Knitting Looms?

briggszilla · 02-02-2010, 10:17 AM

I've never tried knitting (on my to-do list though!), I crochet. But I've been wondering about knitting looms, mostly because they look like they might be easy enough for my 7 year old daughter to do along with me. Would you recommend them for kids? Also, is it really true that you can make anything on a loom that you can with needles? It it easier/harder for some projects?

I was talking to my husband about how I plan to start listing things on Etsy, and my daughter chimed in and said that she wanted her own store too

I think it's a great idea (and I can make it educational for her too...IE commerce, entrepreneurship, managing money, savings) , if I can find something that's simple and enjoyable enough for her to do while making nice things people would want to buy.

briggszilla · 02-02-2010, 05:38 PM

Well, I bought some supplies and right now my daughter is making her first hat

When I was showing her how to pull one loop over the other and then push it down to make room for the next row, she said "It's just like pulling your shirt up, and then pulling your pants down!" lol She is so adorable.

PennyPinchingPixie · 02-02-2010, 05:47 PM

loom knitting is definetly a good gateway craft LOL I started off with kniffty knitter looms and used youtube videod to help me instruction and project wise! I think she'll have fun with her loom and hopefully after she gets the hang of it she'll want to learn how to knit or crochet with needles or hooks

UndrThTblNDrumng · 02-02-2010, 06:39 PM

there are tutorials around that explain how to make other stitches with knitting looms.

here's a really helpful site that has a lot of info that will take you beyond just hats on your looms:
http://www.loomknittinghelp.com/index.html

here's a link to the knitting patterns central free loom knitting patterns:
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.co...m_knitting.php

Here's a pretty inspirational loom knitting blog too. There's some really cool stuff on here and it's all on looms:
http://loomlady.blogspot.com/

harmonise · 02-03-2010, 07:58 AM

I showed my son how to use a knifty knitter when he was about 7. although the interest didn't last it was easy for him to pick up. I got my dd a little circular knitting machine when she was about 5 or 6 and once I did the cast-on for her it was a breeze for her. she's now 8 and knows the basics of both crochet and knitting.

DangerMouse · 02-03-2010, 08:22 AM

what was that little 'crank-knitter' machine for kids and beginners called?

anyone remember that?

DM

PennyPinchingPixie · 02-03-2010, 03:08 PM

I ditto on the loomlady blogspot LOVE the stuff she comes up with!

harmonise · 02-04-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

what was that little 'crank-knitter' machine for kids and beginners called?

anyone remember that?

DM

This is the one I got my daughter with a 40% off coupon at Jo-Ann's it was only about $15. There was also a larger "grown-up" version of this too with more "needles". There's also the tiny Embellish Knit that makes I-cord.

DangerMouse · 02-04-2010, 09:29 AM

How did it work out?

Did your daughter enjoy it?

DM

harmonise · 02-04-2010, 10:33 AM

she loved it. i had to do the cast-on but after that she was off making scarfs and leg warmers. we tried doing the "flat" fabric but it really curled too much to work with. I had to keep her from going too fast or it would skip a needle and leave a hole. It will use up to size 3 yarn I think, it comes with a couple of VERY scratchy eyelyash-type yarn. But since I bought it when all the dollar stores had eyelash yarn it was relatively inexpensive to feed her "habbit"! LOL