Tuesday 14 June 2011

Learning to Loom Knit - Round Looms


Since learning to knit with a loom some months ago, I've been asked many times to give a run down on how to do it. So finally here it is...

POINTS TO REMEMBER
- I am not a professional. I've only been looming a few months but I do pick things up very quickly.
- Everyone has their own style. As with knitting and crochet, everyone has their own way of doing it. Don't like how you're meant to do it? Switch it up to suit yourself. If you think I'm doing something wrong, don't tell me. I don't care. I'm doing it to suit me. You can do it your own way.
- I don't know all the different stitches and I probably don't care to learn. I pretty much only want to know how to do versions of flat panels. There are a million things you can learn on looms , like hats, socks, scarves etc, but I won't be doing them.
- I do looming for yarn bombing as it's much quicker than normaly knitting and crochet. I hate how slow normal knitting is and crochet is my first love but I wanted something quicker.
- Don't just take my word for it. Check out other resources; other websites/blogs; other youtube videos.

I find that most people learn far more quickly and with less stress if they can see steps first hand, so youtube is a wonderful tool for learning. This blog will refer to youtube learning only, except for one "How To" manual. If you want written instructions then you can happily google them yourself.

This blog entry is about looming on "round" or "circle" looms.
There are also "long" or "straight" looms but we'll deal with them another time. You can still do flat panels on round looms.
 
Please be aware that different kits have different colors for their sizing. For example, the Knifty Knitter kit in America has the second smallest loom as red, whereas the kit sold in Spotlight in Australia is green. For nearly all my yarn bombing panels, I use the smallest round loom, which is generally a blue color.
A note about the youtube videos: I have picked the ones I like. You may find others that suit you better. I prefer to go with Kristen from GoodKnitKisses as I find her videos are much more clear and "learner" friendly.

INTRODUCTION
Here is the only written reference I'm giving you. It covers a lot and is good to keep referring back to.
http://isela.typepad.com/instructions/LoomKnittingBasics.pdf

PART 1 - INTRODUCING THE LOOMS - http://youtu.be/7u43wfnmb3M
PART 2 - YARNS TO USE & IDEAS ON WHAT TO MAKE - http://youtu.be/WxPRjXBbs28

There are two main ways to cast on the round loom. The e-wrap is the easiest but can leave a loose edge, and the crochet hook or chain method is a little harder but gives a more classier and tighter edge. It's up to you which one you want to use.

E-WRAP CAST ON  
FOR TUBE OR HAT - http://youtu.be/NVJBi6MS0Jo [I use a slip stitcerh on the anchor peg or on the first peg. I don't wrap the yarn around the anchor peg as I find it falls off.] 
FOR FLAT PANEL - http://youtu.be/HgNMT727w5M [I know this is on a long loom but it's the best that I can find for a flat panel. It's exactly the same process when you wrap a round loom.]

CROCHET HOOK/CHAIN METHOD CAST ON
- http://youtu.be/XBZKk9wAgbA
- http://youtu.be/Njr2h4aZ240 
WITH GARTER STITCH EDGE TO PREVENT CURLING, ON A STOCKINGETTE STITCH PANEL
http://youtu.be/w7kEzyQJBiw

The most common stitch on a loom is the twisted knit stitch and it's the one I use all the time for yarn bombing as it's the easiest. You can use either one strand or two stands of yarn, depending on the thickness of the yarn you have.

TWISTED KNIT STITCH OR SINGLE STITCH [MOST COMMON STITCH]
ONE STRAND - http://youtu.be/pIdNuGMa438
TWO STRANDS - http://youtu.be/3Uzx2SbK8oA [Don't worry about him talking about where to stop and start unless you are doing the hat pattern - it doesn't apply to a flat panel.]

KNIT STITCH [YARN ON TOP]
 
ON A STRAIGHT LOOM - http://youtu.be/pq-24nX4QRE [Again it's on a straight loom but everything is exactly the same for a round loom.]

PURL STITCH [YARN UNDERNEATH] 
ON A STRAIGHT LOOM - http://youtu.be/kr5zOVRt9eI [Again it's on a straight loom but everything is exactly the same for a round loom.]

GARTER STITCH [K1 P1] 
ON A STRAIGHT LOOM - http://youtu.be/s5JbEyr5fNk [Again it's on a straight loom but everything is exactly the same for a round loom.]

There are many different versions of cables on looms as there are with knitting and crochet. You can youtube all the different kinds.
CABLES
- http://youtu.be/a9nIuCMyrzA

I like the skip stitch but can't seem to find any good videos for it. You basically skip a peg - so don't wrap it and it ends up leaving a groove in the work. Here's a video for a scarf that has skipped pegs in it.
SKIP STITCH [SKIP A PEG]
- http://youtu.be/vn1QkSdrGbs

Just like casting on, there are two main ways to cast off with looming. The knit off method is easiest but there's also the crochet bind off method. It's up to you what you use.

CAST OFF
KNIT OFF METHOD
- http://youtu.be/2eMhEPb1TQY [The lady in this vid holds her loom a different way than me but hopefully you still get the idea of how to cast off.]
- http://youtu.be/kX1xZtFdXYM 
CROCHET BIND OFF METHOD
- http://youtu.be/vl8GVnyUgTU

FLAT PANEL COMPLETE VIDS
PART 1 - http://youtu.be/PPpewf8zgoQ
PART 2 [HAS CROCHET CAST OFF METHOD] - http://youtu.be/cCY-Zq62G_E

INTERESTING PATTERNS
DROP STITCH SCARF OR PANEL - http://youtu.be/-uQFukKClrs
2 HOUR SCARF - http://youtu.be/vn1QkSdrGbs
Of course there are many many videos on youtube, as well as communities and pages on facebook and websites out there to help you.

Here are a few things I've made with a round loom:
Parking meter using two strands [bright pink and a multicolor] and rainbow fuzzy yarn.
Pole piece using two strands of black and crochet flowers sewn on top.

Pole piece with one strand of red yarn and crochet flowers sewn on.

So I hope this has helped those that are wanting to start looming. Give it a try and see how fast you can knit a piece up. You'll be very surprised! Have fun.

Luv Bali.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Light Heart Installation Contributions

Well it's the night before the start of the Light In Winter festival in Federation Square, Melbourne and we're all madly trying to get everything in order. I've just been on a three day bender, trying to get the lighting frame all covered and finished. Here is the finished product:
I don't think the photos really give you the best idea of how big this thing is. It's HUGE! Hence it took us so long to finish it. A massive thanks goes to my awesome yarn bombing friends JK and Mr Anonymous for their contributions, especially JK who just killed it with making panels and flowers for this.
I must also say a big thanks to everyone that contributed flowers to the frame. I believe that would be the following people: Grace, Sophie, Bethel, Mairi, Celicia, Kat and Crochet/Knit Bomb Appreciation. If I have left anyone out, please let me know. I still have a few of your flowers left over as I didn't want to overload the frame, so those will be added to the rest of the installation.
Of course the biggest thanks goes to my supervisor Mish, who you can see chilling out on the bean bag after three days of watching my progress. :p

Now on to the important stuff... I have had confirmation that you will be able to continue to contribute to the installation through out June. So if you're thinking of making something to attach to the structure, then go for it! If you're international or can't get into Melbourne, then send the pieces to me and I'll attach them in your honor and take photos for you. Remember the info for requirements is here:


If you're in Melbourne, then why not save it up and bring it along on International Yarn Bombing Day on June 11 where we'll have a get together at noon. Bring your yarn and hook/needle/loom and some lunch and we'll have a grand old time. :)

Also a reminder that if you are in the Melbourne area and have children, then Fed Square is holding Lantern making workshops every Saturday specifically aimed at children. Each lantern made will then be hung up on the installation so the children can be a part of it. This is a free event. There are many many events taking place for the festival, so come check it out.

I'll be going down tomorrow at 10am to put up my yarn bombing tags and the ones sent in for contribution. Of course I'll take photos so stay tuned for those.

Luv Bali.

