Make Your Own Knitting Loom

You've got to see this. If you're interested in loom knitting, you'll get a kick out of this wonderful idea. It's great for children to teach them the art of knitting. It's always fun to make your own tools and this one certainly is one way to recycle! Take a look.

First Youtube video ~ How to make your own round loom

Second Youtube video ~ Part two of How to make your own round loom

Third Youtube video ~ Knitting on your round loom YOU made

Have fun with this one! Winter is coming and it would be great fun for a home school project or Sunday school project for those little kiddies! Big kiddies, too!

Georgous FREE Red Heart Yarn Afghan Pattern

You MUST take a look at the Coats and Clark (Red Heart Super Saver Yarns) pattern

SEE HERE for the FREE Pattern

I can't tell you how much I love Super Saver yarns and the color combinations for this afghan are endless. I get so excited when I find projects like this and wish I had designed it myself. I love it, it's gorgous and you must take a look.

Red Heart Duck Slipper 12.5" Sole

I started out by just wanting to make my Grandson some slippers in his favorite football team colors. Yea! Oregon Ducks! Go Ducks! The pattern I started with just didn't work out for me. Either I didn't understand it or it wasn't written for me to figure it out. Soooooo I created my own version. Here is the FREE pattern:
**I have added some changes to help you make a size 12 1/2" sole slipper.
Sometimes it helps to just use a larger hook but hopefully this will be more accurate. Changes are in red for size 12 1/2" sole only. You're getting a bit large and it may distort the pattern somewhat. Remember the slipper can and will stretch some with wear. If you're a perfectionist, this isn't for you. It will only frustrate you if you have to be completely accurate to the stitch.

Pattern for SIZE 10" SOLE HERE.


Crocheted Duck Slippers (changes in red are for 12 1/2" sole only)

Materials are 4 ply worsted weight Red Heart Super Saver
in is Gold and Hunter Green One skein of each should suffice
K hook and darning needle

This patternis for a 10" length foot or sole
Gauge: 2 sts = 3/4"
This is how it should come out:
beginning chain 18 for 8 3/4"
20 for 9 1/2"
22 for 10 1/4"
24 for 11"
26 for 11 3/4"
28 for 12 1/2"

USE 2 STRANDS THROUGHOUT

SOLE

Round 1: Chain 24 (28)

2 sc in 2nd chain from hook
1 sc in each of next 11(13) chains
1 hdc in next chain
1 dc in next 8 (10)chains
2 dc in next chain
5 dc in last chain - DO NOT TURN

Working down the other side of the chain

2 dc in next chain
1 dc in next 8 (9) chains
1 hdc in next chain
1 sc in next 12 chains (14)
ss (slip stitch) to first sc to join DO NOT TURN

Round 2 chain 1

2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 12 st (14)
1 hdc in next st
1 dc in next 11 sts (15)
2 dc in next st
3 dc in next st
2 dc in next st
dc in next 11 sts (15)
1 hdc in next st
1 sc in next 13 sts (16)
ss (slip stitch) in top of chain to join DO NOT TURN (make sure hdc and dc all line up across the other side of sole so do whatever it takes as evenly as possible. Should have about 72 sts)

CHAINS AT THE BEG OF ROWS COUNTS AS A STITCH

Round 3 chain 1

1 sc in next st
2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 23 sts (30)
2 sc in next st
1 sc in each of next 3 sts
2 sc in next st
1 sc in each of next 3 sts
2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 23 sts (31)
2 sc in last st
ss to top of chain to join DO NOT TURN 65 sts (about 78 sts)

Round 4

CROCHET IN FRONT LOOPS ONLY

chain 1, 1 ss around, chain 1 DO NOT TURN - SS SHOULD BE DONE LOOSELY join in top of ch
ch 1

Round 5 ss around again in BACK LOOPS this time. Join new color in the join at the top of chain DO NOT TURN chain 1

SIDES

Round 6

sc in next st picking up loop (looks horizontal) from round 4 AND FRONT loop of round 5 together (they will not be perfectly lined up. Make sure you do them all) This row is tough and if you didn't do the ss loose enough, it's darn near impossible.

ss join in top of chain 1 65 sts (about 78 sts)

Chain 1 and turn


Round 7

sc in BACK LOOPS ONLY around. ss in top of chain. 65 (about 78) stitches chain 2 Do not turn

Round 8 BACK LOOPS ONLY

dc 2 tog (decrease) in first 2 sts
dc in each of next 13 sts (15 sts)
1 hdc in next st
1 sc in each of next 2 sts
ss loosely in next 30 sts (34 sts)BACK LOOPS
2 sc in each of next 2 sts
1 hdc in next st
dc in next 14 sts (16 sts)
2dc in last 2 sts tog
ss in top of chain and fasten off. (about 73 sts)

TOE TOP

The toe top can be crocheted using either color.

