I Can't Believe I'm Loom Knitting-18 Projects to Make Hats, Scarves, Afghans and More, all Without Knitting Needles

Kathy Norris is one of the most innovative loom knitters around and her current book is a testament to this talented designer. Written for use with the plastic round and long looms, this is one of the best and most well organized loom knitting books for both the beginner and for those of us who want to learn new techniques and stitch patterns.

The first part of the book lays the ground work needed by offering several versions of basic hat designs. Next is an overview of general stitches and techniques required to make more advanced projects featured in the remainder of the book. The basic hat designs are the only easy skill level projects in the book and are included mainly as an instructional module for beginners. The other projects are high quality intermediate skill level designs that anyone would be proud to create or give as gifts.

The projects in this book include:
* Three hat patterns that focus on teaching the basics for beginners. These are the only easy skill level projects.
* A stunning sampler afghan that utilizes twelve different stitch pattern blocks with an attached I-cord edging that is loom knitted directly onto the afghan.
* Two hat and scarf sets; one in a corn-on-the-cob stitch pattern and another in a honeycomb stitch.
* A felted basket weave pattern tote.
* A versatile hooded sweater vest.
* A lovely lattice patterned throw pillow.
* Fingerless loves with individually knitted "half" fingers.
* A beautiful green hooded scarf called "Robin's hood" that incorporates cables along the edge.
* A striped garter stitch baby blanket worked in eight short row wedges.
* A ridged lace hat with a picot hem.
* A gorgeous lace wrap worked in a wavy lace pattern.
* A felted candy cane striped Christmas stocking.
* Finally, the most adorable panda hat that would delight any child.

If you are looking for a loom knitting book with projects that will take you to the next level, I highly recommend this book.

I never could get the hang of needle knitting, so I was really happy to hear about loom knitting and find out how simple the process is. I ordered this book as a kind of Loom Knitting 101 course and have been pretty pleased so far.

Since I'm a beginner, I can't really say how innovative the designs are or anything like that. I can say that I was able to get started right away and produce hats and scarves that were of professional-looking quality. I made a striped hat for my little boy and had friends ask where I bought it, so that was pretty good!

The problem I have with the book is mainly with the instructions for cables and the pattern given for the basketweave section of the 12-square afghan. While the cable instructions say you must "loosely" knit, they don't really emphasize just how loose they should be and the best way to go about ensuring this. I wound up searching on YouTube until I found a video of someone knitting cables. Once I saw that you should use markers on your cable section and double-wrap those pegs on the row prior to the cable, I was able to produce beautiful stitches.

The other thing is that the pattern listed for basketweave seems incorrect. Again, I'm a beginner and it's possible that I just screwed up. However, when I finished the square and bound it off and pulled it to examine the swatch, there were no horizontal lines. It was only vertical squares. In my thinking, if it was an error on my end where I missed a line of instructions, only a portion of the swatch would have been messed up. The swatch was consistent, though. Now, it's still a cute pattern. I kind of like it more than the basketweave. It's like a funky, retro look that brings to mind Flint Lockwood's "coolness enhancement" paint job from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. But, if someone is really wanting the basketweave, she would be understandably upset with the results.

There really is no information on using a long loom in this book.. its great for circle loom knitting, but i wanted it for using a long loom, and figured given the photo on the cover of the book, there would be something about that subject... but no, there isnt.

Don't waste your money on this book! It doesn't show how to use the long looms - only the round looms. Very disappointed with this purchase!

This book isn't exactly for beginners. Although it demonstrates some beginning knitting, the wording is a bit complicated and there isn't enough examples of the steps needed. I'm finding YouTube videos more helpful than this book. Maybe after I've practiced more with the video tutorials, this book might make more sense and the patterns will become doable. Here's hoping.

This a great starter book for loom knitting. Good instructions, and the sampler afgan works you through several knitting stitches from easy to advanced.

ok, 1st off I'll say that I'm a beginner at using the rectangular loom (14in) however, the book seems to be easy to follow for the simpler stitches. Not sure about the more complex ones but I'll update this review later.
I'm newly retired who picked up the rectangular loom at a local craft store because I thought it looked simple to use and wanted to make a heavy men's scarf.
I did get some help from youtube tutorials and completed my 1st scarf and it turned out quite well. I'm happy with it and serves its purpose of providing warmth against the biting cold wind.
Not sure that I would make knitted hats but maybe will continue to work on scarves to give as gifts for next Xmas.

