pegboards and lace

My hubby surprised me in August with this new pegboard he had made for me. Our friend Jim did a fantastic job. It was waiting for me when I arrived home from a family visit back east. We finally got around to hanging it up today, and I placed all my looms on it. The only loom that is not on it is my Penny dishcloth rake. Looks like I have a lot more room to fill it with more! It measures 5 1/2' x 4 1/2'. It's exciting to see my ideas for a loom room coming to pass. All I need is a looming table and some shelves for all my yarn that's everywhere at the moment.
When we moved our daughter to L.A. in July, I got to spend some time with my sister-in-law. She showed me old chests full of beautiful crocheted table cloths and doilies that were crocheted by her mother and grandmother. She said their hands moved incredibly fast when they crocheted. When she saw how much I loved the crocheted items, she gave me this beautiful purple doily. I found the perfect place for it, adorning my mother-in-law's photo from when she 17 years old. How appropriate that this gorgeous doily should be with its creator. My sister-in-law also sent me a wonderful birthday present. All this yummy Alpaca wool. It is incredibly soft. My daughter bought me the fine orange and purple Alpaca yarn. I just have to find projects for it all. Shouldn't be a problem!
This is the store the Alpaca yarn is from. I got to visit it when we were in Los Angeles. Boy, am I ever tempted to fill my empty corral with some yearling Alpacas!

looming update

Well, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. Life just gets busy, and unfortunately I don't have much time for looming these days and keeping up with this blog. I wish I didn't have to go to work so I could spend as much time as I can to loom, I love it that much. One of my friends liked the pawprint and 3 crosses dishcloths and asked if I was selling them. I'm not selling them, but I enjoyed making these two dishcloths for her on my new DA extra small gauge WonderLoom. I usually use the crochet cast off for the dishcloths, but this time I wanted to try the basic removal method I found on Isela's How To Video Link. I really like the neat edge you get with this method.

Pawprint Dishcloth

3 Crosses Dishcloth

I'm still working on this prayer shawl on my 5/8" regular gauge adjustable Markman Farm Loom. I'm using 60 pegs. Hopefully, I'll finish it before the holidays. It takes 3 skeins of yarn and I just started my 2nd skein. I'm using Homespun Prairie.

extra small gauge wonderloom

Click on photo for larger view.

I received my Decor Accents ESG WonderLoom today. It's beaufiful, and I love the design of this loom. The gauge measures 3/8". I just love this size gauge and can't wait to make some goodies with my new WonderLoom.

what kind of yarn are you?

I took this quiz I found on Lisa's blog.
It turns out I'm Cashmere. Try it and
see what kind of yarn you may be.

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Cashmere.You are sophisticated and luxe. You can often be found in high-end boutiques and hobnobbing with the upper crust. You are one of the beautiful people and you don't let anyone forget it!
Take this quiz!




Quizilla |Join
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

empty nest

Alex in her new L.A. cottage/apartment

My hubby and I are now officially empty nesters. On July 22, we packed up a U-haul trailer full of our daughter's belongings and headed off for Los Angeles. We set everything up for her in record-breaking heat. I thought we were all going to melt! We just arrived back home a few days ago, and I'm having my moments of sadness. It's hitting me now that I'm here and not hearing her voice or seeing her everyday. Alex will be attending the L.A. Film School in Hollywood. It's an intensive year-long program.

Here I am, the mom with Alex and her boyfriend, Chad.

Mother and Daughter

seed stitch border dishcloth

Seed Stitch Border Dishcloth

Materials Needed: Fine or small gauge round loom or rake, loom knitting tool, 100% cotton yarn, crochet hook, yarn needle.

Cast on 35 sts or odd number of sts.

Row 1: *k1, p1, k1* repeat from * until end of row.
Row 2: *p1, k1, p1* repeat from * until end of row.
Row 3: *k1, p1, k1* repeat from * until end of row.

Row 4: p1, k1, p1, k to last 3 sts, p1, k1, p1.
Row 5: k1, p1, k1, k to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 until desired length.

Then finish with 3 rows of seed stitch:

*p1, k1, p1* repeat from* until end of row.
*k1, p1, k1* repeat from * until end of row.
*p1, k1, p1* repeat from * until end of row.

Bind off using crochet method. Weave in ends.

I'll send this dishcloth to my daughter. Most of the dishcloths I made I've given to her for her new apartment. We just moved her to Los Angeles, and arrived back home last night. It's weird having an empty nest.

Looming Through the Psalms:
"Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!" Psalm 14:7

the unveiling

Our never-ending yard project is complete at least for now!
This is how our yard looked at the beginning. A complete transformation has taken place. The last project remaining was the deck. Remember the ugly red paint and the damaged wood?
Well, this is how it turned out after the Deck Doctor arrived! It's like I had a new deck installed. The redwood is absolutely gorgeous!

