can’t actually judge in entirety. Still, I did find it easy to follow in a couple of patterns I did use. The illustrations are far better than most of the loom knitting books. I do plan to keep it as a reference. There are still a couple of the socks I want to try.

View all my reviews

Advertisements

Mindless Monday

I forgot to mention this sock on the post yesterday. It’s a Kitchener toe-up on the KB Sock Loom. It isn’t my favorite loom. But it does come with a DVD to teach one how to knit socks. And it’s a very sturdy loom.

Stuff I’m Working On Sunday

I learned to make hats by needle knitting. This will be, hm, I think, my fourth hat. This one has a lot of purls, just for dif.

I’m at the stage of decreasing so I can’t watch the Walking Dead while doing it. I’ll wait until a show that is boring for me to work on this. I promise to give the pattern as best as I can remember when I am finished.

 

Speaking of knitting… My new goal is to needle knit socks. Using Nervous Knitter’s tutorial I have made my first practice heel:

Right side.

Inside

Here’s the how-to:

A while back I made a hat I proclaimed as mine (my yarn, ya know?) Now I’ve decided to make a cowl to go with it.

I know I’ve seen Tuteate do the garter stitch I’m using but I couldn’t find the YouTube. But here is Kristen at GoodKnit Kisses showing the same stitch.

I’m working on the mate to the sock I finished yesterday. I’m using ‘smitten knittins’ tutorial for making sock on the CinDWood 1/4 56  round loom. (It is also the one for Knitted Knockers). Here’s what I got so far followed by the tutorial.

Don’t ya just love all you can learn on YouTube?

Stream of Consciousness Saturday -tast-

According to our fearless leader, Linda G. Hill, here are today’s instructions: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-tast-.” Find a word that contains “tast” and use it in your post. Enjoy!

I’m feeling fantastic. What makes me feel this way? What leaves me with such a good taste in my mouth? The feeling of accomplishment. One more sock finished!

I am totally addicted to loom knitting, especially socks. They are so cozy and warm. This pair is going to the charity with the mate once I make it. I’ve been buying some of my own yarn to make my own. These socks feel so much better than store-bought. They are feet-tast-ic! When I finish the second of the pair I will put in the YouTube tutorials for each part of the sock. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn how to make them on needles, too.

How am I going to get to my writing if I can’t stop knitting long enough to NaNo? I barely drop the yarn long enough to write the blog. Anyone else have this problem? Clashing of passions?

 

Review: Crochet for Beginners: Crochet & Circular Needles – How to Knit Circular Needles Like a Guru: by Kelly Austin

Crochet for Beginners: Crochet & Circular Needles – How to Knit Circular Needles Like a Guru: by Kelly Austin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hmm. Yeah, I’m not a lawyer or editor, so I can’t conclusively say anything. I can only point out that the second part of this two-part book looks and sound a lot like the book I just read by Emily Haschig the vaguely written book about Circular Knitting.

One the other hand, the first part about Crochet was fairly well written. I may have to go back and try the pattern that was presented. I don’t crochet much anymore as the process hurts my hands now. But sometimes I can’t resist. So if you get this book, you might get something about crocheting.

View all my reviews

Review: Circular Knitting: The Most Effective Method to Knit on Circular Needles: by Emily Haschig

Circular Knitting: The Most Effective Method to Knit on Circular Needles: by Emily Haschig
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Words count. If you sell a book in America, especially a how-to, the verbiage should be in American English. I wanted to understand how to use my circular knitting needles better. I saw the title and thought it would help. Step-by-step, with illustrations so I could see if I was doing it right or wrong.

Just now, after reading the whole book, I read the blurb on GoodReads. Here is the copy and pasted blurb.
Circular Knitting: The Most Effective Method to Knit on Circular Needles
***
“The Most Effective Methods to Knit on Using Circular Needles
If you want to know how to crochet or would want to enhance your crochet skill this is the best book for you. This book will guide you from crocheting basic stitches to joining pieces together. It is the best guide to learning the efficient way to knit using circular needle. It displays easy-to-follow guide that will make you enjoy your crochet venture even more.
Find your creative potential in crochet with this thorough book from basic steps to precise and complicated stitches. All essentials of crochet are listed with clear directions, graphs and photos. When you’ve got to grips with your hook, you’ll be treated with a variety of patterns to work for. It will motivate you to continue learning, testing and create wonderful crochet pieces.

5 Reasons to buy this book

1. The book features designs that range from traditional patterns to original themes
2. Crocheters of every level will get helpful information and inspiration on each page.
3. Each design features a photograph, a diagram displaying every single stitch and its
placement.
4. It provides easy to follow instructions
5. It provides a lot of helpful tips on changing hues and increasing shape to your projects.”
***

I wish I would have read the blurb. Do you see how often the word ‘crochet’ comes up? Intersperse that word with weave and sew, and you will see that this book teaches very little about knitting at all. Even though the pictures show knitting, they do not help prove the written instructions at all. It could very well be a language problem. Is the author British, or is this from another language and translated? I don’t know. All I know is I didn’t understand any of the instructions. It wasn’t a lack of vocabulary. I could define all the words I read. They didn’t address what I wanted from the title. I’m going back to YouTube where they don’t even need to talk. No need for a specialized lingo just how to do the hobby presented in the title.

View all my reviews

Fat Doll

I’ve made a bunch of these comfort dolls. Yet this is the biggest one. Reminds me of the Pilsbury Dough Boy,

Yay!

Shorty socks. Ran out of orange on the second sock just four rows from the toe part. Husband liked them. I donated to him though it goes on the charity count. I usually don’t donate to friends and family. I use my own yarn for that. But the group has been good about realizing most of us are a paycheck away from needing charity ourselves. Even still, most every project goes to the group.

Oh, I have no idea what kind of yarn this is. It seemed thin enough to make socks. Used the ‘his’ or purple loom of the KB His and Hers set.

Though mostly flat-knit stitch, heel and toe are done with German Short-rows.

Finished Friday

Finally a hat for me!

And, yes that us The Walkin Dead season 6 in the background.

Oh, that’s a KB, small gauge, 80 peg, adult size, orange loom. Two-by-two, knit, purl, brim. The yarn, Bernat Pipsqueak Stripes, is so soft and fluffy, you can’t see the stitches. The rest is flat knit stitch. I made it big enough to fold up the brim. Can’t wait to wear it!

Unfinished WIPs

No internet for a 24 hours. I shouldn’t be using my data. But… Unfinished projects. Will any be ready for Finished Friday?

A pair of men’s socks.

Another doll.

A baby hat.

I frogged my 10-stitch. Just didn’t like how it was tturning out.

An adult hat.

Another sock, another loom.