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Meet Mikey, Tutorial Host for AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting

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Learn how to loom knit with Mikey

Free Workshops with Mikey

Mikey is back at Spinrite Factory Outlet on February 25th from 10am – 3pm.

This month he is concentrating on Loom Knitting. He will be showcasing looms by Crafting Essentials and Authentic Sock Knitting; this is a free workshop and there are several throughout the day.

The classes book quickly as Mikey takes only six students at one time. He finds having more than six at one time throws off the learning experience and people don’t learn as much. He prefer students to understand what they are doing by the end of the class instead of just getting a general idea.

There will be discount sales going on during this event. There is also desserts and coffee being served throughout the day. Store opens at 10 am and coming early ensures you can get coffee and dessert before they run out.

The show we are doing, “Coffee Talk”, is from noon – 1pm. This means Mikey is taking a break from teaching. He’s going to have a lunch break where anyone is invited to join; bring your lunch and sit with Mikey and gossip about creativity with him. Limited seating and space. Just show up, the store is not booking for this added experience.

Try this loom knitted scarf by Mikey called the Crystal Scarf. People are loving this quick little project and looking all fabulous with their scarves when they are done.

Whatever Happened to Serenity Looms?

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Serenity Looms sold by Hobby Lobby
Whatever happened to Serenity Looms?

Ranking extremely high on my daily views of video tutorials at about 800 views per day is Serenity Looms. Interestingly enough, a regular email and posting I get weekly, is Where can I  find one of these looms?  They are currently off the market. Even though I have posted on the videos they are not available, people are still inquiring where to find them.

Serenity Looms to me were anything but serene, in fact, I swear the ‘S’ configuration was short of “Satan”. Not surprising, the Serenity Looms couldn’t be found on shelves by spring of 2009. They had all vanished without a trace.

The only reason why I have two of them now, is that a viewer found them on the clearance shelf for nearly half price. So she bought the entire shelf out thinking she was getting a bargain. For me, I hadn’t used one yet but was fascinated by the afghan design. I’m not selling them.

I got my Serenity Loom eventually and I was so disappointed with it. My serenity loom fell from my lap and hit the floor and broke as I was starting my first project. The plastic was too flexible and snapped a peg off at the bottom. With no replacement pegs, my loom was garbage. I was pretty ticked off. I found the loom to be too flexible that I believe that if I did something big on it, the loom could potentially snap in half.

I have a rule, I don’t like to criticize current gadgets on the market. However, knowing it was off the market, I figured I can be honest about my feelings and interactions with Serenity.

I ran a second video on how I felt about the loom and its draw backs. The Truth About Serenity Looms. This video got some attention and executives involved with this loom got a hold of me. Knowing already that it went off the market, there were key issues shared in this video which could lead to the re-creation of a similar loom and address the faulty problems going on with it. I was told that it came off the market because the manufacturer’s plant had caught fire and burned to the ground. Regardless of that unfortunate circumstance, this is actually an opportunity for a re-birth to a product that was not doing the greatest.

I’m about giving the consumers choice,give them the knowledge whether it’s good or bad; allow viewers to make the choice. Though my review about Serenity is still negative, there are people who still want the looms. I think human curiosity compels us to want products though others aren’t too happy with it.

So the answer right now is that Serenity Looms are not currently available.

Horizontal Brim Stripes for Loom Knitters – Baby Hat 2

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How To Stripe the Brims with Loom Knitting

This Tutorial Shows You How To Stripe The Brims with Loom Knitting

In this tutorial we feature how to make horiztonal stripes on the brims. You can see right off the top of the video what the stripes look like. Remember, even though the pattern is geared with patriotic colours, you don’t need to make it the same colours. Use the tutorial and your own creativity to creates fun looks that you want for the newborn in your life.

PLAY FREE BABY HAT TUTORIAL NOW

Find many free patterns for loom knittng at AllFreeKnitting.com

Meet and Make: Kristen Mangus

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Today’s Meet and Make designer is Kristen Mangus.

Kristen is an interior designer, crafter, loom knitter, and the face behind GoodKnitKisses.

Let’s meet Kristen!

