Learn the Basic Stitches for Loom Knitting - Dish Cloths

Looming Made Easy

I will be showing you how to make a couple of the basic stitches so you can make these easy homemade dish cloths. I chose a dish cloth to make for this tutorial because they are so EASY. Once you know the basic stitches than you can make anything. :)

I got a loom kit for a Christmas gift last year and I have had so much fun learning to make all kinds of things on my looms. Dish cloths are one of my favorite things to make because I never have to worry about counting stitches and I can always relax while making them. They also make great gifts. Homemade dish cloths are so nice to use too. 

I will be pulling photos off of the video tutorial that I made for the EasyMeWorld YouTube channel. If you have questions about how to do these steps, click the link below and it will take you to the video where I will show you step by step how to do these stitches.

http://youtu.be/F9vDqs-fHic 

Lets get started
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All you will need is:
*Cotton String (I use Peaches & Cream brand)

*Scissors
*Yarn Needle
*Loom
*Loom hook
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The first thing that I do is make a slip knot and put it on the peg on the outside edge of the loom. I will be working to the right side of my loom to start off with. I hold the string with my thumb and start wrapping the string onto the pegs. I use 23 pegs to make my dish cloths but you can experiment with how big you would like your dish cloths to be. 

I put 2 loops on the 23rd peg and then I pull the bottom string over top of the the top loop for the last stitch on that row. 

That is a knit stitch. I will show you more closely what a knit stitch is later. The first and last stitch of every row will always be a knit stitch because it will make the edges of your dish cloth straight and even. 

We will be alternating each row with a purl stitch and then a knit stitch until we are happy with the size of our dish cloth. Let me show you what a purl stitch is.

Purl Stitch
The purl stitch starts by taking your working string and laying it across the bottom of the loop on the next peg. (We are working to the left of our loom now) We take our hook and go under the top loop and grab the working string and pull it up under the top loop.

This will form a new loop. I use my fingers to grab the new loop and pull the top loop off of the peg. 

Then I put the new loop on the peg to replace the old loop. 

That is the purl stitch. 

You do a full row of purl stitches until you get to the last peg. That will be a knit stitch.
On the last stitch you will place your working string over top of the existing loop on the peg. Then you pull the bottom loop over top of the working string.

Knit Stitch
Now I will show you how to do a knit stitch. The first thing that I do is push all of the loops on my loom to the bottom of the pegs. 

Now we start wrapping the string around the pegs to the right like we did when we first started. 

Once we get all the pegs wrapped and there are 2 strings on each peg we start pulling the bottom loop over the top loop with our loom hook like this...

 

That is the knit stitch.

I always stop knitting when the dish cloth fits over my hand. I do not count my stitches but you can count your stitches if you would like to make your dish cloths perfectly the same size. I totally enjoy making my dish cloths with no worries of having to count. That is what makes these so easy. :)  

Now let me show you how to "cast off". That is when you take all the stitches off of your loom and finish your dish cloth.

Cast Off
I work from left to right when I cast off. I have seen it done from right to left too. I will show you how I do it. After you finish your row of purl stitches and your dish cloth is done we will begin our cast off. 
We will be using 2 pegs for each cast off stitch. The first peg is on the left and the second peg is on the right. 
I wrap my working string around the second peg and pull the bottom loop over top of the top string. 

 Now I take the loop off of the second peg and put it onto the first peg like this.

Next I take the loom hook and pull the bottom loop over top of the top loop.

The last thing that we do is pull the loop off of the first peg 

and put it onto the second peg.

You continue to do this until your dish cloth is off of the loom.

The last step is to get your needle and thread your end strings onto the needle. I loop a knot in the corner of my dish cloth to make sure it wont come undone. Then I weave my end strings into the edge of my dish cloth to tuck the strings neatly. 

 That is all you have to do. :)

Here are some of the things that I made on my looms so far. 
This is my first hat. It was a bit tight so I knew I would need some practice. :) 

 This is my second hat and I made a scarf to match it. It was not tight and turned out perfectly. 

This is my favorite hat! I love how this one turned out. I wanted this hat to be longer and chunky so I just used a pattern from a small hat and just kept going with it to make it long. Don't be a afraid to change the patterns that you find to make your projects your own. If it doesn't turn out... You can just pull it out and redo it. hehe To me this is a fun hat and very different. That is what makes me like this hat so much. :)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Once you get the hang of using a loom, the possibilities are endless. Be patient and enjoy yourself. 
Happy Looming!
Don't forget to check out the video: 
http://youtu.be/F9vDqs-fHic

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and join us on our facebook page. We would love to have you join us.

Have a beautiful day!! 

