Give the Rose a little love

The pattern contest voting has started, and I'd like to ask you to consider voting for my entry, the Blue Rose Shawl. You can see the pattern and vote at Markman Farm: http://www.markmanfarm.com/contest/2010-patterns

You can download the pattern for free at the same link. It makes a nice shawl or lap robe, a great idea for gift giving (if you are planning ahead.)  Update: Markman is no longer in business, and this pattern is currently on vacation and unavailable. 

Thank you!!!

A Bookish Monday

Books about Loom Knitting are few, and this summer is giving us a bounty of new books from wonderful authors.

Brenda, the Loom Lady at Loom Lore has announced the publication of her book by

Boye & Simplicity Creative Group called: "I taught myself to Loom Knit" in Walmart & other craft stores .

Pat Novak and Kim Novak from the Authentic Knitting Board have written: "Knitting Board Basics: A Beginner's Guide to Using a Knitting Board with Over 30 Patterns" which is due for release in August.

Anne Bipes has a new book out titled: "Learn to Knit On Long Looms".

Hopefully these books will be made accessible to the visually impaired quickly, through Bookshare or BARD. In the meantime, the rest of you must promise to review them and tell us all about them.

Violet Carpet Shawl

I hope you will like this shawl as much as I do. It is very nice to wear - the horizontal lace rows and garter stitch combination give the shawl a drape and ease that is "wrapable". I like to wear it a bit off to the side, then wrap it around and hold the ends with a nice brooch.

$4.50 US  Violet Carpet Shawl

Worked from side to side in garter stitch with rows of lace horizontally.

Supplies: Loom with at least 64 pegs in ½ inch gauge (CinDwood Large Adult Hat Loom with 66 pegs used for sample.)

Peg markers or scrap yarn
Loom tool
Crochet hook
480 yarns WW wool and silk blend (Plymouth Yarn Mushishi color 4, 95 % merino wool, 5% silk used in sample.)
120 yards WW wool for edging (Classic Elite WW wool in lavender used for the sample.)

The “Lace Row Ridge Stitch” pattern

Copyright 2010 by Invisible Loom and Craft. All Rights Reserved. Personal Use Only.

Tea on Tuesday

This is a favorite cookie recipe of ours. I keep pots of mint growing fresh all year to give us the chance to bake these - the fresh mint makes all the difference.
Peppermint Shortbread
Source of Recipe
"Along the Garden Path" by Bill and Sylvia Varney

12 TBSP. unsalted butter, softened
9 TBSP. sugar
1 1/2 TBSP. brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. peppermint extract
1 TBSP. finely chopped fresh peppermint leaves
1/8 tsp. salt
2 cups flour

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and extracts. Add the flour on low speed. Stir in the peppermint leaves and salt. Divide dough into three portions. Place on plastic wrap and roll into cylinders 1 1/4 inch in diameter. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm. (1 hour) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4" thick slices. Rotate the cylinder to keep it round. keep the slices even and thin. They do not spread much, so you can place them close together on the sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until the bottom edges are just barely brown. Remove to rack to cool.
For cut out cookies, divide dough into three portions and place on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Place another sheet on top and pat or roll the dough out into a very thin sheet. Chill the sheets of dough until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove and cut quickly with miniature cookie cutters. Bake 8 minutes - watch these little cookies can brown very quickly. Remove immediately to rack and cool. For square cookies, shape logs with flat sides and chill and slice as above.
This dough can be made and frozen unbaked. Thaw slightly in refrigerator before baking.
These little cookies are especially pretty in miniature butterfly shapes surrounding a piece of cake. Enjoy!

Copyright 2000 - 2010 by Invisible Loom and Craft, Renee Van Hoy. All Rights Reserved. Personal Use Only.

On and Off the Loom

The "Rib-it Washcloths" from the July Loom-a-long group were very cute, and a huge improvement over last summer's cotton cloths. The rib stitch makes a much softer cloth. I tried several cotton yarns, and Lily Sugar 'n cream and Bernat Cottontots were the winners for softness. Lily is much better priced and has a better choice of colors, so that is what I have stocked up on. However, Teen girl has requested an openwork sweater, so I have some cream colored Cottontots for that. The pattern is drawn up in my mind; just have to transfer it to the loom.

The pattern for my Peppermint Tam is up at Ravelry now. This is a great pattern if you are starting to think about holiday loom gifts.  $4.00 US  

July Looming

My pattern for the Blue Rose Shawl is now available: http://www.markmanfarm.com/contest/2010-patterns

I had a very good time with the Simple Lace Wrap loom-a-long group at Ravelry, and there are some more good loom-a-longs this month:

At Ravelry, the July 2010 Loom Along - Loom knit Rib-It Dishcloth by Tanya Goen. This is a cute dishcloth that can be worked on a knitting board or on the long knifty knitter looms. It is a great way to learn the rib stitch on a board style loom.

At Yahoo Groups Loom Class group:

Reversible Towel Topper with Christine Clauto

Wavy Water Shawl with Anke Van Doorne

Stitch Sampler with Lynn Markman

Christmas in July - Santa Hat Cloth