Loo m Knitti ng Basic s:

Knitting in the Round

by Isela G. Phelps

Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Welcome to the world of loom knitting, where knitting is done without needles!
The instructional you are holding will guide you step by step through the beginning steps of loom knitting. We will start off by showing you the knitting loom and the different parts that make up the knitting loom. After meeting the knitting loom, we will get some yarn and learn the basics of round loom knitting. Although we will be concentrating on knitting in the round, the same knitting loom can be used to knit flat panels to create items like scarves, blankets, and even sweaters! To begin, lets choose a plain wool yarn (or a non-textured) bulky weight yarn as this will make it easier for us to see exactly what is happening to the stitches. The pictures in this instructional were taken with bulky weight yarn. If you do not have a bulky weight yarn, you can substitute as follows: Two strands of fingering (fine)=one strand of sport Two strands of sport (dk)=one strand of worsted Two strands of worsted equal (aran)=one strand of bulky If you substitute yarns, be sure to treat all the strands of yarn being used as 1. Gather the items you will need for your first lesson: Knitting loom Knitting tool Tapestry needle Scissors Lets get ready to begin! Look for our friendly kitty cat to find tips and tricks!

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Anatomy of a Knitting Loom

Before we begin, lets give you a little bit of loom knitting lingo by analyzing the different parts of the knitting loom.

Anchor peg: some knitting looms have them some do not. Do not worry, if yours does not have one, you really do not need it. The anchor peg is used to wrap the working yarn around it so the yarn doesnt unravel off the pegs. Pegs: the yarn is wrapped around the peg to create stitches. If you look at the peg closely, it has a small cap at the top. The small cap prevents the yarn from accidentally falling off the peg. Tip: If possible, I recommend obtaining a knitting loom where the pegs have a small cap at the top. Peg groove: the majority of all knitting looms have pegs with a groove. The groove makes knitting off the loops easier.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

We begin our knitting with a basic slip knot.

Slip Knot
Step 1: Leaving a 5 inch beginning tail, form a circle with the working yarn.

Figure 1: Step 1 Step 2: Fold the circle over the yarn coming from the skein.

Figure 2: Step 2 Step 3: Reach through the circle, and grab the yarn coming from the skein.

Figure 3: Step 3 Step 4: Pull the working yarn through circle, while pulling gently on the short end of the beginning yarn tail end, thus tightening the noose on the knot.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Slip Knot is completed. After our slip knot, we will place the foundation row on the knitting loom.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Casting On
The process of threading the knitting loom for the first time is known as casting on. We will cover two methods in this section: the basic e-wrap cast on method and the chain cast on method. E-wrap Cast On Recommended when you need to have live stitches or when a very flexible opening is required. Prepare: Before you begin your cast on, form a slip knot with your working yarn. Place slip knot on your first peg (any peg can be your first peg). Step 1: With working yarn on your right hand and loom on your left. Take working yarn towards the center of the knitting loom.

Step 2: Wrap the yarn around the next empty peg. a. By going counter-clockwise around the peg (If knitting clockwise around the loom)

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

b. By going clockwise around the peg (if knitting counterclockwise around the loom)

Step 4: Continue around the knitting loom in this form. When you reach the last peg, you are ready to begin knitting on your loom.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Chain Cast On
The Chain Cast on is similar to the Cable Cast on. I came upon it after researching a bit on needle knit cast ons and I found the chain cast on and I tried it out on the looms and it worked. Prepare: Before you begin your cast on, form a slip knot with your working yarn. Place slip knot on your first peg (any peg can be your first peg). Take working yarn towards the outside of the loom. Step 1: Insert crochet hook through slip knot, hook working yarn and make a chain. Keep chain towards the inside of the knitting loom and working yarn is towards the outsidepeg is between the working yarn and the chain.

Step 2: Hook working yarn (by going in between pegs 2 & 3) forming a chain, pull this chain through the chain made in Step 1 (towards the inside of the loom). Working yarn should have wrapped around the outside of the peg.
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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 3: Keep working around the loom in this manner, forming a chain around the peg. Chains are in the inside of the loom and the working yarn is towards the outside.

Notice the following: Working yarn stays towards the outside of the loom at all times. Each peg has 1 loops on it. To complete a circular, place the last chain formed on the first peg. The first peg will have 2 loops on it. For a flat panel, place the last chain on the last peg.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Knitting on the Loom

After your foundation row is on the knitting loom, we are ready to begin knitting. We will explore the basic stitches: the twisted knit stitch, the knit stitch, and the purl stitch. Twisted Knit Stitch: this stitch is done the same way as the first cast on method above, e-wrap cast on. In needle knitting, this stitch is known as the twisted knit stitch or a knit stitch knitted through the back loop. To begin knitting, be sure you have your foundation row on the knitting loom. Creating the knit stitch is as easy as writing the cursive letter e. Step 1: Take the working yarn (yarn coming from the ball of yarn) to the inside of the knitting loom.

