Ringing out the old year

Time to take stock of my loom knitting year, and see where I have been, make plans for where I am going.

I have come much farther than I ever expected or planned one year ago. I have one month left in my braille classes, and I will graduate. I've learned that even though I can now read, write, and type braille, the world has very little of it for me to read. But I would not give up the ability to read and write, to be literate, for anything.

I am going to continue transcribing needle knit stitch patterns into loom patterns. I know I have said this before, and I have a small start (unpublished). I tend to get sidetracked with an idea and this year, I've gone off track with several new loom stitches. These have been very satisfying to me, although it is hard to tell if anyone else likes them.

Loom-a-longs and classes - I've hosted 3 loom-a-longs and a loom class. The loom class taught me not to assume my pattern will transfer to another loom with a *similar* size. The more complicated the stitch, the more precise the loom specifications.

Patterns - I've learned that some stitchers will take a pattern, change it completely, and blame me when it doesn't turn out the way I said it would. These are the people who will not ask me questions, and then post negatively about the patterns on Ravelry. So, for next year, I need a thicker skin to continue publishing patterns.

BUT - and this is the best part - most stitchers and readers of this blog, have been wonderful, sending me comments and questions, and making this a very enjoyable sharing experience. I get excited when I think of a new pattern idea, work through it, make myself write it out (always the hardest part,) edit, edit, edit, make the girls pose for a photo or two, make the cats pose for a photo, and then...publish and wait to see what happens.

January 2011 will start off with a nice Loom Class featuring one of my favorite patterns, "Miss Maddy's Capelet", inspired by the character of Miss Maddy in the PBS Cranford series. It is a charming little knit, and I think it will be a fun project to do as a group. I hope you will consider joining me in the class. It is so much easier to have a few friends there!

Happy New Year to you and your families. I'm looking forward to looming with you this next year.

Copyright 2010 by Invisible Loom and Craft. All rights reserved. Personal Use Only.

To end 2010 with a smile, I have the pattern for this sweet beret to give you. The "Everyday Beret" is simple, beautiful and easy to wear. It can be made on any round or adjustable loom with multiples of 5 plus 1 pegs. Yarn is also flexible, from dk to chunky weight, although the lace shows best in dk and worsted weight.

As always, if you need a plain text version of the pattern, please let me know and I will send you one. The large print pdf is over at Ravelry: Everyday Beret $3.50 US. Please let me know how you like this little Beret. I think it is a fun way to take advantage of loom knit stitches to shape a beret.

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

Frosty Snowmen

A quick gift for a toddler, Brenda Meyers the Loom Lady has this adorable Frosty Hat (along with many other wonderful holiday patterns) on her site. Tigger is posing with my version. It is made on the red Knifty Knitter loom, with bulky yarn.
Copyright 2010 by Invisible Loom and Craft, Renee Van Hoy. All Rights Reserved. Personal Use Only.

Tea on Tuesday

Double Ginger Cakes

This is a cake for chocolate and ginger fans. Not dry like ginger bread cookies, but moist and full of ginger flavor. Can be baked a day ahead. The heart shaped mini pans make a nice presentation, but a 10 " bundt pan would also work (extend the baking time.)

2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup molasses
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
2 tsp. dry ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. flour
1 1/3 cup milk (low fat ok)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and sugar 12 mini heart cake pans. Cream butter and sugar. Mix in eggs, molasses, and fresh ginger. Combine dry ingredients and add to butter mixture, alternating with milk. Bake in the mini cake pans at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove and cool on racks.

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

Dandelion Shawlette Pattern!

At last, the pattern for the "Dandelion Shawlette" is ready for you. I hope you all enjoy this pattern. I think it brings lace knitting on the loom a few steps further along, and shows once again, that we can keep up with the needle knitters! I've written a lot of notes explaining the pattern, trying to anticipate questions, but the pattern itself is not difficult. I've loomed it in several yarns with good success, but this is a pattern that needs to be made in a light weight yarn (DK or light worsted) wool or wool blend that can be blocked.

A simple blocking is essential to bring out the lace border on the shawlette, and open up the knit stitches in the center panel.

The pattern is available for $4.50 from Ravelry.  It is in large print pdf. Please contact me if you need a plain text version for your screen reader. I hope you all enjoy this pattern.

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

December Loom-a-long

December is here! I hope you can come join me for the Ravelry loom-a-long. We are looming, the Poppy Neckerchief (now you know why I have been testing it in so many yarns and gauges.) This is a fun and fast knit, that makes a wonderful gift.

You can make it on a 1/2 inch gauge or 3/4 inch (like a blue or red Knifty Knitter) using about 1 skein of yarn (125 yards) in DK, Worsted or Chunky weight, wool or acrylic. The pattern is free at Raverly. If you need a plain text version, or can't get the Ravelry pdf, please let me know and I will send you the pattern.

Hope you will come and join the Loom-a-long!

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