EASYMEWORLD YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EasyMeWorld

EASYMEWORLD FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/EasyMeWorld

All About Sorghum

This morning I decided to have a bowl of oatmeal and every once in a while I enjoy my oatmeal with some Sorghum or Molasses. I chose sorghum this morning and as I was quietly eating it I began to wonder what the health benefits to sorghum were. I always heard that Molasses was good for a boost in iron but I admitted to myself that I really did not know much about sorghum so I decided to do a little research.

First of all... What is Sorghum?

Sorghum is made from 100 percent pure, natural juice extracted from sorghum cane. The juice is cleansed of impurities and concentrated by evaporation in open pans into a clear, amber colored, mild flavored syrup. The syrup retains all of its natural sugars and other nutrients. It is 100 percent natural and contains no chemical additives of any kind. 

Here is a video that explains how sorghum syrup is made. This is the place that actually made the sorghum that I had on my oatmeal this morning. I thought it was totally awesome to watch how they made my breakfast sweetener. It is so neat that it was made by a family that has been doing this for so long. Yes, they really do use horses to mill the cane. :) 

What is the Difference Between Sorghum and Molasses?

Molasses is a by-product of the sugar industry, whereas sorghum is the syrup produced when the extracted juice from the sorghum is boiled down. Sorghum is milder in taste.

What Does Sorghum Look Like?

 Sorghum kind of resembles corn stalks when it is growing in the field. 

What Else Does the Sorghum Plant Produce?

Not only will sorghum make a delicious syrup, but you can eat the sorghum seeds. It is gluten-free and there are so many things that you can do with it. Here is what the seeds look like.

Here is a link to the nutrition facts of Sorghum grain: 

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5732/2

Sorghum is a cereal grain that originated in Africa about 5000 year ago where it continues to be an important food source today. It is sometimes called milo and in India it is known as jowar.

Today the United States is the largest producer of sorghum where it is primarily used for animal feed. Because of the growing need for gluten-free products sorghum has become a popular ingredient in gluten-free flour and baking mixes. 

Sorghum grain is like corn because it is an incomplete source of protein. It does not supply adequate amounts of lysine, an important essential amino acid (protein). The body requires lysine for growth, bone health and for converting fats to energy.

A large verity of gluten-free flour mixes contain  sorghum flour blends with other GF flours, starches and leavening agents. It is blended because using sorghum grain alone produces dry, gritty baked goods. If you mix it with tapioca starch than your baked goods have a better volume and texture.

Look at what else you can do with the Sorghum grain/seeds.

YES!! That is popped sorghum seeds!! Haha! I was so excited when I found this out. It looks so YUMMY!!

Lets learn more about popping sorghum seeds.

They are very small but they have a HUGE flavor.

It is a super healthy whole grain food (containing calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron) low in calories and fat, and gluten free! 

Because it essentially has no hull, popped sorghum grain may also be tolerated and enjoyed by some sufferers of Crohn's disease and diverticulitis. Of course, you should always consult your doctor if you have these conditions before changing your diet.

It does have a lower yield than popcorn (meaning that up to 30-40% of the grains may not pop) but that is part of its charm. Many of the grains that don't pop are toasted in the process, making them crunchy, nutty and delicious!

Here is a video that shows how to pop sorghum seeds:

 Lets get back to our discussion on sorghum syrup. :) 

What is the Nutritional Value of Sorghum Syrup?

One tablespoon of sorghum syrup supplies all of the average adult’s daily potassium needs. It’s also high in antioxidants.

One tablespoon of sorghum syrup:

• 30 mg calcium (3% DV)
• 300 mg protein
• .76 mg iron (almost as high as blackstrap molasses; 4% DV)
• 20 mg magnesium (5% DV)
• 11 mg phosphorus
• 200 mg potassium (almost 6% DV)
• .80 mg zinc (5% DV)
• .03 mg riboflavin (a B vitamin; almost 2% DV)

Before the invention of the daily vitamins, many doctors prescribed sorghum as a daily supplement for those low in these nutrients. 

How Can You Be Sure That You Are Buying Pure Sorghum?

IMPORTANT!!

The logo seen here was developed by the NSSPPA as a tool to insure that you are buying a pure sorghum product. Each producer in the association is given a number to put on their logo that will quickly identify where and by whom the sorghum was produced. When you see the logo, you will know that you are getting pure sorghum, NOT the blend. MAKE SURE YOU LOOK FOR THE LOGO.

I was relieved to see that my jar of sorghum had the logo on it. Whew!! :)

What To Do If Your Sorghum Crystallizes?

