Loom knitting This Fine Art That Has Recently Found A Revival
Loom knitting is also referred to as French knitting, reel knitting, spool knitting, box knitting, rake knitting, ring knitting, bung knitting, frame knitting etc Loom knitting is an historical fine art that has recently experienced an revival. Knitting nowadays is extremely popular all over the world. And the resurgence of knitting looms in the global world of knitting has given all knitters a cause to grin.
Looms were used extensively in the medieval age in countries like Britain, France, Germany and many other places in Europe. People used the technique of loom knitting to knit bags, purses, tasseled caps, petticoats, shawls, hammocks, curtains, nets, petticoats etc. A common opinion is that guild apprentices knit carpets for their masters on frame boards i.e, knitting looms.
Knitting looms can be broken in to three primary types- the round loom, the rake loom and the knitting board. The round loom is not necessarily round. It could be a square, rectangle, an oval or even diamond-shaped. All pegs of this loom are necessary to be continuous without any specific starting or stopping point. The distance between the pegs of this loom decides its gauge. A lot of distance implies a lot of gauge.
There is not much difference between the round loom and the rake. However, the rake, second type of knitting loom, has continuous pegs which have a beginning and a finishing point. Once Again, the gauge of the pegs in this loom is defined by the length between them. Only flat knitting can be done on this type of knitting loom.
A knitting board is a loom with two parallel rakes. These twin rakes are used to knit across the loom. A double knit fabric can be produced with the help of a knitting board. The gauge of this type of loom is determined by two factors- the length between its pegs and the distance between its rakes. A big gauge is created by a large length between either of the two.
Loom knitting is helped by the varying devices on a knitting loom. The knitting looms that have single rows of pegs are called single rakes, while those having double rows of pegs are called double rakes. Knitting fabrics that have a distinctive right and wrong side can be produced with single rakes. A double material with both right sides can be produced with the aid of double rakes.
The purpose pegs serve in loom knitting is same as the purpose needles serve in hand or machine knitting. Every peg in a loom is like a knitting needle which is used to make different designs and stitches on a loom. Gauge is the length between the pegs of a loom. It is this standard of measurement that specifies the size of the stitches that can be produced, as also the thickness of yarn that would work the best for a particular loom.
Loom knitting has not only gained a return but also is acquiring popularity. It is easy to learn and the knitting looms are simple to use. Those who have given up crochet and needle knitting owing to arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other such complaints can enjoy loom knitting instead. It does not require use of needles and is quite user friendly.
The trend of loom knitting is taking the world by storm and is for certain causing a lot good to the world of knitting.