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List Price: $45.00
Sale Price: $24.99
Today's Bonus: 44% Off
Ive crocheted for about 10 years and recently taught myself to knit but had a hard time with gauging how to make items the right size. So I initially bought a knifty knitter and really enjoyed it as there was no guessing sizes and gauges, but I got tired of only being able to use bulky or doubled up yarn. I also wanted to have a try at intarsia which is very limited on knifty knitters due to their size.
The wait for this item was a little long, but really I only ended up waiting about 11 days, I was in no hurry given the price (although I noticed the price went up 5 dollars since I ordered it on January 22,2012, got it for $23) Considering the price of wood and metal alternatives that don't have such versatility i'd say this is still a steal. I had another item in my cart and qualified for free shipping which made it even more so worth the wait.
Over all I really love this loom and it's versatility has a lot of crafty ideas swimming around in my head. If I could I'd give this item 4 1/2 stars because while it has short comings (which is why it doesn't get 5) they aren't quite worth a full star reduction.
The Good:
I can see this item lasting a very long time, the plastic is of good quality and when the pegs are placed in to secure the pieces there is virtually no wiggling.
-Versatility! I don't see me needing to buy any other looms in the future. Since this loom allows you to make a variety of sizes and shapes I'm sure it will be great for things like socks, double sided scarves, of course hats and I think with some experimenting I could make a sweater on this thing!
The only thing you need to get started is yarn and a pair of scissors! it includes practically everything you would possibly need, including a size K crochet hook, and two yarn needles (one is longer and has a larger eye)
The Bad:
The knitting toolWhile the soft rubber grip on the knit tool is a nice upgrade, the metal part is a bit flimsy and slowly starts to bend backward while using it.. Im worried the constant bending during use and me returning it to it's correct position will eventually cause the metal to weaken and snap.
-The Yarn needles. Considering this item is typically found for 30 dollars and upwards I really think metal yarn needles should have been included especially since 99% of the other items are plastic. I'm sure they'll make due for beginners, but I really suggest investing in metal ones.
-The pegs start to slide up during use, but I've yet to have one actually fall out of their hole, unlike my knifty knitter which seemed to have a peg come loose from the hole every other round or so.
-The booklet The booklet is very basic. Although it's of high quality and in full color it leaves a bit to be desired, it gives you instructions on how to use it in a few various ways, I personally found the instructions a bit confusing and found "How to" youtube videos to be of better service. The booklet only offer's 3 basic patterns to be inspired by: a fairly plain scarf, matching hat, and a woven baby blanket.
In short I certainly don't regret my purchase but there are a few minor improvements that would make this item a stellar purchase.
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I already have two "Knifty Knitter" loom sets (round and oblong) but wanted something a bit more versatile. Got the Martha Stewart Knit and Weave Loom for Christmas, and overall I am happy with it.
My only issues are:
1. Can't find extra pegs. I am clumsy and lose little things. The pegs that fit well in the loom don't come out. Others, however, don't go in so well and have the potential for being lost. Would like to buy extra pegs someplace. Anyplace. I don't care where. Just want extra pegs!
2. Loom hook is badly designed. The wide part near the hook end means the hook has to be rotated sideways to fit through the pegs when pulling yarn through on both sides of the loom. I got around that problem by having hubby fashion a hook from an old wire hanger. He got the proper bend in the hook end, and it's just an inch longer than the plastic hook and works great. I can zip through a woven square in no time now.
Like someone else mentioned, the directions in the book are a little unclear, but I experimented a bit with the weaving part and worked it out. My very first woven squares turned out awesome! Already know how to loom knit, so I didn't bother with those directions. There are loom knitting videos on You Tube, however, for novices.
Didn't really care for the rosettes, but may experiment a little with those.
Aside from the issues above, though, the kit does seem to be well made and capable of lasting for a long time. I like the adjustability factor with different sized pegs and being able to skip peg holes.
One thing I did was to buy a plastic tool box to hold all the parts and the manual.
Nice kit overall.
1/24/12 UPDATE...I emailed Lion Brand Yarn, which sells these kits, asking where I can find extra pegs. Twice. No reply one way or the other. So I bought a second kit here on Amazon. Worth the money for me, as I often have more than one project going on at the same time. Also, by linking the straight pieces together I can get a very wide loom on which to knit larger items like afghans in one piece instead of two (or three). I suppose it's also possible to create a very large weaving loom as well.
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I received this loom about a week ago. I am very happy with the quality of this loom. It is super versatile. It is well constructed. Once put together, the pegs hold it together and do not come out of the holes until they are pulled out.
The pegs come in two different sizes, each size in two colors for marking different type stitches or in counting.
The only drawback I have found is that the loom hook is poorly made and breaks within a very short time. I have several loom hooks so was not really a problem for me.
It is easily usable for the novice or the more advanced loom knitters. Thanks to the pieces coming apart I have also been able to link pieces together and make a chain.
This loom set is also a great for weaving projects.
I have made several items thus far and can honestly give it a 5 Star rating.
Honest reviews on Martha Stewart Crafts Lion Brand Yarn 5000-100 Knit and Weave Loom
In summary: The list price is too high, and yes you need spare parts. Other than that the set is a lot of fun to work with.
Within the first week we lost 4 pegs, so the frames are not really as travel friendly as suggested. We called Lion Brand customer service (800-661-7551)and they replaced those pegs at no charge, but a couple of weeks later we lost some more. Two things to fix the situation: We bought over-sized plastic zip bags to protect all the little parts when we travel. We also bought a second loom kit, mostly for spare parts, when it was on sale at almost half off. I personally would not buy the set at the regular price, but when it is on sale, it's absolutely worth it.
Watch the video clips about how to use the frame and its features on Lion Brand Youtube (). Even somebody who already knit/weaves gets some good information out of it and it guarantees a quick and successful start.
Experiment with different yarns (sharing our weaving experience): When trying a yarn, I make small patches using double/single strands of the yarn, and single/skip-a-space peg settings. The four results are amazingly different, and I choose based on the samples which settings will work best. Please note that you absolutely don't have to use any of Martha Stewart's overpriced yarns. Experiment with any yarn that you have or like. So far my favorites are Homespun, used single-stranded, and a variety of baby yarn, used double-stranded.
I like to weave and have been using the Vintage style Weave-It or Weavette looms, but I have been disappointed that I can only use thinner yarns. The Martha Stewart Loom Kit fills that spot.
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I was so excited to find a kit with so many options in it I couldn't wait to get it home and start knitting hats for a charity I'm involved with. What a surprise to find that not all the pegs fit into the holes. I decided to try it anyways and the pegs kept popping out of the holes. The hook is so cheaply made that it broke before I was done with my second row. This kit is going back tomorrow.