Sunday 29 May 2011

The Yarn Corner Group

The Yarn Corner

The Yarn Corner is a stitch and bitch group of people meeting every two weeks on a Sunday afternoon to have a knit/crochet/loom, a bite to eat and have a chat about yarn bombing in Melbourne.

This is an open group and anyone is welcome to attend. Just make sure you're a part of the facebook group and let us know when you're coming. Join the group here:


We meet at 1000 Pound Bend cafe at 361 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne from 2pm-4pm. Our first meet is on June 5th, 2011. This will be the first meet before International Yarn Bombing day and Worldwide Knit in Public day. See the facebook event here:


Feel free to pass this info along to anyone else that you think would like to attend and have a natter about yarn bombing.

Luv Bali.

Saturday 28 May 2011

The Yarn Bombing Movement



Often article's written on yarn bombing don't have the positive creative spin on it that fibre artists would like them to have. Isn't it all about the fun that this type of art brings to not only the people that create the pieces but to everyone that gets to experience the joy of seeing these tags?

If you'd like to be a part of this event [whether you're a yarn bomber or a spectator], then feel free to get involved.

All you need to do is on June 11 [International Yarn Bombing Day and  Worldwide Knit In Public Day], post an entry on your blog about your yarn bombing journey, and post a link to your blog in this event so everyone can read it.

Some things you can talk about are:
- How you first got into yarn bombing
- What yarn bombing means to you
- Some yarn bombers that inspire you
- What you'd like to see for the future of yarn bombing
- How long you've been yarn bombing and how much you've seen it change in that time
- A particular piece that you were involved with that had special meaning to you

And of course you can get into more controversial things like:
- Fibre artists that tend to think that their work is much better than everyone else's and everyone else is just amature
- People that say it's not environmentally friendly to attach yarn to objects
- People that say we all should be knitting for charity and not for art

I'm sure that you could actually do your post before the day or after the day and that would be fine.

Let's all unite in the fun art of yarn bombing and be supportive of each other's talents. :)

P.S. Feel free to share this event so we can all get involved.


And don't forget - if you're in Melbourne, then come along to this event on June 11:

Sunday 22 May 2011

Call Out For Flowers




Ever wanted to get involved in a large scale yarn bombing project but don't have the time? Or not sure how to crochet? Or don't have much yarn? Then this is for you!

We're putting the call out for flowers to be made to put on our huge lighting frame to be used for the Light Hearts Installation as a part of the Light In Winter festival during the month of June in Melbourne, Australia.


This frame will be covered with yarn bombing and strung up from a tiered structure. Here's a before photo:

 And here's the first progression of the red panels:
The flowers are SUPER DUPER EASY to make and each would take the average person less than five minutes per flower. There is a fantastic youtube "how to" video here: http://youtu.be/XwK4hxUd07s.  You don't have to add the button if you don't have any. We can have them added later if need be.

There are two parts of the frame that need flowers added to it. The first is the top outside of the frame. Excuse my dodgy photos but I wanted to show you an example of where the flowers will go.  See below where I've put the weird red piece. That will be a black piece all the way around and the flowers will be attached to it.

Queue another dodgy photo. Imagine the red piece is a black one with lots of lovely flowers attached and sewn on really neatly and nicely. Oh and FYI, there are 8 red panels [as shown below] and 8 orange panels, hence we need flowers that look good with red and orange.
 The other section of the frame to be covered is the bottom outside part.
And again another dodgy photo, just trying to show you where the black piece and flowers will go.
So here's the challenge. Why not everyone make 5 flowers each? It'll take you less than an hour and suddenly you've greatly contributed to a large scale project. What about getting a team of friends and family around for an hour and having a busy bee where you all make flowers? One hour and you've all helped out tremendously! Of course you can make more than 5 flowers if you'd like.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- DO NOT attach your "calling card"/tag to your flowers. If you would like to have a tag attached to say you were a part of making the flowers, then please send your tag separately. We will add them to a special spot on the frame as to not take away from the beauty of the flowers.

- You must use the colors chosen by our creative director for the yarn. Suitable colors are reds/oranges/yellows and white. You can use ANY color for the buttons.

- Please send your flowers to:
Bali
1 Gordon Street, Brunswick West VIC 3055, Australia.

THE CATCH??
We need the flowers now!!! It's May 22nd now and the festival is for the month of June but we need to make sure everything is in order now. So get cracking and send in those flowers. There is a chance we can put up the lighting frame at a later date but we really want to get this done ASAP.


YES!!
Yes yes, you can use other flower patterns if you'd like. Knitted or crochet, as long as they're not too big. Go for it!

THE PATTERN:
Some of you have asked for a physical pattern to the flower. I cannot find one that the maker has posted, so I've written up one myself. Please let me know if it doesn't make sense or is incorrect but it's really easier just to watch the video.


5 PETAL CROCHET FLOWER

Materials
8ply or Worsted Weight yarn
4mm crochet hook
1 large holed button

Leave a long starting tail as this will be used to sew on the button.
Petal 1 - Ch4, 1tr into first ch, 1tr into first ch, ch3, ss into first ch.
Petal 2 - Ch3, 1tr into first ch, 1tr into first ch, ch3, ss into first ch.
Petal 3 - Same as petal 2
Petal 4 - Same as petal 2
Petal 5 - Same as petal 2.
Leave a long finishing tail for sewing onto your object.

If wanting to put a button onto your flower, then use your starting tail to sew that on. Once done, you're ready to use the finishing tail to sew onto your object.


Luv Bali.

Friday 20 May 2011

New York Times Article

Hello all.

What a wonderful day. New York Times have run an article on yarn bombing and I have been mentioned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/fashion/creating-graffiti-with-yarn.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=ST-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-CGW-051911-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

If you have been directed here by the article, then welcome and hello to you. If you'd like to see my facebook page on my yarn bombing efforts [which I update almost every day], then go here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twilight-Taggers/373522532669
Be sure to "like" the page too.

I'm in the middle of many yarn bombing projects right now, so I tend to update the facebook page more than this blog. Last night I finished a beautiful piece that I'm putting up on Sunday when I get interviewed by Lisette. Photos to come of that. Still working on the Light Hearts Installation for the Light In Winter festival in June in Melbourne. And in the middle of doing something for the Woolley Walk Along project of Knitty Graffity's aswell. So much to do!

Back to work.
Luv Bali.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Lighting Frame

This is the lighting frame we've been given for the Lights In Winter festival that we need to cover with yarn.
 Don't be fooled by the photo. The frame is quite large.
The top of the frame is a circle with 40.5cm across and would need a lacey round circle of knit/crochet done with a hole in the middle for the chain to come through.
The main section of the frame is in 16 panels and comes down from a thin top to a wider bottom. The top is 8cm wide and the bottom is 29cm wide. The length of the panel is 66cm.
The panels work down in differing increments. It follows like this:

8cm wide for top
9cm wide at 6cm down panel
10cm wide at 10cm down panel
11cm wide at 13cm down panel
12cm wide at 17cm down panel
13cm wide at 21cm down panel
14cm wide at 24cm down panel
15cm wide at 27cm down panel
16cm wide at 30cm down panel
17cm wide at 33cm down panel
18cm wide at 36cm down panel
19cm wide at 38cm down panel
20cm wide at 42cm down panel
21cm wide at 44cm down panel
22cm wide at 46cm down panel
23cm wide at 49cm down panel
24cm wide at 52cm down panel
25cm wide at 54cm down panel
26cm wide at 57cm down panel
27cm wide at 60cm down panel
28cm wide at 63cm down panel
29cm wide at 66cm down panel

The rim around the bottom is 15.5cm top to bottom and each section is 29cm wide, with 16 sections completing the rim the whole way around.
We'll probably need to do the very bottom under rim of the frame aswell. The top is 22cm wide and the bottom is 29cm wide. The length of each section is 18cm.
The measurements for the underside of the rim follow like this:

22cm wide for top
23cm wide at 3cm down panel
24cm wide at 5cm down panel
25cm wide at 7.5cm down panel

26cm wide at 10cm down panel
27cm wide at 13cm down panel
28cm wide at 15cm down panel
29cm wide at 18cm down panel

We will only need a small team working on the structure. We need 8 panels done in knitting and 8 panels done in crochet. The yarn used will be red and orange Sullivans Coton from Lincraft which is being ordered specially. It's the same yarn used here:
The pattern needs to be open and lace-like so that the light underneath can shine through. 

If you are in Melbourne and are interested in giving us a hand, please let me know - first in best dressed and you will need to attend a busy bee at my house so that you can see the piece and get used to what needs to be done to cover it. Please note that the panels obviously require increasing your knitting or crochet, so if you're not comfortable doing that then this project may not be for you. And please also be aware that you only have until the last week of May to complete your panel.

Luv Bali.

Sunday 1 May 2011

Pretty Girl Statue Yarn Bomb

Working the weekend can be a bit boring at times, so I wanted to do something fun on my lunch break. I asked my workmate and good friend Krisha to accompany me on a yarn bombing expedition. Krisha knows and loves my yarn bombing attempts. I taught her how to crochet and loom knit, so she was all for coming along to see what I do.

We walked around to Collins Street just past the Inter Continental Hotel to where there is a family of statues. I've known they have been there for ages and knew I wanted to do something for them and one of the pretty little girls ended up getting some lovely pink and white ankle cuffs.

The cuffs only took less than half an hour each to make. I used the crochet loop stitch which I've never done before and wanted to try out.
My camera died whilst Krisha was trying to take photos but we had my phone and her phone with us, so that was good.
Here's the lovely Krisha next to the lucky little girl...
It took less than ten minutes to do the yarn bomb and when we finished we turned out only to see some weirdo man right behind us taking photos of us yarn bombing. Needless to say we skittled off out of there very quickly.
Click on the "Statues" folder on the right hand side of my page to go to my flickr with many more photos of the girl.

Luv Bali.


Friday 22 April 2011

Lights In Winter information

 Please note the above picture is not of the structure involved for the project. It just looks pretty.
 
FACEBOOK EVENT:
http://www.facebook.com/notifications.php#!/event.php?eid=118696851543559

Want to help out? We need a small army of interested participants to make yarn bomb pieces for us. If you don't live in Melbourne, then you'll need to make, send and have us receive your tag by Monday May 23rd. 

Please send it to:

Bali
1 Gordon Street
Brunswick West VIC 3055 Australia.


WHAT IS IT?
A giant structure incorporating lights, lanterns, snowflakes and yarn bombing will be set up for all to see.


This is the proposed structure:

 WHAT'S NEEDED?:

POLES
Go both vertical and horizonal. Please do not make your tag more than 14 to 15 cm wide. Can be anywhere from 50cm to 3 metres long. Please stick with firey red/orange/yellow colors with the occasional blue and white winter colors.

LANTERNS
Will be made by folding a thick type of tracing paper into a cylinder shape and attaching yarn to it. Can be A3 and A4 size. Must be lacy and see through so that the color lights can go through the lantern and yarn. Nothing with a block stitch that you won't be able to see lights through. Again please stick with firey red/orange/yellow colors with the occasional blue and white winter colors.

SNOWFLAKES

Blue and white winter colors only please. Any size. Snowflakes must be stiffened so that they stay straight when hung up.


LARGE LIGHT FRAME
We also have a large light frame that needs covering:
Approx 1.5m in a diameter. Will be covered in a red and an orange yarn that's already been selected. A lacy see through pattern will be used so that the light can shine through. If you can crochet, please contact me about helping out with this particular part of the project. 

INSPIRATION:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.413483477669.193139.373522532669&l=2f4f3164ff

LINKS:

LANTERNS:
http://riotflower.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/crochet-lace-swatching/ [crochet]
http://crochetology.net/2010/01/edging-no-408-by-adeline-cordet/ [crochet]
http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-offset-fish-net-stitch/ [crochet]
http://www.evelynclarkdesigns.com/pdf/Swallowtail.pdf [knit]

SNOWFLAKES:

http://starrs-crodream.livejournal.com/5514.html [crochet]
http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/ornaments/f103016prettysnowflake.pdf [crochet]
http://snowcatcher.blogspot.com/2011/03/snowflake-monday_14.html [crochet]
http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B9FA80E9-7DD0-4F0F-B658-93B5C6AABA79/77132/SnowflakeTreeDecoration.pdf [crochet]

Feel free to add your ideas to this!

