Loom Knitting - Fun For All Ages

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

17 Sep 2007 12:04 PM

I picked up the Knifty Knitter looms on a whim about a year ago. The pack of four were on sale for about seven dollars. Many years ago, I had a long loom called a Knitting Jenny. As a girl, I never did learn how to cast on and off the loom but I loved to knit on it. With regular needles I always had gaps and holes and loose threads.

I�ve taught a couple of children to knit on these looms. The knitting looms make knitting very easy. All you really need to do is to wrap your yarn around the pegs, then lift one yarn loop over the peg. It�s that easy. When I�ve carried the knitting with me to wait, people are always intrigued by the looms. I�ve seen several fourth grade girls beg their mothers for these looms. The handmade knitted look apparently is very much in style right now. I think your average six year old could master the knitting loom. And children younger than that could at least wrap the pegs. The looms are also good for older people who may have stopped knitting due to arthritis.

As a plus to busy parents, the looms are easy to set down and come back to without unraveling or having to start over. The other huge plus is how fast they are. I�m sure there are regular needle knitters who can make a baby hat in an hour, but I�m not one of them. With the loom though, I can.

As the looms get more and more popular, you can find more patterns for them. You aren�t limited to hats or scarves. A quick search for free knitting loom patterns came up with afghans, sweaters, socks, mittens, toy bears and snowmen, and a very cute purse.

Loom knitting isn�t new. It�s actually been around since at least the Middle Ages. Early settlers in America did loom knitting, and there is some evidence that a variation was also practiced early by some Native American tribes. I like that it�s not only a fun, quick craft, but a connection with history, too.

Also See: Recycling Yarn: Unraveling a Thrift Store Find Can Save You Big Bucks

Hobbies and Crafts Forum

Yarn Crafts

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger