Remember these handy-dandy little looms? When I was about 8, I got one of these and spent countless hours making potholders on it. In fact, I think every relative got a potholder for Christmas that year!!! I found this loom several years ago at an antique mall and just had to have it. Sad to say, those loopy, stretchy things you weave with are still as awful as they were 56 years ago!!! But the enjoyment of weaving was as fine as ever. In fact, this craft may have been the one that lit the fire....
Well, I kept seeing these little loomy things at the craft stores and they were tugging at my heart big time. Didn't really know what the heck they were used for, but that 50% off coupon at JoAnn's was "burning a hole in my pocket", as Mom used to say. I knew they had something to do with knitting and since I have a humongous yarn stash, I bought one. Got it home and tried to figure out how to use it from the enclosed directions. Let's just say, that wasn't going to happen! Thank goodness for the internet. I found all kinds of help there! Since I make charity hats--both knit and crochet--and am remarkably slow at knitting and crocheting, I think this will be a faster way to go. Great mindless handwork for TV time.
This is the underside of the knitting. Apparently these little knitting looms date back at least as far as the 1700s when they were known as "Knitting Jennies". The womenfolk would card and spin the wool and the menfolk would knit lightweight blankets and sheets. From the info I have been able to gather, you can make almost anything you can knit on regular needles!!! I'll probably stick to hats for the time being.
However, for my first project I am doing this cute little neckroll pillow from a free project sheet. I think it will be cute.
Went to the post office this morning to mail off my personal property and real estate taxes (ugh, why do they have to come so close to Christmas???) and found these great knitty-looking Christmas stamps. Are they not cute as the dickens????
GO TIGERS!!!!!
17 comments:
Oh look - you've been having fun! I think the neckroll is a great idea and should prove to be a real hit.
Thanks for the tip on the stamps. Those are great!
I remember those looms. How fun! I think I made all my relatives potholders one year too.
The loom is so much fun! I've made tons of hats to donate with mine, and I just love to sit and watch tv while 'knitting'!
I guess everyone I knew had one of those looms way back when. They have plastic ones in school supply catalogs still. Your knitting jenny looks interesting. Someone told me she uses one for socks.
Oh my gosh! We have a loom just like that! I had one as a girl and then I bought one for my girls when they were younger. They always made grandma's and me pot holders for xmas, birthdays and mother's day!
I had a loom like that. I think all of the girls in Brownies & Girl Scouts had them. I have one somewhere but I don't think I have the hook thingy. They do make great potholders.
Ah, I fondly remember those looms too, and I'm embarassed to say, my mom STILL has some of the potholders I made with them, they just don't seem to wear out... :)
Mom often uses those circular knitters to make hats for the local cancer clinic, every few months she takes a huge bag of them all colors, some with pompoms on top and some without.
Wow - I made a gazillion of them too! I think the loops used to be of better quality! Did something happen to you that you are going back to that difficult loom thing??? LOL
How did I miss out on the loom?
Hi Vera,
Yes, I had a loom just like that and mine was red too. Fond memories.
I like your new one from JoAnn's. I need to go there tomorrow for felt and I think I'll buy one. I need projects for TV/DVD watching. I'd love to make something to donate and I have scads of yarn.
Thanks for the good idea.
Hugs,
Joni
OMG, Vera, you have so much fun, don't you? The potholder loom dates us, I'm afraid. I had one too. Thanks for the glimpse back! Now I have to go to the Post Office.
I've always wanted to be able to knit but my little mind could not figure out the needles. I've been eyeing those knitting looms also. I believe I will pick one up tomorrow. If I needs links I may give you a yell.
I had one of the potholder looms as a kid and my daughters now have the round ones. They wanted it for Christmas that year and I think everyone in the house had a new hat by the time New Year's was over!
Have fun!
Yeah for hand-loomed hot pads!! I fished out my loom and have no loops...so have to go get some!! My son and I had fun making these when he was little. Thanks for the reminder!!
julieQ
Oh I think I made a million of those pot holders...you may be right...that may well have been the beginning.
Love those stamps.
Looks like so much fun! The hats will be just great. I remember those little looms. We got one for Christmas from some relative one year, but when we used up all the stretchy stuff that came with it our weaving days were over. My mom said the replacements were just way to expensive. That was OK - by then I was knitting pot holders for people.
I never had one of my own, but loved going to my grandmother's and using hers!!! I also made potholders for the whole family!
Just recently I found one still in the box unopened at a yard sale for only $0.15!! I quickly snatched it up. I have wrapped it up for Christmas for my neice who is 9 but having second thoughts about actually giving it away. My daughter is only 3 but one day that woudl be something I could teach her and share my memories with her.... where as who knows if my neice would ever use it or not. She is in another state so it wouldn't be something i could do with her. ......~Bonnie
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