Thursday 21 April 2011

International Yarn Bombing Day [Australia] - with Lights In Winter festival

Saturday, June 11 2011 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Cnr Flinders Street & Swanston Street
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
 
Federation Square will play host to the 'Lights In Winter' festival for the month of June. A giant structure incorporating lights, lanterns, snowflakes and yarn bombing will be set up for all to see. This will be up for the whole month.

But why not come along on June 11th for International Yarn Bombing Day and see yarn bombing in person. Bring your yarn and knitting needles/crochet hooks/knitting looms and meet others that love this hobby. Never done it before? Come and talk to yarn bombers in person including Bali of Twilight Taggers, and Dee and Aysen of Knit Wits.

In the event of rain, this get-together will meet inside the Time Out Cafe at Federation Square.

Feel free to bring your friends and family along. See you there!

* * * * *
Possible workshop by the Spinners and Weavers Guild to be held the next day [June 12th] at Federation Square also. More info soon about this.
* * * * *

If you would like to be a part of yarn bombing this structure, please leave a comment so I can give you the details or email twilighttaggers@gmail.com.
 

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Curly Car Antenna Project

So I lost some inspiration for a week or two there. Guess it comes from doing so much yarn bombing lately. Thought I was going to do that Shipping Bollard thing but it was doing my head in. I need something really monotonous as I've just changed departments at work and I need something that I don't have to concentrate on and count stitches with. I was searching Ravelry and came across Kristen Stevenson's pattern for a car antenna yarn bomb. As you'd be able to see from my flickr photos, I've tried antenna's before and I didn't like the pattern I used. Too annoying and time consuming, but Kristen's are curly! How cute. I read the pattern and it seems to be very simple, fast and straight forward crochet. Just what I love.

So without further ado... here is my new project...


CURLY CAR ANTENNA PROJECT

Sunday, April 3 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Highpoint shopping centre
200 Rosamond Road
Maribyrnong VIC 3032

Come and be a part of the Curly Car Antenna Project. We'll be yarn bombing at least 20 cars in the carpark with curly car antenna's.

All are welcome to attend. Take photos or video and upload onto the Twilight Taggers page. This even will be happening rain or shine.

Meet at noon outside Lincraft [located on level 2 near Borders] and we'll go from there.

If you wish to make some yourself, then Kristen Stevenson has a free pattern on Ravelry here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/antenna-yarn-bomb

And if you wish to join the facebook event then go here:
Special mention to Kristen Stevenson on Ravelry for the use of her car antenna photo [and pattern] until I've made one myself and can use my own image.

Luv Bali. 

Monday 14 March 2011

Float Away Duck Project

I've been yarn bombing for a long time now and wanted to do something different. After I saw a photo of a rubber duckie with a crochet jumper on it, I felt inspired to create the "Float Away Duck" project. Basically this was a project for me to crochet twenty little ducks with jumpers and set them off down the Yarra River in Melbourne and photograph them for my yarn bombing group Twilight Taggers. The event was held on the weekend and this is how it went down...

First I set about buying all the ducks and designing a pattern for their jumper. I could only find one on the internet but I didn't like it, so I made my own. It was a bit of trial and error.
Most of the ducks were made at work because they don't take long to work up.
Saturday was a lovely day to set the ducks off down the Yarra. The sun was out and it was a warm 30*C. First we needed a shot of the ducks waiting on the deck to take the plunge.
 And the one by one, they all made their way into the water...





Spectators stopped to watch the ducks float away. I even had two small children help me throw some ducks in. :)
Some ducks didn't quite work out how to stay upright...
And some ended up in the rubbish trays...
But over all it was a brilliant day out in the sunshine, watching the ducks make their way down the river and meeting some lovely new friends.

Feel free to click the duck photo on the side of the page to take you to my Flickr account with many more photos of the duck project.

Luv Bali.