12 Fun Facts About Kristen Mangus:

  1. I’m random singing girl.  Try me, you’ll always be entertained.
  2. I’m transparent & long-winded. Just ask and I’ll write you book on it or leave an enormous voicemail.
  3. I am not a morning person; simply cannot get to bed before midnight most days. Most of my You Tube videos are shot & edited between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.
  4. Truly I love to help people by making YouTube videos or finding the best way for them to express their own creativity. Many who craft choose to create for people in need; but I think it is their own therapy as well.  I like to help those who help others and give back!
  5. My kids are now 1, 3, and 5 years old.  All of their birthdays are in August!
  6. I love boxing and shooting games at the arcade. I will kick your patootie! Did I mention I’m super competitive and love games?
  7. Besides crafts, loom knitting & Design, I enjoy meeting with friends, movies and swimming.
  8. I was a Music Major for a time studying Opera & Musical Theater. I secretly want to sing for Disney or be on Broadway.  Sometimes you can catch me in a small role at a local theater like you will this Christmas. My day job is an Interior Designer.
  9. Some of my favorite movies have got to be Princess Bride, Back to the Future, Sound of Music & White Christmas. Did I mention I sing them randomly?
  10. Although I love crafting and being creative I have plans to scrapbook and never do; but I keep adding to the memory box for it all the same. One of my next blogs will be digital scrapbooking and getting my mess cleaned up!
  11. I would love to write a children’s story, loom book, have a songwriter use my lyrics, or invent something super cool that much of the proceeds go to a favorite charity like my church’s many local and worldwide ministries or Autism Speaks, which I support every year.
  12. Currently I am juicing.  Sometimes I’ll blog my diet journey and some tasty recipes along the way.

Here’s Kristen’s Project: Granny Round

Granny Square Rounds

Hello friends! Are you ready to make a Granny Round?!

Granny Round by Kristen at GoodKnitKisses
For Green Round loom or Knifty Knitter 36 peg
Skill Level: Easy, Quick Knit

Uses: Stitch circles together for a funky blanket, use as a base to a cylinder bag, large coaster for large mugs or small plant or a potholder. Many uses! MAKES 1 Solid Circle 6 ½” wide in 3 strands #4 Medium Worsted

Materials:

  • 3 balls of color (any) medium worsted weight yarn OR 1 strand of Super Bulky #6 yarn.  Note: if using for potholder use cotton (great for scrap yarn!)
  • Loom knitting hook
  • Crochet hook (J or K)
  • Round 36 peg loom (I used the Knifty Knitter or KK in green for adults)

We will use the E-wrap or Twisted Knit Stitch (also called TBL through the back loop) for all stitches plus 1 row of purl. Feel free to change the stitches and make it your own. I’m keeping it basic but adding the banding for fun and non-curl.

SPECIAL NOTE: Keep your stitches loose.  When wrapping before decrease be loose with your stitches especially if using more than one strand, as it can become too tight to pick off the peg and move.

Abbreviations:
KO = Knit off
EW = E-wrap
P = Purl

CAST ON:
1. Cast on to KK with all 3 strands in the E-wrap method or crochet cast on. Place your slipknot on peg 1 and let the tail fall inside the loom. (Weave this in last to edge of circle. Cast on wraps all pegs one time all the way around the loom and then wrap around again. Knit off (KO) which is lifting the bottom 3 loops over the top 3 loops (the 3 strands together at one time over the newly wrapped 3 together or 1 over 1 if using the super bulky yarn). Your cast on row is round 1 or row 1.

MAIN CIRCLE BODY:
2. Row 2: P
3. Rows 3-5: EW

DECREASE & CAST OFF:
4. We are going to divide our loom visually into 6 sections (6 pegs in each section for a 36 peg loom). In round 1 of this section we will move the 2nd peg loop over to the 1st peg. Do not KO at this time. Move to the next section and do this again. Repeat 5 more times. Now KO. Wrap all remaining pegs again & KO. This completes hat Row 6. (You should have 30 pegs remaining).
5. Now take peg 4 over to peg 3 and wait to KO. Repeat for all sections. KO all 6 pegs. Wrap all remaining pegs & KO. This complete Row 7. (You should have 24 pegs remaining).
6. Now take peg 6 over to peg 5 and wait to KO. Repeat for all sections. KO all 6 pegs. Wrap all remaining pegs & KO. This complete Row 8. (You should have 18 pegs remaining).
7. CAST OFF with draw string method. I don’t use a tapestry needle here but you can. Leave the balls of yarn attached & wrap the loom 2 times all the way around. Cut off the strands from the balls of yarn.
8. Start to the left of the peg where the working yarn is coming out of; Leaving the yarn attached take your working yarn under the loop on the peg & with your loom tool reach under the loop & scoop out the working yarns (like a purl) continue pulling all the extra yarn through the loop. LEAVE the loop on the peg. WEAVING IN THE LOOSE YARNS TO MAKE A

DRAWSTRING.
9. Move to the next loop to the left and pull the working yarns through again and leave loop on the peg. Continue until ALL pegs have the working strands woven through, including the beginning loom the strands came out of.
10. Take all loops off of the loom & pull the drawstring. Feed the extra through the top & turn your circle upside down. Using a crochet hook loop the extra through a few spots tying off to secure. Weave the excess.
11. Weave in all loose strands from end (or any color changes made).

CONNECTING THE PIECES (OPTIONAL): Once you make several granny rounds, you can connect them to create a funky afghan.  Here’s how!