Round 1

With slipper toe pointing left, join yarn at the top of the 14th dc (15th or 16th dc) in the BACK LOOP

chain 1, sc BACK LOOPS of the next 36 sts (about 38 sts) (around to the other side and into the top of the 1st dc on that side. In other words, from dc to dc)

chain 6 and do not twist but attach across on the opposite side in the top of the beginning chain.
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 2

sc around again in BACK LOOPS of all sc sts, including the 6 chains. about 42 sts (about 44 sts)
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 3

BACK LOOPS The next decreasing isn't the normal way to do a hdc dec......please read carefully.

decrease by crocheting 2 hdc together in next 2 sc all around. (decrease by yarn over, put needle through stitch, yarn over and pull through a loop, 3 loops on needle, insert into next st, yarn over and pull through a loop, 4 loops on needle, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops).
21 (21 to 23 decreases no biggie) decreases and sometimes the last one has to use the first one to finish. that's ok.

chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 4

sc decrease around in both loops (not front or back but both loops) around. 10 or 11 (about 11 or 12)decreases. either is fine. ss in top of beg chain
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 5

sc around both loops (9 or 10 scs) (about 9 to 12 scs) and fasten off cutting a long tail, use a darning needle for weaving into the remaining stitches and drawing up tightly. Secure and cut.

Round 6

attach yarn anywhere along the top edge using contrasting color yarn. Chain 1 and sc around the whole opening. About 35 sts (whatever you have left. Could be 35 could be 37, more or less) around. fasten off

Filet Crochet Designs Coming Soon

This is one of my filet crochet patterns that will be available on http://www.crochetdesigns.com/. The full set hasn't been published quite yet. I will let you know when the full set is published. There'll be 12 different designs featuring different countries in filet crocheted table toppers and tea towels. The tea towels can be used as table toppers, also, and will be designed with color.

In-Skein Blog ~ Knit Stitch Markers

Look at what I found!! Beautiful handmade knitting stitch markers for all your knitting projects. Christmas is coming, sooner than you think, and these would make a wonderful gift for all the knitters on your gift giving list!

I come across some great blogs once in awhile and this one I feel I must share with everyone. I've never seen handmade stitch markers made quite like this before. In-Skein, Echo's blog, is one to NOT miss and make sure you check out Echo's Esty store. Echo is a beautiful young lady just newly married, going to school in Oregon and so talented in what she does. Her prices are extremely reasonable and I don't see why everyone doesn't buy them up.

Striped Crochet Slippers Duck Colors FREE Pattern

Here's another cute slipper for anyone in your family. I am using the Oregon Duck colors again as the slipper is for a grandson who loves the Ducks.

Striped Crochet Slippers

materials
Red Heart Super Saver worsted 4 ply yarn

1 hunter green -A
1 gold - color B

Throughout, the chain 1 does not count as a stitch. Start row in first sc.

I crochet hook (whatever size you need to make the sole 11" as this pattern is for that size only. Use bigger or smaller hook to change the size.

SOLE

Chain 7

Row 1- 2 sc in second chain from hook, 1 sc in next 4 chs, 2 sc in last sc
chain 1 turn (8 sc)

All Remaining rows are stitched through the BACK LOOP only

Row 2 - 2sc in first sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in last sc
chain 1 turn (10 sc)

Row 3 - 2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in last sc
chain 1 turn (12 sc)

Row 4 - 1 sc in each sc across
chain 1 turn (12 sc)

Rows 5 through 18 repeat row 4

Row 19 - sc first two stitches together, 1 sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc tog in next stitch
chain 1 turn ( 10 sc)

Row 20 - 1 sc in each sc across
chain 1 turn (10 sc)

Rows 21 through 38 repeat row 20

Row 39 - 2 sc together, 1 sc in next 6 sc
chain 1 turn (8 sc)

Row 40 - 2 sc together, 1 sc in next 4 sc
chain 1 turn (6 sc)