The Deck Doctor comes to the rescue!

Here is a photo of the whole crew at work. Several sanders were used at the same time. This is what the redwood looks like from years of weathering. It's amazing to see the transformation and the beauty of the wood after it is sanded. This was the first time I had actually seen the reds and blondes of the wood since we bought our home. The deck had never been kept up with by the original owners, so the wood was always grey.Here's another view of the deck and completed landscaping.

My rock garden.

The plants have lost their flowers since I planted them, but they will be in bloom next spring and summer. I planted Flox, Irish Moss, Lemon Thyme, and Ice plants. Eventually the plants will spread and grow in between the rocks.
My husband built these flagstone steps for me. I think they turned out pretty cool.
A great place to loom! My works in progress include a dishcloth and prayer shawl.

long-tail cast on

Let's try doing the long-tail cast on together.

1. Wrap your yarn two times around your loom. This will give you the "tail."

2. Make a slip knot at the top of the tail.

3. Place the slip knot on your starting peg.
4. Now take the yarn (working) coming from the skein.

5. E-wrap the peg to the right with the working yarn. Lay the long "tail" above the wrap and pull the wrap over the long tail (knit off).


6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you reach the last peg. You are now ready to begin knitting your first row using your working yarn.

new Markman 18" RG adjustable rake

Yesterday I received my 18" RG (5/8") adjustable rake from Markman Farm. I planned on using this rake to make prayer shawls. I wanted a loom that would be versatile and not specifically designed just for prayer shawls. The loom has to have at least 60 pegs in order to make the shawls, so I decided on this 18" RG adjustable rake.

The product list stated 52 pegs for this adjustable rake, and with the additional 4-peg end pieces, I would have my 60 pegs. Wrong! I didn't calculate that once you removed the 2-peg end pieces and placed the 4-peg end pieces on, you would only have 56 pegs, not 60. What to do?

Well, my lightbulb moment came at 2:00 a.m. last night. What if I combined both end pieces giving me an additional 12 pegs. I took the longest hex bolt and put it through both pieces. It would work. Only thing is the end of the hex bolt didn't come through to the other side. I needed a longer hex bolt.

Do they make them longer? Sure they do, and they have them at Home Depot! I bought two 5 1/2 " hex bolts and some extra wing nuts. They worked! They're the perfect length, and I have my 60 pegs. Now I can keep my "baby", and we'll have very happy looming days together.

The End

2 more dishcloths

I seem to have caught some kind of dishcloth fever. This one is the Three Crosses Cloth originally created by Rhonda K. White ©copyright 3/20/05 and converted by Linda Perata ©copyright 7/06. I loomed this cloth on Lynn Markman's FG 3/8" adustable double rake using 100% cotton yarn and the new knit stitch. If you would like the converted pattern for this dishcloth, just leave a comment and I will email it to you.This cloth is called the Ripple Dishcloth found at Loomin Cat's Haven. I love the ripple pattern in this particular cloth. I loomed this also on Lynn Markman's FG adjustable double rake. The pattern looks lovely in a variegated yarn. I used Peaches & Creme 100% cotton yarn in "gumdrop."

What's unique about an adjustable double rake is that you can loom two dishcloths or projects at once. If you get bored with one, you can always start on the other.
I love this rake. The wood is gorgeous and I like using the open-top pegs.

Looming Through the Psalms
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." Psalm 13:5,6

pawprint dishcloth

Knitted Paw Print Cloth
©3/05 by Rhonda K. White

Used by permission from Ronda K. White
Pattern converted to the loom Copyright © 6/06 by Linda Perata

This pattern was done on the loom using Isela's knit stitch and purl.

Materials used: 100% cotton yarn, ¼” fine gauge dishcloth rake, crochet hook for binding off, and yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Cast on 36 stitches

1: Purl
2: Knit
3: Purl
4: Knit
5: p3, k30, p3
6: knit across
7: p3, k30, p3
8: knit across
9: p3, k13, p4, k13, p3
10: knit across
11: p3, k11, p8, k11, p3
12: knit across
13: p3, k9, p12, k9, p3
14: knit across
15: p3, k9, p12, k9, p3
16: knit across
17, 19, 21 & 23: p3, k8, p14, k8, p3
18, 20, 22, 24: knit across
25: p3, k9, p12, k9, p3
26: knit across
27: p3, k10, p10, k10, p3
28: knit across
29: p3, k5, p3, k3, p8, k3, p3, k5, p3
30: knit across
31: p3, k4, p5, k3, p6, k3, p5, k4, p3
32: knit across
33: p3, k3, p6, k4, p4, k4, p6, k3, p3
34: knit across
35: p3, k3, p5, k14, p5, k3, p3
36: knit across
37: p3, k3, p4, k3, p3, k4, p3, k3, p4, k3, p3
38: knit across
39: p3, k4, p2, k3, p5, k2, p5, k3, p2, k4, p3
40: knit across
41 & 43: p3, k9, p5, k2, p5, k9, p3
42 & 44: knit across
45: p3, k9, p4, k4, p4, k9, p3
46: knit across
47: p3, k10, p2, k6, p2, k10, p3
48: knit across
49: p3, k30, p3
50: knit across
51: p3, k30, p3
52: knit across
53: p3, k30, p3
54: knit across
55: purl across
56: knit across
57: purl across
Bind off loosely with crochet method using one chain stitch in between.