12. Single crochet to join rounds together in an accent yarn. Rounds are 6-7 1/2″ depending on materials and stitch. Change row 4 to purl for a flatter garter look; this technique works well for single circles used as coasters (see below).

Granny Round as a Coaster
©2011 GoodKnit Kisses.

For additional instruction, check out Kristen’s free video tutorial on how to make a Granny Round:

 

 

Provocraft Looms, Mikey, and Bernat Live Hands On Activity

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Mikey is back for live demonstrations and activity centre for Loomers. Featuring Provocraft Looms at Bernat’s Factory Outlet on September 16th and 17th, 2011. Starting at 9 am to about 6pm.

Loom Knitting Demonstrations and Tutorial Teaching

You can find more information about Bernat’s Factory Outlet to get directions and sign up for their newsletter.   For Loom Knitting Patterns, go to AllFreeKnitting.com. There’s lots of great patterns to feast your eyes on there.

Infinity II D.A. Looms Workshop with Mikey

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Michael Sellick, host of AllFreeCrochet and The Crochet Crowd is teaching the Infinity II Loom by D.A. Looms at Creativ Festival on October 21 – 23, 2011. This course is featuring how to use the Infinity Loom. See picture for course time, course code. To register for this course, contact The Creativ Festival Class Registration.
Loom Knitting Workshop At The Metro Convention Centre Toronto Ontario

Infinity II Loom by D.A. Looms with Michael Sellick

Hope to see you there!

World Release of A New Loom Knitting Product

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The Brand New Infinity II Loom by D.A. Looms has just been released for sale.

It’s hot off the presses. D.A. Looms (Short for Decor Accents Looms) has just released the brand new Infinity II Loom. The product has undergone a major product design. Only the pegs are moulded, everything else including the plastic support bases are hand cut with precision. 

We have seen other ‘S’ Shaped looms on the market, so what makes this one better than the rest?

High Grade Plastic. The base of the loom is a solid 1/2″ thick. It has little flexing.

  1. You can see by the picture that the base exceeds well past where the pegs are fitted into their holes for extra support.
  2. Upon showing this to consumers in person, people are blown away by the weight of this product.
  3. This not a toy and the quality speaks that loudly.
  4. The biggest difference is the ‘S’ Shape in comparison to others on the market. The ‘S’ shape is consistent and round. You will not have any difficulties accessing any pegs.
  5. A design change as moving the pegs out from where they come together at the ends. It was too close before.
  6. The pegs are Nylon. For those who use Serenity, you will know your yarn used to grab onto the plastic and be tough to manipulate. The nylon is so amazing that the yarn easily slides up and down with very little friction. This is an added bonus because it allows your knitting to not tightened up to the point where you are bending hooks or breaking pegs.
  7. The price point of these looms are excellent.

Order your D.A. Looms Infinity II Loom at http://www.Dalooms.com There are also affiliate programs for those who wish to sell these and other assorted looms D.A. Looms has. Each loom is hand crafted to perfection.  Usage of these looms will be added to The Crochet Crowd’s YouTube Video Line Up, absolutely free of course.

AllFreeKnitting.com will be giving one of these looms away in the near future. Stay tuned for further details.

🙂 Michael – Video Host of The Crochet Crowd

Ontario Fibre Week – Ancaster Ontario Canada

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Ontario Fibre Week - A Celebration of the Fibre Arts

In less than a month, The Ontario Fibre Week takes place again in Ancaster, Ontario Canada. For more details about this terrific show, check out http://ontariofibreweek.com/

This eventl has a wide range of presentations and workshops available to the public. Everything from learning how to:

  1. Be a spinner.
  2. Learn to weave
  3. Circular sock knitting machines cleaning and usage.
  4. Hand painting fibre and yarns.
  5. Farm sorting of materials so it can be prepped up for usage.
  6. Felting
  7. Hand Knitting Techniques

There will be entertainment on the show floor as well. YouTube Video Host, Michael Sellick will be on the show floor demonstrating loom knitting at a free interactive area. Be inspired by the process of loom knitting. Meet Mikey and Diva Dan Live.

Hope to see you there!

AllFreeKnitting Book Giveaway: Loom Knitting Pattern Book

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Find 38 easy, no-needle designs in this book made for loom knitters of all experience levels. This visually-stunning sequel to the popular, Loom Knitting Primer, has a variety of patterns able to please all audiences.  Live out the thrill of making your own patterns without needles! Don’t be intimidated, loom knitting is incredibly simple to master. In a matter of hours you’ll be making V-neck vests, scarves, baby clothes and even dog coats. My favorite project is A Touch of Lace Sweater on p. 72. Beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions accompany this one-of-a-kind-book. With so many great patterns to choose from, it will be hard to know where to start!

Enter to win your own copy!

Learn more and enter to win here.

Contest ends December 30, 2010.

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