More Loom Band training...

Last weekend Sophie and I decided to spent some Mummy/daughter time together which means that Sophie gets to choose what we will do.

Well, the latest  craze for Sophie is Loom Banding.  In fact it is a craze that has actually lasted for many weeks now so I think it is here to stay for quite a while.

So, I had my second lesson in loom banding............

When we went to Plymouth last week I decided that if I can beat this loom banding I may as well join them so I bought the above loom at a Toy shop.  The hook is actually one of my crochet hook.  They were selling proper metal crochet hooks on the nearby stand just for Loom banding, I bet there has been a huge surge in the sale of these little tools!

Sophie thought that a couple of simple bracelets would make a good lesson so I ended up using this teeny weeny loom instead.

I found it quite fiddly and clearly my little finger is still not fully back to normal, it didn't like the small size of this loom.  However, I kept at it and I eventually ended up with a bracelet with a stitch that looked very similar to a single knit or crochet chain.

We then tackled a much harder bracelet called the Fish Tail and I thought it would like great in multi-coloured loom bands.  Looks quite tropical I thought.

The one I really liked and might actually use was the little flower at the top of the picture.  Very quick to do but you do need to get your colours the right way round as this was meant to be a daisy!

I enjoyed this session even if I did not really know what I was doing half the time and the fun that Sophie had in showing Mummy how to loom band was worth the state of confusion.  

Since last weekend Sophie has designed and made a Union flag using grid paper and her loom band skills.  it is brilliant!!

Sophie has also made other flower shapes which I hope she will show me this weekend.

I have bought some of these little loops for my Textiles club to use and see what we end up with.

I have only had three sign up so far but if I remember rightly this happened last year and I ended up with 15, so I shall keep my fingers crossed.

have a good weekend all

xx

Loom Bands Meets Crochet

Now I know that there is a bit of a link between this summers craze of Loom Bands and crochet.  They both use a hook, use links to hold yarn/bands together, the work can grow buy adding loops and links to make a wide variety of things.  However I  do not quite get the Loom Band bit.  My daughter has made all sorts of things that look really weird stretched out on her loom Band gadget (think O'level biology dissection lessons), then she takes them off and it suddenly turns into a snake or butterfly or something.  A bit like magic and Sophie has proven to be really good and I mean really good at Loom banding.  She has used You tube to learn how to follow visual instructions and to use the Internet to learn something.

I do feel it has a bit of a link with knitting, french knitting and even macrame to a certain degree.

Anyway,  on Tuesday Sophie showed me some pencil covers she had made and asked if a cover for one of my crochet hooks might be an idea.  You can buy hook handle covers to ease your hands and make the hooks more comfortable to hold so this seemed like a good idea.

Within minutes Sophie had made me a crochet hook cover using some Loom Bands that I had bought from The Range.  I did not realise they were scented I just liked the colour.   I bought them to have a go with, well I thought we could make some things at my after school Textiles Club along with the Scoubie threads.

So I tried out the newly covered hook  (carefully with hand) and it is actually pretty darn good!!

In fact it was so good I asked Sophie to make another cover for my most used hook.  She made them the full length of the hook but you could stop at any point.  I do need to slide it back to double check the hook size but that is no big problem.  

Sophie was delighted to have made something for me (slushy Mummy moment) and I gave her the spare bands.  Has to be the fastest time span between buying and using up something ever.  About 48 hours!

So if you have a Loom Band crazed child in your house (meant in the nicest way) and you crochet then give it a try, it can always be taken apart if you do not like it.

Since Tuesday I have done some more crochet and I shall show you what I have done next time.  Plus my holiday snaps need an airing before the time has really past.

If you do take up the crochet hook Loom challenge send me a picture or put a link in the comment and we can all pop over and take a look.

Take Care

xx

Loom Bands meets Macrame with a Dash of Scoubidou!

 The latest craze for Loom bands (my daughter made me those shown above) reminded me of a craft that I first learnt at primary school, Macrame.  I remember a small group of us were taught how to make a belt and possibly an owl, memory not so sure on that bit, and I included beads etc.  I made it with good quality string and I had that belt for years and years, never wore it as it was too big.  We worked to a pattern rather than body measurements.

Yesterday was unfortunately a wash out as we were caught on the edge of the severe storm that caught the south coast and our planned trip to Brighton was called off.  Just a dash to the shop for milk and bread was carried out.  So what to do.  Sophie had bought her loom bands and loom and we called in to the toy shop the day we arrived to get a few more (would not want her to run out!) and I saw these......

Remember these?  Scoubidou cords.  I have not seen these in ages and then remembered that I have a couple of boxes of these in a cupboard in the garage.  I then thought....Textiles Club!  I have brought my works iPad with me on holiday ( I now I should not have done but it is hard to just stop at the end of term) and planning the schedule for next year.  I did this on paper last year and despite having to cancel a few due to pre-Ofsted meetings, it worked well.  I thought this tiime I would put it on the iPad so it could be altered with a click of a button.
So yesterday I spent time trawling through You tube finding ways to learn just a few knots.  Sophie had done some last year with Brownies but had forgotten.  So we both sat down and had a bit of us time.
However, as you know, when you search on You tube you often get links to other similar crafts and here popped up the macrame.  I thought why not try the scoubie threads (made of hollow plastic) to do macrame with and so the below bracelet emerged.

 I was really pleased how well I remembered this and much easier than the scoubiedou knots that I had given up with after 2 hours of cursing under my breath!

This is usually done with string or cord but did work pretty well with the plastic threads and this was in shades of blue but on closer inspection the following day appears to be pale blue and purple!
A knot and loop fastening applied it is now sitting on my wrist to see how it lasts.

I then went back to the Scoubiedou knots as I did not want to be beaten by plastic strings and found a video on You tube that made a bit more sense..................

I cobbled this together which looks ok but is completely wrong!
I did start a box knot but lost interest as the draw of macrame came forth and I found the Macrame School channel which had loads of ideas.

 The above looks better in person but would make a lovely bracelet.  The plastic threads are not as supple as wool or string but I really would like to use up these Scoubiedou threads!

 These are a traditional Macrame stitch/knot which naturally starts to twist as you make it, really easy but very effective.

This one did not really work with the plastic but again would work better with string so I shall also have string as a material to work with at school.  Due to me doing the school run in September, as Sophie will be joining my school in Year 7, Sophie will attend the club and has already said that she would like to help with this activity and basically join the club as well.
So with some examples made and stored away in my bag I am now off to work on something else for next year involving felt, one of my favourite materials.
Today is much better and we might venture to Brighton and see how it goes.
Has anyone else had a go at Loom Bands or are indeed wearing a bracelet made of them?  Any closet Macrame makers out there with any tips?
Take care.
xx