Introducing the His & Her Sock Looms by KB - Review and Free Dog's Ear Potholder Pattern

The His & Her Sock Looms by KB

The Review

Just when you think that KB cannot top themselves, they surprise us all.  Here is a set of 2 oval sock looms that are fine gauge at 5/16" center to center peg spacing.  The larger purple loom is designed to fit a foot with a circumference of 9 - 10 inches.  The smaller orange loom is designed to fit a foot with a circumference of 7 - 8 inches.

While these are labeled sock looms, these looms are perfect for knitting ANYTHING YOU WANT.  Yes.  That is right.  Do not let the number of pegs keep you from creating anything in any size you want.  Just as long as you are willing to seam pieces together.  

Want to make a blanket?  Just make panels and seam them together.  Sweaters?  Just seam the pieces together.  The mattress stitch is a wonderful seaming technique that leave the right side seamless therefore making it the perfect choice for these types of projects.

These are also great looms to make fingerless gloves on with DK weight yarn.  Not to mention an endless supply of socks...

Gauge and Construction

I love these looms as much as the new circle looms by KB.  They are made with the same quality plastic on the base and the pegs.

The pegs are smaller in diameter due to the fine gauge but remain approximately the same height as the pegs on the other looms.

Since the pegs are narrower, this does leave the groove in the pegs narrower as well.  A sharp point pick is recommended by me to use on these looms.  Other picks will work, but it just makes it easier with a sharper loom pick.  The Ergonomic Loom Tool from KB has a nice sharp point that would be perfect.

Now for the specifics all in one place.

This is a set of 2 looms.

These looms are oval, not circle.

Gauge is 5/16" center to center peg spacing classifying them as fine gauge looms.  They are fine indeed!  These looms are perfect for DK/3 weight yarn.

The ORANGE loom has 56 pegs and has a major axis of 7 5/8" peg to peg diameter and a minor axis of 2 7/8" diameter.  Outside of base measurements are 8 1/8" x 3 1/4".

The PURPLE loom has 64 pegs and has a major axis of 8 3/4" peg to peg diameter and a minor axis of 3 1/4" diameter.  Outside of base measurements are 9 1/4" x 3 3/4".

The ORANGE loom is designed to fit feet with a circumference of 7 - 8" using DK weight yarn.

The PURPLE loom is designed to fit feet with a circumference of 9 - 10" using DK weight yarn.

Why Do I Need This Loom?

If you already own the original adjustable Sock Loom by KB that has the metal pegs, you may be wondering why you would "need" these looms.  Well just let me say this...  You cannot own too many looms...

Also these are easier to work with for some people since they are ovals instead of the rectangle shape.

But no matter why you want them, the reason is yours alone, I can only tell you that I like these looms and would recommend them to anyone looking for a fine gauge loom.

Free Pattern

The Dog's Ear Potholder 

While there are tons of potholder patterns for crochet, there are not quite so many in knitting.  Loom knitting has hardly any at all.  I have been thinking on my favorite crochet potholder that goes by a lot of various names for quite some time.  More specifically, how I can knit it on the loom.  And here it is!  This is the simplest version.  While there are several different ways to seam these potholders in my head, this is the easiest way to get it done.

I call this pattern the Dog's Ear Potholder due to the folds in it that create the finished design.  This potholder is made on the largest purple sock loom using 4/medium weight cotton yarn.  While this weight yarn is thicker than recommended, it will make a nice, tight stitch so that the potholder is extra thick when folded over.

I realize the finished potholder is on the small size.  Or at least for me it is.  Right now though this is the largest we can make on this gauge with a KB loom.  If using a different gauge loom, the swatch gauge will change leaving you to do the math in order to make the size right.  Also the stitches will not be quite as tight depending on what weight yarn you use.

PLEASE NOTE!!  Acrylic yarn is NOT recommended for use with this pattern.  Acrylic will not hold up the heat and will melt.  100% cotton yarn is the best for this project.


Loom:  His & Her Sock Looms - 64 peg loom
Yarn:  50 yds of medium 4 weight 100 % cotton yarn.  Lily Sugar 'n Cream in color Sunkissed used in the sample.
Tools:  Loom pick, tapestry needle, stitch marker to mark beginning peg
Gauge:  10 sts x 16 rows = 2"
Size:  4 1/2" sqaure

Abbreviations

K - knit
P - purl
Ch - chain (see special stitch)
CO - cast on
BO - bind off
Rnd(s) - round(s)

Special Stitch

Chain (Ch) - E-wrap knit the same peg the number of times indicated creating a chain.

Pattern Notes

Keep tension loose.  Using the true knit stitch will help keep the stitches looser than the other knit stitches will.

The chain cast on was used in the sample so that it matched the basic bind off .  Any cast on may be used.

The ends were seamed with a zig zag stitch catching the outside loop of the chain edges in the sample.  Any method of seaming may be used.

Instructions

Leaving an 10" tail for seaming, CO 64 pegs and prepare to work in the round.

K16  Place stitch marker on next peg to mark the beginning of each round.  This will leave the CO tail in the proper place to use for seaming the CO edge.

*K all for 5 rounds
P all for 1 round
Repeat from * twice (3 times total)
K all for 10 rounds
BO using the basic BO method leaving the last stitch on a peg
Ch20
Cut the working yarn leaving a 10" tail for seaming.
Secure by drawing the tail through the last loop.

Finished chain before seaming.







