Best Pattern Site for Low Vision

Lion Brand Yarn is an example of how easy it is to make a site accessible to everyone. They have an options for font size, brailler input, pdf pattern downloads, and view without pictures - and all for free. They have nearly 3000 free knitting and crocheting patterns. I love this site! And I've let them know how much. I wish all sites were like Lion. I've made many of the patterns. They have quite a few that are for loom knitting, and many that can be easily converted. I'm working on the Brighten Cowl right now in Lions' Natures Organic Cotton. It is soft and cuddly, but with double strands it is also warm. No itching, because it is so soft.

Looming for Fall

My husband is overwhelmed with taking over "mom" duties, and has not gotten out the 3 large bins of Halloween decorations we usually put out on October 1st. So, I have taken the hints from the Loom Class group at Yahoo , Loom-a-Long group on Ravelry, and Markman Loom group at Yahoo, and have loomed our decorations. From Loom Class, a darling black cat; from Loom-a-long, several patterns have been offered for pumpkins; and from Lynn Markman, an apple and apple basket pattern. I went on from there to make tea cozies in the pumpkin and apple themes. If only I had more orange yarn!!! I also ran out of fiber fill, but, I find that stash yarn (the ones I know I will never use) makes a good filling for little creations. Hope to add photos soon - still waiting for my replacement camera card reader. But you can find some of the pumpkins at the groups listed, and also at this blog: madebytelaine.blogspot.com/ She has a lovely blog to visit.

Heaven! Magazines in PDF

What a great discovery! There are 2 crochet and 1 knitting magazine available as digital downloads in pdf. What that means is that you can download the magazine to your computer, and use the enlargement and - even better for low vision - the read out loud - built into pdf. Adobe reader software is free, and works very well. In fact, I have an easier time with pdf files than when I use the special reader installed by the accessibility tech.

The magazines are also reasonable - $15.00 for 3 years. You get 2 years of the archives, plus the next years' issues. I've been having a ball going through all the past issues. The three are : Creative Knitting, Crochet! and Crochet World.

I have to say, I love magazines of any kind, and I wish more were available this way. It is such fun to "read" them again, and blow up the pictures, and have the patterns read aloud. Hope you might enjoy these, too.

Time to Catch Up

Hello! I've been absent for much too long, but hope to catch up. My big news is that I won a prize in the Markman Loom Knitting Contest for Emma's Capelet, and am looking forward to a new loom very soon :)

My other big news is that four of my patterns have been published in loom knitter circle magazine: The Go Team Hat for him or her; Ruffled Scarf; Origami Purse; and Baby Cozy. The photos are at the top of this post. You can get all the patterns free at the site (see my links) or you can get the magazine as a pdf download (which has the "read out loud" option for visually impaired, as will as built in magnification) and they are adding 2 more patterns as a bonus later in the year. The patterns in the magazine are really cute - the clown on the cover is darling, and there are some beautiful designs all around. I'm pretty excited.

Hope to be back soom - I have tons of patterns written, and lots to share.

Loom Pattern Contest

I have entered a pattern in the Markman Farms pattern contest. If you are in the Markman yahoo group, you can vote for me :) The pattern is "Emma's Capelet". It is a pull-over capelet I made on a Markman loom. If I win, I will add the side pieces to my loom to make larger projects.

I have started another project on the loom, a purse made of a wonderful wool from Art Fibers. It is heaven to have a beautiful yarn store near by.

Lately Looming

The looms have been busy the past few weeks. I tried another Loom Class. The pattern was "Bee-U-Tiful Lace Cloth". Many of the class members had problems, but I thought it was a nice pattern. I made it in a larger gauge, using the long yellow knifty knitter, and Sugar & Cream cotton double strands. The photo shows it just off the loom, but the yarn "relaxed" later, and the pattern tightened.

Also made a pair of fingerless mittens for older daughter with yarn she picked out at Art Fibers. She is wearing them, so I consider that a success.

One disappointment was the arrival of the craft books from Horizons for the Blind. It did not occur to us that they would be only the text, not the illustrations. For one book, I was able to find the original at Amazon, and have ordered it, so we can read them together.

Two other projects were hats for husband and brother. For brother, made with Art Fibers Udon- a very chunky, soft wool blend. Husband chose Lion Wool Ease in WW. It made a softer hat, but still was nice. The Udon hat is in the photo, in Chicago Bears colors.

Newly Loomed

This is the cotton summer purse I loomed. It was inspired by a knitting pattern at LionYarn. I used the blue long KK loom, and the figure-eight stitch to make the body of the purse. Then I added cream crochet accents to close the purse and attach the handles. I made a simple lining out of new-sew type fleece material.

This next photo is the round fluffy pillow I made. The pattern is by Looming In Maryland. I used TLC cotton for the base yarn, and Crystal Palace "Punk" for the fluffy yarn. It is a really cute pillow.