Loom Knitting Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting on a Loom, with over 30 Fun Projects (Paperback)

by Isela Phelps (Author) "The knitting loom family can be divided it into three subdivisions: the circular looms also known as knitting looms, double-sided rake looms, and single-sided rakes..." (more)
Key Phrases: repeat rows, moss stitch, rep rows, Tools Knitting, Knitting Loom Large, Yellow Knifty Knitter (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Knitting looms are flying off the shelves in craft stores because loom- knitting is such an easy craft to take up—it can be learned by both children and adults alike in just a few hours. If you have fond memories of spool knitting (a round wooden spool with a central hole surrounded by four small nails) when you were a child then you know how easy it was to create yards and yards of knitted tubes. Today‘s loom are just as easy and fun to use!
 
Widely available in craft stores, looms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some are circular, others rectangular, some tiny and some large. The size of the loom dictates the size of the knitted piece although you can easily join smaller panels together to make larger items.
 
This book is designed as a hands on project resource as well as an essential reference for the growing band of loom knitters.  Clear step by step illustrations throughout show how to cast-on, bind-off and knit a wide range of stitches on both round looms and knitting boards.  Practice projects are provided for each technique, and there are more then 30 attractive patterns to get the crafter started.
-         the first book to provide patterns for an increasingly popular tool
-         comprehensive techniques and information provide the essential back-up manual to supplement the minimal instructions that come with the looms
-         over 30 quick and easy patterns for sweaters and accessories
-         written by an expert in the field
 

An Alternate Selection of the Crafter’s Choice Book Club

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312366612
• ISBN-13: 978-0312366612
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,814 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have book for Loom Knitters!!, March 22, 2007

By	MarjR (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This book has everything. It educates the reader on the various looms available and what you can make with them, discusses the different kinds of yarn you can use, and introduces knitting terms and equipment needed for loom knitting.
For the beginning loomer it assumes no previous knowledge, and explains step-by-step how to use your loom, from casting on to binding off and everything in-between, with clear illustrations throughout.
For the more advanced loomer, how to do stitches other than the e-stitch are explained, and then used in projects from simple to advanced.
If you can only buy one book on loom knitting, make it this one!!

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much needed resource, but could be better, August 1, 2007

By	Jennifer L. Berger "malleron" (Fort Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like most of the other reviewers, I was super glad when this book came out. I'm a complete knitting moron and I was really struggling with the loom I'd gotten last Thanksgiving. Isela has been a great teacher for me through her web site articles and so I was excited that perhaps this book would collect stuff idiot n00bs like me should know, all in one place.

Well, there is a lot of good info in the book. But for me, it was a bit hard to use. Some of the topics are not grouped logically so I found it hard to understand why they appeared where they did. For example, in the Round Loom Knitting chapter, the book talks about making a slipknot, casting on, some basic stitches, and finishing. Ok so far. Then the book goes into left field for a moment with explaining gauge, and then makes a U-turn back to other cast-ons, knit/purl combos, and binding off after sticking in a couple of practice patterns.

Now, before anyone crucifies me for nit-picking, I should say I write technical books for a living. I know topic organization (as well as editing) and unfortunately, this book needs some...badly. The book isn't doing me any favors when it tries to make me practice the "simple hat" pattern after it inexplicably talks about gauge and before it talks about "more cast ons." Such mixing of conceptual and procedural material is at once confusing and rather off-putting, especially for anyone like me who's never knitted before. It makes me think that either knitters are a scatter-brained lot who can actually follow these meanderings (which I know is not true) or that I'm just stupid for not getting it (which I also know is not true).

That said, once I got past the crappy sequence of info, I started having fun learning the basic stitches and making something. I particularly like the diagrams -- they do a very good job of depicting what's happening when, especially with increases and decreases. There's a lot of new terminology in knitting and the book explains it all.

I think the key to really getting the most out of this book is to use it as a reference. If you're looking only for patterns, buy a different book. The patterns in this book are for practicing, not for actually showing off your mad knitting skillz. Personally, I have no call to knit my own hats and socks, but I probably will knit some so I can practice the stitches and techniques. However, I will refer to this book many times as I get more comfortable with knitting.

If the book was organized more logically, I probably would give it another star. Still, there is a ton of good info here and, organization aside, I'm a lot less frustrated because of this book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starter book makes you wanting more SOON!!, March 28, 2007

By	fiberrachel (holland) - See all my reviews

This book is a primer, as the title says, and it is worth every cent. It covers all the basics, including a lot of basics other books don't even touch on. As an experienced knitter is still has things to offer me and her style of writing makes you want to order part two immediately. Hope we can see more patterns and advice from this author, it is helping us all get more than hats out of our knitting looms.