Using a tapestry needle, first secure the end of the chain loop to the first bind off stitch as shown below.

Join chain in first bind off stitch.

Secure chain loop by sewing back through the base of the chain.

Then back through the first bind off stitch again and pull tight.













Seam the top bind off edges together in whatever manner preferred.

After seaming bind off edge.








Fold the potholder so that the top seam is now flat and on the diagonal of the square as shown below.

Turn the potholder over and seam the other side

Ready to seam cast on edges together.

Cast on tail is in proper position to seam from corner to corner.

Ready to use!

*Pattern designed and written by Renita Harvey.  The written pattern may not be reproduced or reprinted in any manner or media without the express permission by the designer.

*Items made from the pattern may be sold by individuals.

*Review of KB looms by Renita Harvey is an unbiased and honest review.  Review may not be reproduced or reprinted in any manner with the express permission of the author.

Introducing The Premium Round Loom Set by KB - Review and Free "I Need A Hat Now" Hat Pattern

The Premium Round Loom Set by KB

(click here to order)

The Review

Finally!  KB has finally came out with high quality plastic round looms!  Woo hoo!!!  While I absolutely love and adore the All-n-One loom, many people only like working on round looms.  I am proud to say that we finally have a great set made by a company that strives for perfection in quality and service.

Gauge and Construction

Most round looms are large gauge.  Some are cheap plastic and break easily.  These Premium Round Looms by KB are neither of these.

These are small gauge looms with 3/8" center to center peg spacing.  This is the same gauge as the All-n-One loom, the Sock Loom 2, and the Adjustable Hat Loom set up for small gauge, all by KB.  Yarn weights that work best on these looms are medium/worsted/4 weight and sport/dk/3 weight.

These looms are made with high quality plastic.  The base is solid, and the pegs are secure.  The entire loom is sturdy.  Has just enough weight to them to not feel too light in the hands.  Nor are they too heavy.  I really like the way they feel when I knit on them.  They just feel comfortable in my hands.  They are dream to work on.

The pegs are just the right height.  They are also very smooth with no rough spots for the yarn to snag on.

Let's get to the specifics now.

This set is a set of 3 looms.  

Small gauge:  3/8"

                                            

The PURPLE loom is  7,5" (peg to peg) diameter / 8" (outside of base) diameter with 64 pegs.

The WHITE loom is  8.5" diameter / 9" diameter with 72 pegs.

The ORANGE loom is  9.5" diameter / 10" diameter with 80 pegs.

Why Should I Buy if I Already Have the Other Looms Mentioned

I realize that some people will wonder why they would need these looms if they already have the All-n-One Loom and/or the Adjustable Hat Loom.  While I do understand why some would even question the "need" for these, I must say that one can never have enough looms especially when they are such great products.  And they are round.  Not oval.  Not rectangular or square.

Now for the free pattern made specifically for these looms but can be made on any small gauge loom with these peg counts.

Free Pattern

The "I Need A Hat Now" Hat

This is a great hat pattern to use when wanting a more basic and easy hat but also wanting to use more than 1 color.  It is quick and very easy to knit for those last minute gifts.

Loom:  Premium Circle Looms by KB  (see Sizes for which loom to use)

Yarn: 130 yds worsted weight yarn in 2 colors for pattern as written on the 74 peg loom, less for 64 peg loom, more for the 80 peg loom.  

Color A - 32 yds Mighty Stitch by KnitPicks in Black used in sample

Color B - 98 yds Millefiori by Berroco in color #7859 used in sample

Tools:  loom pick, tapestry needle

Gauge:  8 sts x 14 rows = 2"

Sizes:  Baby/Child - 64 peg purple loom, Snug Medium Adult/Teen - 72 peg white loom, Slouchy Large Adult - 80 peg orange loom

Abbreviations

K - knit

P - purl

K2tog - knit 2 together

CA - color A (black)

CB - color B (multi)

CO - cast on

BO - bind off

Pattern Notes

This pattern can be made on any of the 3 size looms in the Premium Round Loom set.  Pattern sample was made on the 72 peg loom for a snug fit.  Sizing for the other 2 looms are as follows:

64 Peg loom will make a baby/child size hat so the number of rows will need to be decreased as indicated in the instructions unless a slouchy effect is desired.  

80 Peg loom will make a larger adult hat.  If a slouchy hat is desired, add more repeats as indicated in the instructions.

Knit stitch used in the sample is the true knit stitch.  E-wrap may be used but will make a larger hat.

Pattern can also be made in 1 color by continuing with Color A and ignoring the color change instructions.

When changing colors, do not cut.  Move the yarn out of the way when not using and then carry it up to start again.

Instructions

CO on all pegs and prepare to work in the round.

Brim

With CA, *K2, P2, rep from around for 10 rounds 

Body

*With CB, K all for 15 rounds (10 rounds only if using the 64 peg loom)

With CA, K all for 1 round 

Continuing with CA, P all for 1 round 

Repeat from * 2 more times (add 1 or 2 more repeats if making a slouchy hat on the 80 peg loom depending on amount of slouch desired)

With CB, K all for 5 rounds

Next round - K2tog around

BO with gathered method.

Weave in ends.

*Pattern designed and written by Renita Harvey.  The written pattern may not be reproduced or reprinted in any manner or media without the express permission by the designer.

*Items made from the pattern may be sold by individuals.

*Review of KB looms by Renita Harvey is an unbiased and honest review.  Review may not be reproduced or reprinted in any manner with the express permission of the author.