Looming Through the Psalms
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." Psalm 12:5,6

heart dishcloth

Click on photo to enlarge

What better way to say, "I love you," than to give a special person in your life a heart dishcloth. Penny of aloomyplace.com converted this pattern. Her website is no longer available, so I will post the pattern in this post. I did this one on Penny's 1/4" fine gauge rake using 100% cotton Sugar 'n Creme. Part way into looming this dishcloth, you can see where I switched to Isela's new knit stitch. I like this stitch much better than the flat "U" stitch. The new knit stitch looks more uniform like needle knitting. Isela's mini-movie of the stitch can be found here.

Looming dishcloths seems to be the craze lately, and I'm hooked as well. I just love watching the pattern appear as I'm looming. Cathy of Loomin Cat's Haven has been converting many needle-knit dishcloths over to the loom. Her husband also makes a dishcloth rake with a gauge that you can loom the perfect dishcloth on.

I converted the paw print pattern and it's in process right now. I'll post the pattern and photos soon. Lovely knitted dishcloths by Rhonda K. White copyright © can be converted and found at her website, KnittingKnonsense.

Thanks for visiting!

Single Heart Dish Cloth Loom Pattern

Supplies:
Worsted Weight Cotton
Loom Tool
Yarn Needle
Dish Cloth Rake

Cast on 35
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: Purl across
Row 3: Knit across
Row 4: Purl across
Row 5: Knit across
Row 6: Purl across
Row 7: Knit across
Row 8: P4, K27, P4
Row 9: Knit across
Row 10-19: Repeat Rows 8 & 9
Row 20: P4, K27, P4
Row 21: K17, P1, K17
Row 22: P4, K27, P4
Row 23: K16, P3, K16
Row 24: P4, K27, P4
Row 25: K15, P5, K15
Row 26: P4, K27, P4
Row 27: K14, P7, K14
Row 28: P4, K27, P4
Row 29: K13, P9, K13
Row 30: P4, K27, P4
Row 31: K12, P11, K12
Row 32: P4, K27, P4
Row 33: K12, P5, K1, P5, K12
Row 34: P4, K27, P4
Row 35: K13, P3, K3, P3, K13
Row 36: P4, K27, P4
Row 37: Knit across
Rows 38-47: Repeat Rows 8 & 9
Row 48: Purl across
Row 49: Knit across
Row 50: Purl across
Row 51: Knit across
Row 52: Purl across
Row 53: Knit across

Open bind off:
Cut your yarn leaving about a 20” tail. Thread a yarn needle with the tail and remove with open method.

Run the needle down through loop on peg 1, up through loop on peg 3, down through peg on loop 2, up through 4, down through 3, up through 5, down through 4…continue to end, finish and weave ends.

Looming Through the Psalms
"In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: Flee like a bird to your mountain." Psalm 11:1

one word about "me" - just one

One Word...meme

Seen over at sedulous Isela's and lovely Margene's, the One Word comment!

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word about you.

Ready, set, go!!

completed triangle shawl

Click on image for larger view

I completed the triangle shawl today. I think it turned out nicely. I used the pattern on Gail's blog. Gail used DA's prayer shawl loom in this pattern, but I don't have that particular loom, so I used the yellow KK loom. I e-wrapped single strand 1 over 1 using Red Heart Plush in Wine. I was surprised to see that the shawl knitted on the yellow KK loom turned out as large as it did.


This is what the shawl looked like before I added the 10" fringe. To make the fringe, measure a piece of cardboard the desired length of the fringe you'd like to add. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard as many times as will fit. Cut the yarn on one end of the cardboard.

Fold the fringe strands in half forming a loop and use a crochet hook to pull the loop through the edge of the garment. Pull the ends of the strand through the loop and tighten.

Looming through the Psalms
"Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless." Psalm 10:12

more yard news

Yesterday our hedges arrived. Lots of holes were dug. Have any of you seen the movie or read the book, Holes? Yep, that's what digging all those holes reminded me of! I wouldn't mind finding a treasure!

Here's my hubby using the tractor to bring the topsoil over to where we need it. I've never seen him on a tractor before.

Today, all the hedges were planted and the giant garden box filled with topsoil. It's coming together nicely. I can't wait to get my rock garden in.