Tag: Holiday Gift Guide

Make Your Own Skarf {Review}

Posted on November 20, 2014December 10, 2020 by Erin

Authentic Knitting Board recently released the Make Your Own Skarf Kit! This loom knitting kit is ideal to get one jump started into the world of looming or to gift someone that’s already much into this craft!

Everything you need except for a pair of scissors is provided to make a 60 inch scarf or cowl! The kit comes in a variety of colors which is perfect if you have a specific yarn color preference. If you are pondering age recommendations for this craft, know my six year old daughter can work this with ease. If you are intimidated by crochet or wielding knitting needles, a loom just might work out better!

What’s included in this set?

* A instruction guide with easy to understand illustrations
* 2 Striped Color Change patterns in the instructions
* 32 peg loom with 7/16 gauge ideal for worsted weight yarn
* 4.0 mm crochet hook
* darning needle
* knit hook
* Two 100 yds/91m balls of 70% acrylic/ 30% wool yarn

I guarantee that in no time one can make scarf upon scarf for loved ones as well as charities. I knit a scarf up with the contents of this set in only a few hours and it came out beautifully! It was so quick and easy. The yarn in the kit is very soft and provides a good warmth when worn. The loom in this kit is compact in size making it easy to mange and a great bring along project when out and about.

Though this kit only gives instructions for making one general designed knit scarf with different color changes, more can be done with it! Other projects and patterns can be found on the Knitting Board website! I’ve personally made cloths, headbands, squares for a blanket, and more with this sized loom!

This loom is priced at $25.99. You can purchase this set on The Authenitc Knitting Board website, as well as your local JoAnn fabric and craft store! It would make a wonderful gift for yourself or perhaps someone you know!

Get Connected for the latest news, deals, and giveaways: Authentic Knitting Board on Facebook |Authentic Knitting Board Main Website | KB Blog full of patterns & Tips

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are my own or my immediate family members, based on our personal experience with the product.

Knockout Knits {Book Review}

Posted on October 23, 2014December 10, 2020 by Erin

Knockout Knits New Tricks for for Scarves, Hats, Jewelry, and Other Accessories by Laura Nelkin is a must have book for knitters no matter what their skill level.

Being fairly new to using needles, this book has been wonderful in growing my skills. Each project section starts out with something small and works its way up to something a little more elaborate like a shawl. This approach whether choosing to follow it or not is a great way to go to not be intimidated by a new stitch pattern or variation.

One of the things I love about the patterns in this book is that the author makes it personal. She shares her inspiration behind each of the different projects. Little touches like that can connect with knitters like myself in such a way and get you really excited about the project if aiming to start it.

All the skills and techniques needed to complete any project in this book is included! The full color illustrations and explanations I found to be extremely easy to follow. I really appreciate I don’t need to look elsewhere. This book truly does cover it all. There are cast ons, cast offs, notes on yarn & gauge, tips & tricks, and other resources.

There are 23 patterns total. All patterns are fashion accessories meaning there’s no blankets, pillows, or whatever else. Instead you’ll find are lace shawls, knitted bracelets, all sorts of hat styles, mitts, cowl, shawlettes, boot toppers, scarves, and a few other things. If you are aiming to start knitting with beads there are many patterns and excellent explanations for just that. All but one of the patterns is meant for ladies. That’s right there’s a hat just for guys thrown in there so we can justify our knitting obsession and a need for more yarn by knitting that special guy in our life something.

I opted to knit myself a pair of boot toppers from the pattern in this book and I was extremely happy with the results! I adjusted the pattern a bit to suit my boots and measurements with ease. Results equal extremely satisfied. These boot toppers knit up fast and used a minimal amount of yarn.

I totally learned something new as in wrapping stitches and cross-overs and didn’t feel intimidated in the least bit. That’s right, no frustration, no throwing the pattern book against the wall, and certainly not the fainest notion to knit the same old thing!