I'll update this review once I try some of the more complex stitches in the book.

I purchased this book because I kept checking it out at the library to use with my loom sets. It has good instructions that I can understand and pictures that make sense. It has a few different patterns, several hats, a couple of blankets and some other various items. Something for everyone who is getting started. I don't know that I will use and make all the patterns but there are enough that I will use that makes it worth while having this book.

First, a disclaimer: I am an older man with average dexterity and absolutely no loom knitting experience whatsoever. Let's put it this way: if my father had ever caught me loom knitting, he would have slapped me into the middle of next week. Thankfully, he is dead.

I found this book at a garage sale and was so taken with it that I sat right down in a lawn chair that was going for three dollars. I only got up because the chair was sold to a very impatient looking woman who kept tapping her foot like she was in a musical, so I just took the book over to a loveseat that was also for sale and laid right down on it for a few chapters. The people running the garage sale seemed like they might be irritated, but I don't really remember. When the loveseat was sold, I moved onto an ottoman and then a toddler bed, and so on and so forth.

All I can tell you is that I arrived at 6:30 am and by 4:15 pm, I had gained all knowledge and passion necessary to really begin loom knitting. In fact, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a loom - I was shaking with vigor! Once finished reading, I immediately began rifling through the garage sale tables, looking for anything that might aid me in my quest. I vaguely remember someone yelling at me, but who knows. All I found was a bamboo hanger and a cookie jar that looked like the clown from "It."

So I paid for my book and went to the next house over (it was a street sale), and the neighbor takes one look at me with the book and she says "OH, she SOLD the birthday gift I gave her, HUH?" She was holding an old hoe, and I knew better than to mess with her. So I lied and I said "WHAT? Oh NO NO. I bought this from down the street!!" and she spits on the ground and says, "Oh I know the one you mean, that cheap -" and she launched into one of the most obscene sentences that the English language has to offer. Some of those curse words were new ones for me, and that's saying a lot because my language would make George Carlin look like a sweet little fairy princess soaring through the air on his dainty wings.

Anyhow I bought seven looms for a dollar, as well as some yarn that smelled like pot. Not that I would know. But I'd been to enough festivals in the late seventies that the smell was soothingly familiar.

I saw a hammock for sale and positioned myself into it and by 7pm sharp I'd already finished my first scarf! When I finished my last row, I could no longer hold back my emotions. I just started screaming "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOOM KNITTING!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOOM KNITTING!!!!" over and over again until a group of men came over and dragged me out of the hammock. "What do you think you're doing, you loudmouthed, lazy sonofab***h?!" yelled a man with horrible breath and a patchy beard. Then I realized this was the woman who had done all the swearing earlier. "Listen Sir," I said. "I'm sorry but I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOOM KNITTING!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOOM KNITTING!!! I CAN'T EVEN BEL-"

That's all I remember. I woke up later in the town prison with a huge lump on my head and a black eye. No loom, no book, no yarn. Though it's probably good I didn't have the yarn because that could have gotten me in much worse trouble.

Supposedly, no one seems to remember what happened to the scarf I made, which really burns me up. I'd like to give the animal who took it a real whalloping. Oh well. Let bygones be bygones, I suppose.

So far I've made three scarves, one set of potholders and a sharp looking toilet seat cover that shrunk in the wash and will now serve as a coaster for my favorite mug. Next I plan to make a shawl for the neighbor's dog. I hope no one starts worrying about my masculinity, because I'm sure not! My hands look even more chapped and rugged than ever before. Probably need to buy more O'Keefe's cream.

This book has really helped me fine tune my skills of loom knitting. I taught myself via YouTube about 2 yrs ago and I am kicking myself for NOT buying this book sooner! It is a MUST have for anyone trying to start loom knitting or who like up their skill level.
Thank you!!