May Loom-a-Longs and a Free Pattern

                  
May is the start of a long anticipated Loom-a-long on Ravelry. With tongues in cheeks, we call this one "Fingerless Mitts: The Quest for the Perfect Thumb."  We have a variety of free patterns to try out, with and without thumbs, and a lot of brainstorming about how to add a comfortable thumb to our mitts. Since so many loom knitters suffer from hand problems, having a comfortable mitt is something many have wanted to try. Please come and join the Ravelry Loom-a-long group, try a pattern, suggest a pattern, and make mitts, with or without thumbs. 

In honor of the fingerless mitt loom-a-long, I have a new free pattern for a pair of lacy mitts.  The "Fit for Tea Mitts" may be made on a 1/2 inch gauge loom, with 21, 22 or 25 pegs. They are worked in the round, and have a lacy cast on and cast off, and a little bit of lace on the cuff and at the fingers. They have no thumb - but perhaps we will solve that in the loom-a-long. I hope you enjoy the pattern. 
Fit for Tea Mitts   download now

Continuing from last month is the Daisy Chain Sweater loom-a-long. The sweater is a fast knit, so if you would still like to join in and try the pattern, please do. And even though the official loom-a-long has ended, there are still quite a few people working on the Leafy Sea Dragon Scarf. 

Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II
ebook $12.00  

Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved

April Looming Around the Net

There are two fun Loom-a-longs in the Ravelry Loom-a-long Group this month. The first, a repeat by request, is the Leafy Sea Dragon Scarf seen in the photo above. This is a one month loom-a-long, for April only, but of course you may join in any time, and work at your own pace. The second Loom-a-long will last through May, and the pattern is the Daisy Chain Sweater, a lace pullover sweater that has the look of crochet. I've rewritten and updated the pattern to provide more sizing information, as well as a new option for making the sleeves. More information about the patterns is available on the linked pattern pages, as well as in the Loom-a-long Group.  I hope you will be able to join in one or both of the loom-a-longs.

Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved.

Drum Roll - Time for the Drawing!

It's time to draw the prize winners for the drawing. The official "What Would Jane Knit" bag has been filled with the names of everyone who purchased a book during March (one entry for every book.) Good luck everyone!

The first prize is a wonderful loom knitting bag. And the winner is...

Judy Davis. Congratulations Judy! 

The second prize is two skeins of Kuka/Ice yarn. And the winner is...

Twila Zoener. Congratulations Twila!

Third Prize is a Knifty Knitter Loom set (yellow loom, blue loom, spool loom, loom clips and loom clip booklet.) And the winner is...

Jennifer Wales! Woo hoo Jennifer!

Fourth prize is a Purple Knifty Knitter Hat Loom. And the winner is...

Melitza Calderon. Way to go Melitza!

Fifth Prize is a Provo Craft ergonomic loom pick and crochet hook set. And the winner is...

Pamela Gaffney. Congratulation Pamster!

Sixth prize is a Knifty Knitter book set (Loom Crafts for the Knifty Knitter, and Pamphlets I, II and III.) And the winner is ...

Barbara Perkins. Congratulations Barbara!

The last prize is a free single pattern from Invisible Loom. And the winner is...

Everyone else. Watch for an email from me with your prize notification. Winners of the first six prizes will need to send me your shipping address. You may send it as a comment from this blog, (which will never be seen publicly), email me, or contact me through Ravelry. Thanks everyone for celebrating the new book with me.
Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All rights reserved.

Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II and a drawing

I delighted to say that Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II: Colorwork, Shapes and Lace is officially here. $12.00 US

To celebrate, I'm having a drawing for prizes on April 1st, 2013. If you purchase any of my e-books during March, you will automatically be entered into the drawing. There will be pattern coupons, loom knitting goodies, and the grand prize, a Janet Basket Eco Bag.

This is the best bag for loom knitting that I've found. It is deep, with a frame at the top that opens wide to hold looms:

It even holds the CinDwood 36" Universal S loom. Plus it has pockets inside large enough to hold a big center pull cake of yarn, and lots of smaller pockets for all your other tools. 

I hope you enjoy the new patterns. Please let me know what you think, and good luck in the drawing.

Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved.

Waves of Lace Shawl, Afternoon Shawl, and Country Day Shawl - Pattern Previews

Today's pattern previews are of three lovely triangle shawls. The first is called "Waves of Lace". There are two separate patterns for this shawl in Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II. The first includes wide bands of lace work, contrasted with a simple bands of lacy garter stitch, and framed with a short ruffle. The second version omits the lace work, but keeps the basic framework of the shawl, so those not wanting the challenge of lace may still enjoy looming this shawl. The contrast of a lace mohair yarn with a fingering weight wool make this shawl very interesting to look at, and a light but warm piece to wear. Despite the size, Waves of Lace is made on only 60 pegs, in one single piece. The sample shown was made on a 1/2 inch gauge loom, but other gauges may also be used.

The second shawl is the Country Day Shawl. It is a medium sized triangle shawl, made in a worsted weight wool. This shawl is all about texture. Three contrasting stitch patterns, as well as bobbles, work to create a striking design reminiscent of a Fisherman's Sweater.

Country Day Shawl is made all in one piece on a 58 peg loom, either 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch gauge. There is also an option for a 68 peg version. 

 The last shawl is the Afternoon Shawl. It is the shawl you will want to wrap up in late in the day, not too heavy, but still warm in fingering weight wool. This shawl may be easily adjusted to make a small shawl or shawlette, or a very large shawl.

Afternoon Shawl may be made in either 1/2 inch gauge or 3/8 inch gauge. (And 3/4 will work, too.) The edge of the shawl has a very subtle deep ruffle that may also be blocked into scallops. The shawl as shown was made on 72 pegs in 3/8 inch gauge loom (the blue version,) and 59 pegs on a 1/2 inch gauge loom (the pink version.)

 A little more about the e-book itself. It will have 90 pages of large print text, 36 pages of paper-saver text, 6 pages of photos, 2 pages of diagrams and a cover. All will be in downloadable pdf files. Please come back tomorrow for a little celebration of Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II: Colorwork, Shapes and Lace.
Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved.

Soft Shadows Wrap - Pattern Preview

 Today's preview is of the "Soft Shadows Wrap". This wrap takes on a striking appearance from the contrasting  color and texture of the yarns, as well as its rather unusual shape.

 Wide bands of fluffy yarn are alternated with a long color stripe yarn. Shaping is all done by increasing and decreasing. The yarns are carried along the edges, so there are not a lot of ends to weave in.

 

At about 100 inches long, the wrap can be worn many different ways, and is quite fun to play with. 

 Best of all, any gauge loom and yarn weight may be used. The pattern has variations for 3/4, 1/2, and 3/8 inch gauge looms. The sample shown is made with fingering weight yarn on a 1/2 inch gauge loom.

Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II is almost ready - just a few more days. In the mean time, I hope you are enjoying the previews, and please come back tomorrow for the next pattern.
Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved.

Pattern Preview - Gemstones Wrap

 

 Today's preview is of the "Gemstones Wrap". This fun wrap, scarf or shawlette is a great way to try out your inner artist. The little gemstones can be as colorful or simple as you like. Try a two color version, or use a textured yarn with a smooth yarn. 

 

 The version shown here is made from Knit Pick's City Tweed DK yarn, on a 1/2 inch gauge loom using only 54 pegs. I used a sampler of the yarn for the contrast colors, and a nice sage for the main colors.

The wrap is fully adjustable in size, gauge, and yarn weight, so you may use your favorite loom and yarns for this fun pattern.

The Loom Knit Shawls Vol. II e-book will include both a large print (24 point font) version and a paper-saver (12 point font) version, as well as a full photo gallery, schematic diagrams of each shawl, and a cover. The .pdf files are e-reader friendly, and in plain text for screen reader compatibility.

Please come back tomorrow for the next preview.
Copyright 2013 by Renee Van Hoy, Invisible Loom. All Rights Reserved.