Row 41 - 2 sc together, 1 sc in next 2 sc
chain 1 turn (4 scs)

Now you will be crocheting around the outter edge of the sole

Round 1 - sc through both loops across the toe end of sole, ( 4 sc), continue alone side placing 1 sc in the end of each row, 41 sc, sc along 6 of the beginning chain, sc along other side placing 1 sc in the end of each row, 41 sc. You now have a total of 92 stitches. join in the top of the beginning chain. Chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 2 - You will now make a turning ridge by placing 1 ss through the FRONT ONLY LOOPS of each stitch around and ss in top of chain. Chain 1 turn

Slipper Sides and Toe

Now all stitches are worked through BACK LOOPS ONLY again

Round 1 - 1 sc in each ss around to beginning. SS to join with color B in chain 1 turn (92 sts)

Round 2 - 1 sc in each sc around, ss to join in top of chain, chain 1 turn (92 sts)

Round 3 - 1sc in each sc around, ss to join with color A in chain, chain 1 turn (92 stitches)

Round 4 - 1 sc in each sc around, ss to join in top of chain, chain 1 turn (92 sts)

WHEN DOING THESE DECREASES AND/OR SKIPS, MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TOE Continue in BACK LOOPS ONLY

Round 5 - 1 sc in next 41 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 41 sc, ss to join with color B in chain, chain 1 turn (88 sts)

Round 6 - 1 sc in next 39 sc, skip next sc , 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 39 sc, ss to join in top of chain, chain 1 TURN
(84 sts)

Round 7 - 1 sc in next 40 sc, skip next sc , 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 40 sc, ss to join with color A in chain, chain 1 TURN (82 sts)

Round 8 - 1 sc in next 39 sc, skip next sc , 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 39 sc, ss to join in chain, chain 1 TURN (80 sts)

Round 9 - 1 sc in next 38 sc, skip next sc , 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 38 sc, ss to join in chain, chain 1 TURN (78 sts) join with color B in chain

Round 10 - 1 sc in next 37 sc, skip next sc , 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 37 sc, ss to join in chain, chain 1 TURN (76 sts)

Round 11 - 1 sc in next 36 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, 1 sc in next 36 sc, ss to join color A in chain, chain 1 turn. (74 sts)

Round 12 - sc in next 33 sts, decrease 4 times by sc 2tog (4 sts), sc 33, ss in chain, chain 1 turn (70 sts)

Round 13 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 27, decrease 6 times by sc 2tog (6 sts), sc 27, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join color B in chain, chain 1, turn (62 sts)

Round 14 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 23, decrease 6 times by sc 2tog (6 sts), sc 23, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join in chain, chain 1, turn (54 sts)

Round 15 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 22, decrease 3 times by sc 2tog (3 sts), sc 21, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join color A in chain, chain 1 turn (48 sts)

Round 16 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 19, decrease 3 times by sc 2 tog (3 sts), sc 19, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join in chain, chain 1 turn (43 sts)

Round 17 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 15, decrease 5 times by sc 2 tog (5 sts), sc 14, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join color B in chain, chain 1 turn (36 sts)

Round 18 - sc first 2 sts tog, sc 14, decrease 2 times by sc 2 tog ( 2 sts), sc 14, sc next 2 sts tog, ss to join in chain, chain 1 turn (32 sts)

Round 19 - 32 sc around ending with joining color A in chain, chain 1 turn

Round 20 and 21 - 32 sc around, join in chain, chain 1 turn

Please let me know if there is any corrections to this pattern.

Red Heart Duck Slippers FREE Pattern

I started out by just wanting to make my Grandson some slippers in his favorite football team colors. Yea! Oregon Ducks! Go Ducks! The pattern I started with just didn't work out for me. Either I didn't understand it or it wasn't written for me to figure it out. Soooooo I created my own version. Here is the FREE pattern:
**I have added some changes to help you make a size 12 1/2" sole slipper.
Sometimes it helps to just use a larger hook but hopefully this will be more accurate. Changes are in red for size 12 1/2" sole only. You're getting a bit large and it may distort the pattern somewhat. Remember the slipper can and will stretch some with wear.

Pattern for size 12 1/2" sole HERE.

