The Beginning

 When did you start looming?  I started looming long before there were any looms that I knew of in stores.  There was no Wal-Mart to run to back then.  Makes me seem old.  I grew up in a small town.  More of a community than a town.  Town was ten miles away, and it was a small town.  We had a five and dime store, grocery store Mongomery Wards, a clothing store, drug store and a dollar store.  There wasn't a lot.  I got to go "to town" with my mother, grandmother, sisters and brother and my handicapped aunt.  She stayed in the car with me or my sister.  If we stayed in the car with her we got a treat from our grandmother.  I didn't mind sitting with her.  It gave my time to think and daydream.
  I have always been a bit of a dreamer.  I just didn't know then that you can turn dreams into reality.
  My first taste of loom knitting was when my dad drove nails into a board so I could weave.  There was so internet to get directions so it was trial and error.  That was the fun part of it.
  What I want do is help others to learn and enjoy loom knitting.  There is no wrong way to do it.  What was first taught with the first plastic looms seems almost out of date.  You can make knit and purl stitches, lace and short rows.  The possibilities are endless.
  Ok what is on the loom now it square two of my afghan.  I will have the pattern posted on the 15 of next month.
  Remember, if you can't enjoy what you are doing then it is time to try something else.

Starting Square Two

I am in the test faze of square two.

First Square

Cast on 34

1) Purl
2) Knit
3) Purl
4) Knit

That is the border.  The first 3 and last 3 stitches will be the edge stitches.

Pattern Repeat
1) p3, ( K4, P4,) repeat to the last 3 sts. P3

2) K3, ( K4, P4,) repeat to last 3 sts. K3

3) repeat row 1

4) repeat row 2

5) Knit across

6) Purl across

7) P3,( P4, K4 ) repeat to last 3 P3

8) K3, (K4, P4,) repeat to last 3 K3

9) Repeat row 7

10) Repeat row 8

11) Knit across

12) Purl across

Repeat rows 1-12 4 times

Repeat row 1-4 once

Knit across

Purl across

Knit across

Purl across and bind off. Now you have the first square.  Set it aside and get ready for square 2.

You can use any loom you want and any yarn in the gauge for that loom.  I used the Martha Stewart loom in the smaller gauge.  The yarn was given to me without the bands.  My final project I am going to use Lion Brand Wool Ease.  I am a big Lion Brand fan.

One Down

 I finished the first square of my afghan.  I needle knit and loom knit one.  It will work for either.  The loom square will be written different from the needle square.  When you loom knit you only knit on the public side, the side you see.  I know it can be confusing about garter stitch for some.  I will make it as easy as I can so whoever wants to knit along they can.
  The pattern will be posted on the 15. I will try to post another square every month until We have enough to sew together for an afghan.  I will give tips on how to finish the project.
  Each square won't take very long to complete.

Waiting For A Cool Down

 I can't wait till we have cooler weather.  It hasn't been as hot here this summer, but cool weather is always welcome.  I have not been loom knitting much this summer.  Partly because of the heat and partly because I have been a little busy. 
  It is hard to say no to my grandson.  He is all boy.  If it has wheels he likes it, tractors, trucks and cars. 
  I will be working on a sampler afghan.  It will be made up of squares that can be loom knit in your choice of yarn on your choice of loom..The gauge of the loom will determine the size of your squares.  If you want a larger afghan you will have to make multiple squares. 
  I will leave colors and yarn type up to you. 
These pattern will also work on knitting needles.  I will make notes in the patterns. 
  The first square will be posted around the 15th of this month. I will see how many I can get in by the end of the month. I will shoot for two in a month.