Loomylicious Tidbits

Prototypes Galore...Part II.

Prototype 4: This one is a juicy one. Remember Prototype 4 above, well, it appears that it was a step into getting Prototype 4 done. Whenever I think I am done, he comes and brings me another one to play with. Now you don't have to wonder why I don't get any projects done...is because I spent my time knitting little swatches! I'll sacrifice myself and try out the loom....torture (LOL).

 

What is it? I have no idea. It looks like a Wonderloom, it has almost the same knit gauge/tension as the WonderSock loom, but it has pegs like the GAL Rake. Confused? I know, I am. But my job is to simply sit down and try them. So I sat down and tried it.

Yarn to test with: Lion Brand Sock Ease. Weight category 1.

Results: 7.5sts per inch, 11 rows.
Fabric Density: Not holey. Tight, not as tight as the 9sts per inch that the WonderSock Loom gets but still tight.
Test: Passed.

 

As to what do I call it. I have no idea. I can see that the pins help in maintaining an even U around the pins and therefore providing an even stitch consequently providing an even fabric. So I guess if you have issues with the stitches not coming out uniform this could be an option for you. (click the image below to see how to wrap the pegs). Mini-movie of me working with the loom.

So, what do you think I should call this Prototype 4?

I want to hear your thoughts about this loom. Would you be interested in such a thing? What would you call it? P4?!?

   

 

Wonder Sock Loom at Work: Video

Many of you will be getting your Wonder Sock Looms in the mail this week. Some of you probably already have it...lucky! I hope the tutorial below helps you get started knitting on your Wonder Sock Loom. I apologize before hand for the sound of my voice: I have a cold and a stuffy nose *yeah, on top of my New Yawker-Mexican accent*. Have fun looming with your new WonderSock Loom.

If you haven't purchased this loom yet, don't forget to enter code OCTSALE at checkout and you will receive 10% off the price of the loom (hey, it may mean a skein of yarn ;) ).

Prototypes Galore

Recently, my house has been flooded with prototypes. A loom with a swatch here, another loom over there, skeins of yarn here and more over there. I don't know where to keep them all. They are sticking out of drawers, they are sitting on my couch, and even on my bed. Someone help me!

 

Prototype 1: This one above, is a GAL Rake. Like the tiny pins? I do, they are nice and smooth. The combo of pins and our tiny pegs is perfect to provide a nice tight tension.

Results: 5.5sts per inch with DK weight yarn. That is the same knit gauge as I get with the fine gauge line of looms.
Fabric Density: Nice and dense.
Test: Passed.

Prototype 2: Then he brought home another one, this one with the pegs farther apart and he wanted me to see what yarn will work best for this one. So I grabbed yarn and sat down to knit. Out of the loom came the most pretty fabric. My stitches were all nice and even and the worsted/aran weight worked wonderfully.

Results: 4.5sts per inch. I can see this one being best for WW and Chunkier yarns. Although Prototype 1 could work also for WW and heavier, I can see the pegs being so closed to each other being a little bit hard to handle, but there were other prototypes to try. I couldn't just close the doors on these two prototypes nor the next ones...not just yet.
Fabric Density: Tight. Dense. Nice.
Test: Passed

Prototype 3: Then I was brought home a little tiny monster, for this one I had to take out my tinnest yarn and try it out. So I grabbed some Patons Kroy, a locally available sock yarn.

Results 5.5sts per inch.
Fabric quality: Nice dense fabric. (white part in above picture)
Test: Passed.

Then I grabbed some thinner sock yarn, Lion Brand Sock-Ease, also available at the local craft stores. This one is a weight category of 1 so I gave it a go.

Results: 5sts per inch
Fabric quality: Not dense, holey. (yellow part in above picture)
Test: Failed!

Pom Pom Socks Pattern

The Pom Pom Socks pattern is ready, pick up your copy and start looming your very own pair. I used  the Wonder Sock Loom but you can use any other extra fine gauge loom that you have available, simply follow the heel instructions for your loom.

Don't know how to knit a sock heel? No problem! The heel is simply done on half of the sock stitches: for example, if your loom has 40 pegs, use 20 for the heel. The heel will be worked on these half of stitches and you will work short-rows to create an hour glass. On the first part of the heel, you will decrease down to 1/3 of the heel stitches and on the second part, you will increase to the original number of heel stitches.

View the videos on the Pinwheel Dishcloth to learn to how to do short-rows and the W&T (wrap and turn) to avoid holes.

Happy Looming!

Coming next week: video on using your Wonder Sock Loom

Wonder Sock Loom

Wonderful news my loomy friends, the Wonder Sock Loom is back and better than before! Lighter weight, beautiful as ever and smooth, just the quality that you expect from a DA loom.

I have been a little quite lately and for good reason, I have been testing some new products...lots of new products. Why? Well, it October is our Anniversary Month at DA Looms and usually we have something spectacular every year and like most of our customers know, we want to keep bringing you the best loomy stuff.

Anyways, a year or so ago Sam introduced the Wonder Sock Loom but he had a heck of a time producing it, at one point due to a mistake, he almost lost his thumb, but he is stubborn, it is one of the Phelps traits, and he persevered and kept searching for new tools and ways to make it possible to make this loom. He succeeded, he found new tooling and materials and the Wonder Sock Loom is back!

Meet the new and improved Wonder Sock Loom: lighter weight, same tight gauge as our sock looms, ei: 18sts and 20 rows=2 inches.

Come check it out at DA go to the New products box (right hand bottom corner) or go directly to the Wonder Sock Loom.

But wait, it is our Anniversary Month so we want you to celebrate with us: enter Coupon OCTSALE and receive 10% off on the purchase of this loom (coupon only applies to this loom). As always, your loom will come with a knitting tool (heavy duty, pointy tip) and instructions. Also, we will send the new Pom-Pom Socks pattern with your loom.

Stay tuned for more exciting happenings at DA!

CONTEST--cuz we all love contests :)

Would you like to win your very own Wonder Sock Loom: here is your chance!

Way # 1 to win it: Drop us a comment below and let us know why you think you deserve this loom. Example: Love looms, must collect them all! Be creative, make Sam smile, lol.

Way #2: Spread the news on your blog about this new Sock Loom and link it back to the DA site and you will be entered to win one Wonder Sock Loom! Come back and let me know that you posted about the new loom and I'll write your name down.

Way #3: (connected to #2): If someone else finds out about the loom from your blog and come to this blog and tell me that they saw it on your blog, you'll get one extra entry!

Winner will be announced Oct. 31st