Crocheted Duck Slippers

Materials are 4 ply worsted weight Red Heart Super Saver
in is Gold and Hunter Green One skein of each should suffice
K hook and darning needle

This patternis for a 10" length foot or sole
Gauge: 2 sts = 3/4"
This is how it should come out:
beginning chain 18 for 8 3/4"
20 for 9 1/2"
22 for 10 1/4"
24 for 11"
26 for 11 3/4"
28 for 12 1/2"

USE 2 STRANDS THROUGHOUT

SOLE

Round 1: Chain 24

2 sc in 2nd chain from hook
1 sc in each of next 11 chains
1 hdc in next chain
1 dc in next 8 chains
2 dc in next chain
5 dc in last chain - DO NOT TURN

Working down the other side of the chain

2 dc in next chain
1 dc in next 8 chains
1 hdc in next chain
1 sc in next 12 chains
ss (slip stitch) to first sc to join DO NOT TURN

Round 2 chain 1

2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 12 st
1 hdc in next st
1 dc in next 11 sts
2 dc in next st
3 dc in next st
2 dc in next st
dc in next 11 sts
1 hdc in next st
1 sc in next 13 sts
ss (slip stitch) in top of chain to join DO NOT TURN

CHAINS AT THE BEG OF ROWS COUNTS AS A STITCH

Round 3 chain 1

1 sc in next st
2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 23 sts
2 sc in next st
1 sc in each of next 3 sts
2 sc in next st
1 sc in each of next 3 sts
2 sc in next st
1 sc in next 23 sts
2 sc in last st
ss to top of chain to join DO NOT TURN 65 sts

Round 4

CROCHET IN FRONT LOOPS ONLY

chain 1, 1 ss around, chain 1 DO NOT TURN - SS SHOULD BE DONE LOOSELY join in top of ch
ch 1

Round 5 ss around again in BACK LOOPS this time. Join new color in the join at the top of chain DO NOT TURN chain 1

SIDES

Round 6

sc in next st picking up loop (looks horizontal) from round 4 AND FRONT loop of round 5 together (they will not be perfectly lined up. Make sure you do them all) This row is tough and if you didn't do the ss loose enough, it's darn near impossible.

ss join in top of chain 1 65 sts

Chain 1 and turn


Round 7

sc in BACK LOOPS ONLY around. ss in top of chain. 65 stitches chain 2 Do not turn

Round 8 BACK LOOPS ONLY

dc 2 tog (decrease) in first 2 sts
dc in each of next 13 sts
1 hdc in next st
1 sc in each of next 2 sts
ss loosely in next 30 sts BACK LOOPS
2 sc in each of next 2 sts
1 hdc in next st
dc in next 14 sts
2dc in last 2 sts tog
ss in top of chain and fasten off.

TOE TOP

The toe top can be crocheted using either color.

Round 1

With slipper toe pointing left, join yarn at the top of the 14th dc in the BACK LOOP

chain 1, sc BACK LOOPS of the next 36 sts (around to the other side and into the top of the 1dc on that side. In otherwords, from dc to dc)

chain 6 and do not twist but attach across on the opposite side in the top of the beginning chain.
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 2

sc around again in BACK LOOPS of all sc sts, including the 6 chains. about 42 sts
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 3

BACK LOOPS The next decreasing isn't the normal way to do a hdc dec......please read carefully.

decrease by crocheting 2 hdc together in next 2 sc all around. (decrease by yarn over, put needle through stitch, yarn over and pull through a loop, 3 loops on needle, insert into next st, yarn over and pull through a loop, 4 loops on needle, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops).
21 decreases and sometimes the last one has to use the first one to finish. that's ok.

chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 4

sc decrease around in both loops. 10 or 11 decreases. either is fine. ss in top of beg chain
chain 1 DO NOT TURN

Round 5

sc around both loops (9 or 10 scs) and fasten off cutting a long tail, use a darning needle for weaving into the remaining stitches and drawing up tightly. Secure and cut.

Round 6

attach yarn anywhere along the top edge using contrasting color yarn. Chain 1 and sc around the whole opening. About 35 sts around. fasten off

Red Heart Yarn Curlers FREE Pattern

HAIR CURLERS or ROLLERS

Just have fun and use any of your scrap yarns. I used RED HEART KIDS 4 ply worsted

I made an attempt to make these rollers or curlers by the pattern I posted a few days ago. It worked fine. It's a great pattern but I didn't have any stuffing and I wasn't going to go buy a huge bag of stuffing for a few rollers so I developed my own pattern. Also, the original pattern called for knitting with 4 DPNs and I had so much trouble keeping 3 stitches on those darn needles so thought I should do something else and not frustrate myself so. I decided to knit it into a rectangle and roll it up. See the next photo. I still used the DPNs but only two of them.