Step 2: Then moving in a clockwise direction around the knitting loom, encircle the peg with the yarn.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 3: Go ahead and e-wrap all the pegs. Each peg should have two loops on it.

Step 4: Using your knitting tool, lift the bottommost loop off the peg, let it fall towards the inside of the knitting loom.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Tip: to prevent your yarn from coming off the pegs, lift the bottommost strand on the last peg wrapped. The twisted knit stitch resembles looks like the picture on the left. The stitches resemble a letter y.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Knit Stitch: this forms a stitch that looks identical to the needle knit stitch. It has a few more steps than the Twisted Knit Stitch.

Step 1: Place working yarn, in front the peg and above the loop on the peg.

Step 2: Insert knitting tool from bottom up (behind the loop on the peg). Catch the working yarn with the tool, thus forming a loop.

Step 3: Hold the newly formed loop (from Step 2)

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 4: Take the loop that was originally on the peg, off the peg.

Step 5: Place the loop you are holding (from step 3) on the peg. Pull on the working yarn to tighten the stitch.

The knit stitch looks like the picture to the left. The stitches are nicely defined and they resemble a small letter V.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

The Purl Stitch: the purl stitch is the opposite of the knit stitch. Instead of a smooth V, you will see bumpy fabric.

Step 1: Place working yarn in front of peg and below the loop on the peg.

Step 2: Insert knitting tool from the top down, hook the working yarn with the tool.

Step 3: Pull the loop caught with the tool, up through the stitch. Hold it with your fingertips.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 4: Remove the original loop off the peg.

Step 5: Place the loop you are holding (from step 3) on the peg. Gently tug on the working yarn to tighten the stitch.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Binding Off
Once you have learned the basic stitches, it will be time to take your item off the knitting loom. The process of removing the item off the knitting loom is known as the bind off. We will look at two types of bind offs: the gather removal and the basic removal. The Gather Removal The gather removal cinches the end of the item close. Used when making a hat, or any other item where you need one of the ends closed. At this point, you will need your tapestry needle. Cut the working yarn, leaving about a 24 inch tail. Thread the yarn through the tapestry needle. Step 1: Go to the peg to the left from where the working yarn is located. Insert the tapestry needle through the stitch on the peg. (Yarn shown in different color to demonstrate the steps).

Step 2: *Pull the yarn through and insert the tapestry needle through the stitch on the next peg. Repeat from * until all loops are on the yarn. When you reach the last peg in the round, pass the tapestry needle again through the first stitch.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 3: With your knitting tool, pop-off all the pegs. Gently pull on the yarn, tightly cinching the top close.

Step 4: Pass the tapestry needle through the center of the top of the hat.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Step 5: Turn hat inside out. Find the tapestry needle you passed in Step 5, and with it form a series of crosses on the small hole at the top of the hat thus closing the hole. Form a small knot and cut the working yarn leaving a 5 inch tail. Weave the ends in.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

The Basic Bind Off (flat removal method) It is a good overall bind off method for most knits. It is used when you need an open end. The flat removal method is used when removing items that have an opening, such as sleeves. Step 1: Knit the item until you have only 1 loop on each peg. The working yarn is coming from the last peg. Knit the first two stitches. Move the loop from the second peg, over to the first peg. Knit over. (First Stitch bound off). Move the stitch from the first peg over to the vacated 2nd peg.

Picture 1: Knit the first 2 stitches

Picture 2: The first 2 stitches have been knitted

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

Picture 3: Move loop from 2nd peg over to the first peg knitted.

Step 2 Knit the next stitch. Move this loop over to the first peg. Knit over. (Second stitch bound off)

Picture 4: Moving the stitch from 1st peg over to vacated peg 2.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until all stitches have been bound off. 4 When you reach the last peg, cut the working yarn leaving a 5 inch tail. Knit the stitch. Remove the stitch from the peg. Pull the yarn tail end through the loop. If binding off a tube, thread the yarn tail end through a tapestry needle and pass it through the first stitch. Weave in ends.

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Loom Knitting Basics: Knitting in the round

End of Voyage
We have covered all the basics: casting on, basic stitches, and bind offs. Now you are ready to begin your loom knitting adventure. Have a great time! Here are some ideas on what you can do with your new knitting looms: Hats Bags Slippers Soap sacks Other important information: What yarn to use with what type of knitting loom? Here is a quick yarn-loom combination recommendation. Large gauge looms Bulky weight yarn or super bulky Medium gauge looms (also known as regular gauge) bulky weight Small gauge loom Worsted weight Extra small gauge loom one strand of sport Fine gauge loom one strand of sport Extra fine gauge one strand of fingering

Contact information: I would love to hear from you, please drop me a note!
Blog: http://www.purlingsprite.com

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