Like honey crystallizes, sorghum does too. Yes, mine is starting to crystallize. :) Putting your sorghum in a pan of warm water can restore it to a usable form. I also run warm water on the lid if I have a hard time opening it. I do not have a microwave but if you have one, you can put it in the microwave for a few seconds to loosen the crystals.

Is Sorghum a Good Sugar Substitute for Diabetics?

No. Although it is a natural product, it is still a sugar and will effect your blood sugar readings. Talk to your doctor to see if small amounts of sorghum can be incorporated into your diet.

 I am truly happy that I decided to research all the beautiful qualities about sorghum. I am excited to give sorghum seeds a good popping. LOL I think they will be something that I would enjoy very much. :) Maybe you will want to give sorghum a try too. 

THANK YOU so much for visiting our blog. 

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Have a beautiful day!! 

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Easy Mosaics for Beginners

Mosaics can be so easy and fun. You can make them out of just about any kind of material that you can find. Kids will love doing mosaics because they will have a blast exploring all the possibilities that can go into each project. 

Use your imagination to make your mosaic as original as you want it. Use twigs, stones, seashells, Lego pieces, glass, tiles, beads... the list can go on and on. The key is to have fun with it and let the ideas flow.

I used stuff that I found at the dollar store to make my pictures. I had a bunch of stuff left over too. 

What I used:

Beads

Glue

Seashells

Paint
Cardboard Frame

Burnt Matches

I save my matches after I light a candle because I just know that I will use them for a cool art project one day. :)  They came in quite handy for this project. 

If you would like to watch my video so you can see how I made these really cool pictures, click the link below. I explain it step by step as I make both of my pictures. 

http://youtu.be/Q7veOc05UDQ

Now let me explain how I made my seashell picture using photos from my video.

Here is the painting that inspired me to make my 2 mosaic pictures. I wanted the two pictures to go along with this painting and I wanted to integrate real seashells into the pictures because the painting has real seashells too. I loved that idea! It gives the painting such texture and a real life feel. I knew that mosaic pictures would go perfectly with it.  

The first thing that I did was to paint my cardboard frame with acrylic paint. You can use whatever paint that you have or you can leave the cardboard unpainted if you would like. In my world, there is no right or wrong way to do a mosaic. :)

The internet is a beautiful tool to get your imagination flowing. I knew I wanted to make one of my pictures a seashell but I was not sure of the shape I wanted it. So I simply looked up seashell pictures so I could pick the style I wanted.

I decided that I wanted to make a clam shell. I wanted to use my real seashells at the bottom sides of my mosaic clam shell. I placed my shells on the picture where I wanted them and then I drew the rest of the picture free hand with a pencil until I thought the shell design looked centered. 

I start by gluing one small section. Then I placed my beads on the glue. Next, I glue another small section and then I placed my burnt matches on the glue. It makes it super easy if you work in small sections at a time. 

This is what it looks like with the beads and match sticks glued on. The last thing that I do is glue the seashells onto both sides of the bottom of the shell design. The Tacky Glue will dry clear. I had to touch up the paint on my cardboard because I got a little messy but that was very easy to do after I was done. LOL

Here is what my finished seashell looks like.

I did the same process for making my seahorse. If you would like to see me make my seahorse, I have it in my video. I love how both of my pictures turned out. 

Watch the video:
http://youtu.be/Q7veOc05UDQ

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Here are some links to my other pages if you are interested in more of my creative tutorials. We love to share with each other on our Facebook page if you are interested in visiting us there too. 
Have a beautiful day!!!

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I thought these two pictures might work good for Pinterest. :) 

DIY Jewelry and More

In this blog post I will be showing you pictures of the projects that I have done using this awesome technique. The possibilities are endless when it comes to ideas. I made jewelry, hair clips, hair pins and decorations. It is inexpensive and easy to make all kinds of creations.

Things you will need:

*Wire

*Glue

*Finger Nail Polish

*Hair Dryer

*Waxed Paper

In this step by step video I will show you how to do this technique if you would like to give it a try too.
http://youtu.be/9mR0Zhx1S1I

Here are some of the projects that I made so I could share with you some of the many things that you can make. I hope it encourages you to give it a try. :) 

Hair Clips

I love how the nail polish makes the projects sparkle.

Hair pin

Jewelry
Pendant

Bracelet

Earrings 

Pendant 

Flower Decoration

I made this flower out of pipe cleaners. I wanted to see if I could use this technique out of something as simple as pipe cleaners... AND I DID! hehe

Don't miss out on our future videos and ideas... 
Subscribe to our Youtube channel. 
Links to more of our crafts:

EASYMEWORLD YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/user/EasyMeWorld

EASYMEWORLDFACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/EasyMeWorld