Upcycled round knitting loom WITH TUTORIAL (pic chunky!)

[minowisbitt8lo]

I really had no idea where to put this, so here it is: My very first tutorial.

I have always wanted one of those Nifty Knitter things, but I didn't want to shell out the cash for one.  So, boredom, a snow day from work, and some junk around the house became:

Minowis's neato Knitter!

DISCLAIMER: I have never used one of these knitting loom thingies before, so I wasn't sure about the details/specs.  this was pulled out of my ear as I went along. 



Step 1: find a can.  DH smokes and rolls his own, so...



take off the lid and the closed end of the can



and I ran out of duct tape (HORRORS!) so I used electrical tape to cover the ends:



96 cents worth of craft dowels from the local supermegamart, which I cut into 4" lengths



filed down the ends, and covered them in tape



time out for the craft inspector



white glue the sticks onto the can somewhat evenly, I also covered the can in black construction paper



all the way around



wrap it all in tape for sturdiness



and it works!!



next time, I would probably make the pegs shorter at the top edge, but all in all, I really like the way it came out. 

thanks for looking!

[pinokeeo]

Wow!  That came out really good.  I think I have to make one of these.  How big does your project end up being?  Is it scarf size, or bigger?

[KerriedAway]

Ooo! Neat! I've seen those knitty things too.  This may be a silly question... but how does the process work once you have the can-knitter made?  Could you please explain the steps for using it?  Thanks!

[Muria]

Neat! 

KerriedAway, there are lots of tutorials for  how to use one, but the simplest explanation is to wrap the yarn around all the pegs in order two times around, then pull the first row over the second row and off the pegs to make a row of knitting. There's a not-very-helpful video and patterns on www.provocraft.com, a free book on getting started on www.loomknitting.co m, and a lot more information on www.knittingboard.c om (including free tutorials and patterns). 

Hope that's not information overload. 

[minowisbitt8lo]

pinokeeo:  I get a tube about big enough to go around my forearm...so scarf-size I guess?  

KerriedAway: I didn't know either...so I googled around a bit.  This http://www.provocraft.com/products/downloads/pdf/kniftyknitter/round.loom.pdf is the PDF instruction booklet available on the website of the company that makes the original item, the Knifty Knitter.  That's where I started.

Basically you cast on two loops on each peg, then pull the bottom loop up and over the top loop and off the peg. Or that's what I am doing, apparently there are classes and stitch variations and everything.  The Knitting board has a whole thread about these! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=51877.0

EDIT: Thanks Muria!!! 

[Eliea]

the can knitters are the best. I really want to make one using a really big coffee can and place the pegs close together!
then you can make the gauge whatever you want!
yours looks awesome! Mine is icky with silver duct tape.
Don't forget to post pictures of what you make on it! We want to see!

[pinokeeo]

I wonder if the pegs would be more stable if you use clothespins.  The kind that you use for doll making.  Just thinking....

[Muria]

I wonder if the pegs would be more stable if you use clothespins.  The kind that you use for doll making.  Just thinking....

It would certainly make the gauge larger, based on the clothespins I've seen, even if you put them closer together.

[pinokeeo]

Oh, that's true.  I didn't think of that.  And I don't think they make smaller clothespins.

[little me]

Wow - how crafty are you? This is pretty neat, tho if you have a Joann's nearby, they always have sales & there is always a 40% coupon floating around in the store you can snag to buy a Knifty Knitter real cheap - I got the whole set of round ones for a good price.