Review: Oval Loom Knit Collection

When I think of loom knitting, I usually think of hats and tube scarves, because to me that’s what looms are for. You’re supposed to use all the pegs all the time, right?

The truth is you can use just a few of the pegs, or all of them, work back and forth in rows or in the round, even knit and purl to make different textures on the surface of your knitting project, all with the same tool.

Oval Loom Knit Collection by Kathy Norris shows some of the great variety of projects that can be done with a loom, including a baby blanket, bib and booties, a cowl, armwarmers, a hat, a pillow and a throw.

Most of the projects are pretty easy for people who are new to loom knitting, but the few bigger or more challenging projects make this book a nice choice for people with a few simple projects under their belts as well. Instructions for the basic stitches are included in the back of the book.

Loom knitting is a great way to make a knit fabric that’s easier for some people than knitting with needles, and even if you can knit with needles it’s still fun sometimes to explore other options.

Have you ever used an oval loom? I’d love to know what you made.

About the book: 32 pages, paperback, 8 patterns (3 beginner, 1 easy, 2 easy+, 2 intermediate). Published November 2016 by Leisure Arts. Retail price $11.99.

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

Have you read?