Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Knitting a Flat Panel with the Knifty Knitter Loom

Knitting a Flat Panel with Knifty Knitter Long or Round Looms

this lens' photo
When I began loom knitting, I assumed that long looms were for flat panels and round looms were for tube, or circular knit. I was wrong. You can knit tubes on long looms. You can also knit flat panels on round looms. This page is about making flat panels on round looms, so I'll show you how it's done below.








Single Knit on a Knifty Knitter Loom

Also known as a flat panel of knit

knitting a flat single knit panel on the knifty knitter long loomWhen knitting a flat panel with the Knifty Knitter loom, you stop and reverse direction at each end of the loom. This is indicated by the red arrows in the photo. Each time you reach the red arrow, you stop and knit back across the loom from the direction in which you just came. The result is a flat panel with a single layer of knit.

Circular Knit on a Knifty Knitter Loom

Also known as tube knit, like a sock

circular knit on the knifty knitter loomI placed a photo of circular knit here, to show you another possible method of knitting on the long looms. To knit a tube, or circular knit, you go continuously around the loom in the same direction, never reversing. You spiral until the knit reaches the desired length.

Knitting a Flat Panel with a Knifty Knitter Round Loom

knitting a flat panel on a round knifty knitter loomBecause the finished knit is determined by the method of knitting, not the shape of the loom, it is possible to knit a flat panel on a round loom. Knit around the loom until you reach the stop point. Then reverse direction and knit back across to the other stop point, instead of spiraling around in the same direction. Do this repeatedly stopping and reverse directions at the stop points. This creates a flat panel knit on the round loom.




Knitting a Double Thickness Flat Panel on the Knifty Knitter Long Loom

knitting a flat panel of double knit on the knifty knitter loomThere is one more method of knitting a flat panel on the Knifty Knitter looms. It can be done only on the long looms. It creates a flat panel of knit with a double thickness, such as a heavy blanket, or a scarf. It is created by wrapping the loom up and down using both top and bottom, then knitting off in a back and forth motion across the loom. The figure 8 stitch, ribbed stitch, and honeycomb stitch are all types of double flat panel knit.


Drop Stitch Shawl Pattern for the Round Yellow Loom


This elegant shawl is perfect for an evening out. Because it's made from very warm Superwash Merino wool, it will keep the chill off your shoulders and it's easy to maintain. This wool is washable.


The dropstitch is a knitting technique for creating open, see-through knit with a lacy appearance. In loom knitting, stitches are deliberately dropped in a repeated pattern to achieve this desired effect. This dropstitch shawl was created by alternating rows of drop and e wrap stitches.

Intermediate skills are required. If you've mastered all the beginning loom knitting stitches, such as the e wrap and purl, the drop stitch is a good next step. It will require approximately 10 hours to complete.

You Will Need:


To make this shawl, you will need the supplies below:
6 skeins of Knit Picks Swish Worsted Merino Wool Yarn (Black)
Extra Large Round Knifty Knitter Loom (Yellow)
Knifty Knitter Hook 







Instructions for the Dropstitch Shawl
  1. Holding 2 strands of yarn together as one, cast on by e wrapping 30 pegs.
  1. E wrap and knit back to peg 1.
  1. Purl peg 1 twice. Purl peg 2 twice.
  1. Double e wrap pegs 3 through 30. ("Double e wrap" means wrap each peg 2 times as you move clockwise around the loom. Each peg will have 3 loops when finished.)
  1. Knit back to peg 3 bringing the bottom loop over the top 2 loops.
  1. Drop stitch pegs 3 through 30 by lifting the top loop off each peg. This releases the double loop into one large open loop, or dropstitch. Push these open loops down on the pegs as you work to prevent them from coming off the loom.
  1. Repeat from step 2, eighty times or until the shawl reaches the length you desire.


The first two pegs of this shawls are knitted by alternating the e wrap and purl stitches. This creates an edge that will not roll.











Add the Fringe

To the Dropstitch Shawl



Fringe is added along the sides and bottom of the shawl.

  1. Holding 3 strands of yarn together as one, cut them into 10 inch pieces.
  2. Still holding 3 yarns together as one, fold them in half. Using a crochet hook, feed the hook under two loops from the side of the shawl. Hook the yarns you are holding together and have folded with the crochet hook and pull them gently through the loops. Pull them approximately one inch with the hook. This creates a loop.
  3. Feed the loose ends of the fringe through the loop created in the previous step. Tug the ends gently to tighten the knot and secure the fringe.
  4. Continue along the sides and bottom of the shawl until all three sides have the amount of fringe desired. (See the photos below.) 

Knifty Knitter Snowman Patterns


Snowman Patterns for the Knifty Knitter Looms

this lens' photo
There are so many adorable snowman patterns available for the Knifty Knitter loom online, I decided to collect them all here. All have photos, so you can see a sample of the finished project. These snowmen are perfect knitted Christmas crafts and gifts.


Photo Credit: Grant MacDonald




Snowman Sweater

Pattern for the Knifty Knitter Looms


snowmans photosculptureThis super cute snowman sweater pattern is available at Etsy.com, but it's free. You'll need the green round loom.

Snowman Sweater







Stuffed Snowmen Pattern

for the Knifty Knitter Flower Loom


snowman knifty knitterThis pattern comes from the Loom Lore blog where she explains how to make these stuffed snowmen with the flower loom. If you have some extra time, she also has some adorable holiday angels on this blog that can be loom knitted also.

Stuffed Snowman Craft


Frosty the Snowman Hat Pattern

for the Knifty Knitter Looms



How cute is this? Make sure that the kids on your Christmas list are decked out in this Frosty hat this winter season.


Frosty the Snowman Hat Pattern






Stanford the Snowman Pattern

by Sweet Things Di Zia Sara's Blog


This pattern is being sold for $4.00. It features the e-wrap stitch.


Stanford Snowman Pattern












More Snowman Patterns

for Your Knifty Knitter Loom


Loomed Snowmen Trio
This stuffed trio of snowmen is from Bev's Country Cottage. The hat and body of the snowmen is knitted using the blue loom, or smallest loom in the round loom set. For the scarves, they recommend using the "wonder knitter" or crocheting them. Another option that I would suggest is following the instructions for an "I-cord" and simply making the cord slightly wider. It would make a perfect snowman scarf and you can use a loom that you already own. The stitch used to make these snowmen is the e-wrap, also called the twisted stockinette.
Loom Lore: Snowman Cozy



I'd use this cozy from the "Loom Lore" blog to cover candles, or gift jars, but it says it's for toilet paper. The possibilities are endless.

It uses the red Knifty Knitter loom, and the spool loom for the scarf. This snowman cover was also done in the "e-wrap," or twisted stockinette stitch. I love the burgundy color of the hat and scarf.

Patterns You Might Like: