How to make a pom pom sprinkled with loom bands

Here’s a fun way to add some colour to your bobbles.

1. Cut out two donuts from card. Leave a slit. The inner diameter of these was 7/8″ or 2cm, and the outer diameter was 2 1/4″ or 5.5cm
IMG_0653.JPG

2. Wrap yarn around the donuts.

IMG_0654.JPG

3. Pop some loom bands on too. Distribute them roughly equally around the rings. Use about 20 bands.

IMG_0655.JPG

4. Another layer of yarn. Cover the bands.

IMG_0656.JPG

5. Another layer of bands.

IMG_0657.JPG

6. A final layer of yarn. Your pom pom is probably getting quite full now (if not, keep layering).

IMG_0658.JPG

7. The heart-stopping bit: cut the yarn and bands all the way around. Insert the scissors between the two card rings.

IMG_0660.JPG

8. Work a length of yarn in between the pieces of card and tie off tightly. Do this twice if you can. Don’t worry if a couple of lengths of yarn fall out, just get that ball tied off!

IMG_0661.JPG

9. Trim your pom pom down to size! The loom bands, being elastic, may retract a little into the ball. Try to tease them out or trim back to reveal them.

IMG_0664.JPG

10. Done!

IMG_0665.JPG

Advertisement

My name’s King, I gotta have a Crown Pattern!

I know there are a thousand crown patterns out there, but I didn’t find the exact one I needed on a Ravelry search, so I made up my own.

Simple Crown

This crown is worked sideways on.

First, measure around the kid’s head at the widest point. [My two have enormous heads for wee ones: 21 inches (53 cm)]. You’ll need to make the crown approximately 2 inches (5 cm) shorter than your measurement so that the FO sits on snugly, but not too tight.

  • Height of crown: 1.25in/3cm to 2in/5cm at point
  • Width each repeat: 2in/5cm
  • Yarn: Rico Essentials Merino (DK; 100% wool; 120m/50g ball) in shade #65 (yellow)
  • Needles: 4mm
  • Buttons; one for each point. Sample used 9.
  • Abbreviations are given below the pattern text

Crown Closeup

Pattern

Cast on 7 sts.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Rows 2,4,6,8 and 10 (RS)
: K to last st, M1, K1. 1 st inc each time; 12 sts after Row 10
Row 3 and all WS rows to Row 19: Knit.
Rows 12,14,16,18 and 20: K to last 2 sts, K2tog. 1 st dec each time; 7 sts after Row 20

After Row 20, start again at Row 1 and repeat until the crown is long enough to go around your child’s head. I did 9 repeats and mine ended up being about 18in long, which was perfect for the Kings junior!

Then just sew up the ends and add some buttons or beads.

Abbreviations (given in order used)

  • WS – Wrong side
  • RS – Right side
  • K – Knit
  • st – Stitch
  • M1 – Make 1 (use whichever method you prefer)
  • inc – Increase(d)
  • K2tog – Knit 2 together
  • dec – Decrease(d)

			

Ally pally elbow mining 2013

I’m on my way home from Alexandria Palace Knitting & Stitching Show 2013.

20131012-144130.jpg

I’ve actually only been here since 11am (it’s nearly 3 now), but I feel like I’ve managed to get a lot done.

– deep breath –

I have purchased some very interesting yarns and threads that I can’t wait to try out.

20131012-144349.jpg

Here I have silver lurex, retro reflective and glow in the dark!!!! I have such
plans for these! Last two from the hand weavers studio.

Textilegarden.com always have gorgeous buttons.
20131012-152922.jpg

The little square blue ones will be coming to a jumper in a certain mag near you in feb.

Some swatching yarn from handmade nest

20131012-153300.jpg

This gorgeous baby alpaca dk in steel grey from Eden cottage yarns, omg it’s soooo soft.
20131012-153116.jpg

Chiaogoo sticks and stoppers from tall yarns an tales. They don’t carry the spin cables yet, but they did write it down on the show notes so may stock ’em soon!

<img src="https://catchloops.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/20131012-153507.jpg” alt=”20131012-153507.jpg” class=”alignnone size-full” />

And some odds and ends from here and there.
20131012-153636.jpg

Wow, that’s more than I had realised!

On top of all this, I deposited my offerings of honeycomb in strategic locations around the show; basically one at each yarnie who has generously sorted me out with yarn support during the year. I apologise to anyone who needs to go to the dentist next week!

I had a lovely chat with Victoria and David from Eden cottage yarns (oh! just realised! like posh and becks! bet they get that all the time…), Rachel from uk alpaca and Alex from coolree, all of whom shall be getting sketches of designs in the next couple of weeks! Phew! Busy busy! The children are getting quick and easy beans on toast for din for a few weeks…

Finally I have to mention sallyhewett.co.uk whose erotic art textile pieces were very dramatic. I thought they were gorgeous and I’d love a couple for the bedroom, or living room for that matter. Don’t think I’d be let, though!!!