This is following the beginning of the original pattern knitting the I cord and switched to knitting and purling back and forth increasing to 24 stitches. I wrote my pattern out and you'll find it below.

What it looks like after increasing and then decreasing back to the I cord process. The one on the left is made with the original pattern and with too big a needle. That was was made with about an 9 which was too loose.

This is how I made the knotted end. I ran the waste yarn through the I cord using a basting stitch and then pulled it to roll or curl, no pun intended, to make the knot. You can do a regular knot only but I didn't find that big enough. After pulling.......see next photo.



And here they all are. First curler is the one from the original pattern using size 9 DPNs and too loose. The other two are using size 7 DPNs and my pattern. See pattern below.
Ok, I had to use some one for a model and all I could do was use my own head. My husband wouldn't let me put the curlers in his hair! He didn't have enough hair anyway! Sorry honey. And the photo is a little blurry. sorry about that, too.


Here's the pattern but remember I wrote it as I went and it's not set in concrete. You may find an even better way to make them. BUT, I did try them out last night and even with my short hair they stayed in most of the night. I think they would stay in as long as you want them to if you used them during the day and on dampened hair.

Hair Curlers

Size 7 DPNS
any scrap 4 ply worsted yarn (I used Red Heart Kids)
Darning needle

CO 3 stitches (leave a long tail for sewing later) on one needle and knit and I cord about 14 rows or about 2 1/2"

Now KFB (knit front and back of stitch) every stitch around. 6 stitches

Slide stitches down so you can stay on the knit side and use only two needles. You will not be knitting in the round.

Row 1, knit

Row 2, purl

Row 3, K1, KFB 1 across. 9 stitches

Row 4, purl

Row 5, K1, KFB 1 across. 13 stitches

Row 6, purl

Row 7, K1, KFB 1 across. 19 stitches

Row 8, K1, *KFB 1, K3, repeat from * to end (I think it was 4X) ending with K1. 21 stitches

continue to k1 row p1 row for 10 rows

Row 18, Purl

Row 19 K1, K2tog, K3 (I think 4X) end with K1. 19 stitches

Row 2o, purl

Row 21, K1, K2tog across. 13 stitches

Row 22, purl

Row 23, K1, K2tog across, end with P1. 9 stitches

Row 24, Purl

Row 25, K2tog across. 5 stitches

Row 26, P2tog, P2tog, P1. 3 stitches

Make an I cord about 4 1/2" or about 22 rows tie and leave a long tail for sewing.

NOW, take the tail from the cast-on Icord and weave it in and out like a large basting stitch from end to the middle. See photo above. Pull to roll or curl the I cord into a knot and secure. DO NOT CUT THE YARN. Roll the middle snuggly but not too tight and use the rest of the yarn to stitch it closed. Tie off, cut and bury the end.

The longer I cord, the last one you knitted, becomes the loop. Fold it over to the knotted end and decide how big the loop needs to be to fit over the knot and stitch it into place. See photo above. You want it to be a little bit shorter than the fat curler part so when it's slipped over the knot, it pulls it tight. Nothing is done too tightly, though.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I wrote the instructions as good as I could and explained them to the best of my ability. But please, too, remember it doesn't have to be exact. You can do a lot of fudging.

Hope you enjoy this FREE pattern. The original can be found at: Hair curlers

Red Heart or Scrap Yarn Projects FREE, too!

You've got to love these!! I love that she is willing to share the pattern. Please check them out! You won't be disappointed. Just take a peak to find out what they are!

Free pattern

Basketweave Crocheted Purse

This is my Basketweave crocheted purse that I am almost finished making. I still need to put the clip closure on it and line it but the crochet part is done. I found the pattern here. Knots & Loops blogspot. The patternis free. I did ask her permission to post this on my blog but never heard from her. (Donna suggested you visit her web site for another free pattern: tam Thank you so much Donna)

The yarn I used was Lion Brand Chenille in a denim color and their Jiffy in Denim spray. The major part of the purse is just double strand chenille and the strap, sides and closing flap is one strand of each since I ran out of the chenille. It's a rather stiff bag but should soften up a little with use.

It's a beautiful purse and I can't wait to have it completely done. Her photo is far better than mine. I just can't take a good picture.

Now, I'm going to work on more of the CD snowflakes.