There are many projects that only requires a skein or two of yarn meaning you won’t break the bank. Chances are you’ve already got a skein or two laying around just waiting for a special project too. I’m quite eager to start knitting up a few more of these patterns soon.

Overall, I found the patterns in this book to be quite functional as well as fashionable. There’s a lot of patterns out there but I usually opt to spend time working on those that I can incorporate into my wardrobe on a daily basis with a few extras for special occasions. With most books I only have a few favorite patterns but with this book I love them all!

I highly recommend Knockout Knits to any and every knitter. It was like learning new skills from a dear friend and this new friend takes knits to a new level by adding pizzazz and a little sparkle. I honestly am all for sparkles.

All the patterns in the book are on Ravelry for you to favorite, add to library, and queue up.

Interested in Purchasing?

Knockout Knits: New Tricks for Scarves, Hats, Jewelry, and Other Accessories can be purchased in e-book or paperback copy from $11.99-$15.00. An excellent pattern book choice for knitters during the Holiday season!

Disclosure: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. The opinions are my own or my immediate family members, based on our personal experience of the title.

Loom Knitting Basics Kit Review

Posted on October 15, 2014December 10, 2020 by Erin

The Loom Knitting Basics Kit by Authentic Knitting Board is a must have whether you’ve loomed before or are wanting to pick up a new skill. This kit I’ve found to be a wonderful starter for those of all ages considering my six year old daughter recently learned how to knit on a loom. She has learned by experience and by watching me knit that there’s nothing more rewarding than being able to create items and gifts for friends, family, and those in need.

What’s included in this set?

A Full color reference guide, fully illustrated with photos and charts
(4) patterns to get you started
32 peg loom with 7/16″ gauge ideal for worsted weight yarn
5 mm crochet hook
darning needle
measure tape
Blue & Orange stitch markers
knit hook

I really like all the included items because I remember starting out a new craft and finding a pattern to work up only to realize half the items I needed I didn’t have on hand! This loom is small but you can do a lot of on it.

The patterns in the spiral bound reference guide are a hat, baby blanket, washcloth, and scarf! The hat and blanket you’ll obviously be knitting in pieces you’ll later have to stitch together but the scarf and the dishcloth come out just the right size! The pros of a small loom is how travel friendly that it is! I’ve taken this loom out with me when in the car, to the park, to knit with while in a waiting room, and so forth. I really like this loom for making scarves! The double knitting possibilities make creating scarves from start to finish so fast!

The reference guide is really nice that comes with this set. It teaches the basics of single knitting, double knitting, and even sock knitting! Basic skills such as casting on, binding off, finishing, how to add a crochet border, working cables, increasing, decreasing, and my more. The written instructions as well as the full color illustrations & charts make learning a breeze. Though if learning from a guide isn’t your thing though it’s a good reference to keep on hand, the companies website is full of video tutorials of many of these techniques! Speaking of the companies website, you can also find many free patterns and helpful tips and information all about loom knitting.

This loom is quite durable. It’s wooden yet it is light weight. It features nylon pegs that have grooves. The grooves are nice and make it easy to to lift the yarn over to create stitches. There’s no worry of yarn snagging in the least. The design is smooth and very well thought out, in my opinion.

I know some people might feel intimidated by wielding knitting needles or a crochet hook but I guarantee you that anyone can work a loom and make truly beautiful one of a kind items of all kinds!

The Authentic Knitting Board Loom Kniting Basics Kit Knitting Looms is priced at $19.99 and everything you need other than the yarn for whatever projects you’d like to make is included. You can purchase it on Amazon.com, The Authenitc Knitting Board website, as well as your local JoAnn fabric and craft store! Perhaps it would make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone you know!

Get Connected for the latest news, deals, and giveaways: Authentic Knitting Board on Facebook | Authentic Knitting Board Main Website | KB Blog full of patterns & Tips

Get new posts by email: