Loom Knit a Baby Bunting - a prototype

A friend is having a baby. For a couple weeks, in my head I designed a baby bunting. Not sure how big to make it, I went to another friend who has a grandbaby. She actually had what I was talking about. We traced it onto a piece of newspaper. It was a 6-12 month size and it fit neatly into a folded out newspaper flyer.

As it is my prototype bunting, I took photos as I went. I used the blue loom because the green one has another project on it. Overall, it used about 1+1/4 of 6 oz skeins of "Red Heart Baby Clouds."

Start with S-wrap. I used 26 pegs x2. It turned out a little too wide. You may want to do 24 or 22 long by 2 wide.

The S-wrap will be the bottom of the "baby bag."

Knit one row. After that row, you will do the e-wrap around every peg and knit until you get the desired length. The e-wrap makes it hollow, or bag-like.

Once you reach the desired length, crochet off the front and sides. I worked it a little longer in the back.

Next, I added a second strand of yarn in the same color. I planned to work both straps at the same time and not have to remove either from the loom.

I established 2 straps of 5 loops each. I can't begin to tell you how I managed to start one strap, crochet off the center and start on the other strap. It involved passing one yarn strand over the other. It wasn't pretty, but the bulky and irregular nature of the yarn proved forgiving.

Not knowing how to make buttonholes, even though I read how to do it with the loom, I cheated and crocheted a little loop for each strap. I wanted to use big, safe buttons and they didn't fit through the weave. They say, "Necessity is the mother of invention." They're right. Whoever they are.

And here it is, my baby bunting prototype!

my #InternationalLoveCast - an introvert becomes extroverted

What is it about a cast that makes one want to grab a Magic Marker (if you live in NJ) or a Sharpie (if you live in VT) and write on it?

I'm currently sporting a hot pink waterproof cast. I chose pink because fluorescent orange would be too showy. I will pause to let you savor the humor in that.

It all started at work.
I was talking with the evening supervisor about being newly left-handed. Before I realized it, one of the nursing assistants took a marker and wrote "I LOVE U" on my cast.
Rather stunned and feeling slightly stupid, I was speechless.
But then the supervisor had a great idea. She called the other nursing assistants over and asked them to write "I love you" in their own first languages.
Thus my International Love Cast was born. First, it was abbreviated English and then Ukrainian. Next came Nepalese and French. One of my patients wrote "Ich leiben diche" for German. It was a little late to correct her spelling, but it does add charm. My niece wrote "te amo."
This is where I became temporarily extroverted.
I was out shopping and heard a family speaking a language I didn't recognize. I started with, "May I ask you a favor...?" They were intrigued and I now have Tibetan for "I hope you get well soon."
Motivation does surprising things.
Sooo, if English isn't your first language, don't be startled if a girl in a pink cast approaches you and asks you to join in the #InternationalLoveCast. It's all in fun and we might become friends, too!

As an aside, does anyone have a cure for Sandi Patty's "Love in Any Language"? I keep singing it. That, and the Miracles' "I'm Just a Love Machine."

loom knitting as therapy

On July 30, 2014, I became left handed. 

   What?

   It was a normal day until a swerving car crossed lanes and hit us head-on. I thank God that we are alive and recovering (the other driver, my occupant and I). My purpose for this blog entry, however, has very little to do with the accident.

   As of July 30, a broken right wrist has made its impact on my life. Other than playing instruments, I am desperately right handed. Or was. My first splint and cast entirely covered my thumb and most of my hand, turning me into an instant "lefty."

   Between the fracture and other injuries, there was very little I could do. I got so bored that I read more books in one week than I had the entire year before. (That doesn't include half of Les Miserables, which counts as three or four books.) How I missed writing, playing my instruments and knitting.

   Well, today is day 40. I decided it's time to at least try working on a project I had started two months ago. 

   Guess what.

   I'm knitting again!

   I discovered that loom knitting is VERY good therapy for people who have lost the use of a dominant hand. The very reasons that started me loom knitting are the very reasons why it is a wonderful adaptation and therapy device!

1. It controls the tension of the yarn.

2. It is easy.

3. You get quick results.

   To this I add that holding the hook device will strengthen the non-dominant hand in preparation for the fine coordination for tasks such as writing.

   I can't guarantee that your non-dominant handwriting won't continue to look like chicken scratch, but it might be much neater chicken scratch!

Blessings,

mrfb