Good Loom Knitting Habits
It's important to develop good loom knitting habits
right from the start. It is much more difficult to
break bad habits than to start good ones. Here are some
tips to get you started. If there are others that you'd
like to see added, please feel free to contact me. All
contributions will be properly credited.
Please use your own judgment when trying out these
tips. What works well for one person may not work well
for another.
Click on each topic below to display content
information.
The best way to work even stitches is by
wrapping the yarn loosely. It is really important
that you wrap your yarn loosely so you will knit
even stitches and will make it easier to knit off
each peg. Try wrapping a few rows tightly some time
and see how difficult it becomes to knit! Also by
wrapping loosely, you will create an environment
that will help you knit cable and lace stitches
where you may need to move the wrap from one peg
over to another.
So how do you not knit tightly? Here are
some ideas:
- Use a yarn guide.
- Do not wrap the entire loom and then knit
off. Instead wrap and knit off each peg as you
go. If you wrap all the way around the loom,
there is a great chance that you will pull the
yarn making it tighter as you go.
- Keep the yarn between the loom and skein
loose. If you don't, you may use the loom to
pull the yarn which will make the stitch too
tight.
- Hold the previous peg while wrapping the
current peg. If you really want to wrap
the entire loom, this trick can work too. By
holding down the yarn on the previous peg while
you wrap the next one, it will help keep you
from wrapping the current peg too tightly.
- When knitting off each peg, the action with
the knitting tool should not be straight up but
away from the loom and then over the peg. This
will also help keep the stitch from being too
tight.
- This tip come from Nels Wiberg of Babe's Fiber Garden: Lift the wrap over the peg and then use your right thumb on the inside/back of the loom to push in the yarn. This will move a little of the yarn through the loop and will help keep you from knitting too tightly.
This is a good knitting and loom knitting practice. Before you begin your project, always be sure to knit a swatch with your yarn to determine the gauge. See gauge for more information.
One of the easiest way to wrap yarn loosely is to use a yarn guide.
- You can purchase ready-made yarn guides
from both Provocraft (makers of the Knitty
Knifty) and also through Decor Accents (makers
of the AJAL looms).
- You can cut a straw to 4 inches and use
that as a yarn guide. There are some drawbacks
to using a straw, however. The straw will only
work with double-knit yarn weight or lighter
and it's easy to bend a straw if you hold it
too tightly. But if you do bend it, you can
also cut another one
- Check out your local hardware and craft store for tubes. You can buy plastic tubes in various sizes for the different yarn weights.
It's important to use a knitting tool that fits your hand properly. This will help cut down on fatigue, cramping and possible complications such as carpal tunnel.
- Ergonomic knitting tools are available for
purchase through Decor Accents. If
possible, try out the knitting tool before
purchasing it. Make sure to knit at least a
swatch (20 stitches by 40 rows) with the
tool to see how it fits in your hand while
using it. What is perfect for one person may
not fit another person very well.
- You can make an ergonomic knitting tool
with one of the Knifty Knitter's tools and some
Fimo or Sculpy. Take the plastic covering off
of the knitting tool (it will slide off) and
then wrap a the Fimo or Sculpy around the
knitting tool to create a handle. You may even
wish to grip it to form a hand molding that
matches your own. You can make the handle as
wide or as narrow as you'd like. Have fun with
it and mix two colors together to create a
marbling effect. Once you have the handle
created the way you'd like, follow the
directions on the package to bake and set it.
Don't forget to let it cool before you use it!
- Buy a comfort foam handle adaptor to put on
the tool. Organizations such as the Arthritis
Foundation may be able to help you find a place
to purchase one in your area. Some craft and
hardware stores sell them as well. Don't forget
to check eBay and other locations on the
Internet for them as well.