The Dove Fund

April 10, 2013 Comments: 15

The DOVE Fund and their Bandage Brigade

On January 12, 2000 a group of Vietnam Veterans started The Dove Fund . In its short history it has built 44 schools, 11 daycare centers, 3 medical clinics, and 5 mayor water projects among many other ongoing projects.

I have been moved by one particular service that is provided by these dear folks and their volunteers. They provide bandages to the lepers of Vietnam. Since 2008 their Bandage Brigade has delivered over 12,000 bandages. These are handmade by volunteers from around the globe.

I was amazed that in this century there were still people suffering from this horrific disease. I wanted to help and ask others to do the same.

All Images Credit: [ The Dove Fund ]

Why Handmade Leprosy Bandages

According to the folks on the ground in the colony for The Dove Fund, the handmade bandages breath better, can be washed, sterilized and reused. The bandages are not only used for sores but also for stumps. Gauze would wear out to quickly.

One more very important factor about making these bandages, the recipients know that it takes a lot of time to make one and so they feel that someone cares. A message rarely given to them.

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Friendship Bracelet

March 31, 2013 Comments: 14

Friendship Bracelet made on a Spool Loom

A Friendship bracelet is not just for kids in camp to give each other before they head home. They are true fashion accessories. The color options are endless. They are cheap to make and I can’t imagine anybody not getting a kick out of getting one.

The name alone makes me happy. I love them but couldn’t seem to get the hang of making them. I watched few a videos – nothing inspired me. The results were thin bracelets that took way to long to complete. The I found a video on finger knitting a bracelet and something clicked in my brain. I figured out that I could Loom Knit a Friendship bracelet on a Spool Loom.

Everyone who knows me, knows how I feel about loom knitting. What a great combination. To put the cherry on top I get to show others how to make them.
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How to Loom Knit a Preemie Hat for a Baby

March 20, 2013 Comments: 42

How to Loom Knit a Preemie Hat – Video and Picture Tutorial

Learn how to Loom knit a preemie hat in minutes with a FREE pattern, video and text tutorial. Also works for newborn babies and some of the bigger dolls like American Girl. This is a very easy project and the returns are priceless. Whether you’re making the little caps for your own babies or as a gift. You will find that once you learn basic loom knitting skills you can complete one of these in less than 30 or 40 minutes.I made an easy to follow video tutorial. It will show you everything you need to know from start to finish in one short watch.

Note that I don’t knit the conventional loom knit brim for my newborn beanies. Instead I allow the bottom to curl-up. This gives the hat the look of a loom knitted brim minus the harshness of a full double layered brim.
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How Many Rows ?

March 17, 2013 Comments: 57

How Many Rows Do You Need to Knit for …..?

How many rows do I knit for my 10-year-old, how many rows for a man’s hat, for my toddler, for my newborn, for the blanket ? I get asked this question in many different ways. Each has a generic answer which you can find in most size charts. We have one of those below.

But there is a better way…

Let’s Start with a Generic Size Chart for Loom Knit Hats

The chart is an example – The Advise works for ALL types of knitting, not just loom knitting and not just hats.

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Learn to Knit – 10 Year Old Teaches Knitting on YouTube

February 17, 2013 Comments: 14

Learn to Knit with Jackie

If you ever wondered whether your kids could learn to knit, Jackie Alvarez has the answer, and it a resounding Yes.

This tiny hat knitting giant, along with her mother, sister and even, get this, her father, tons of school and neighborhood tweens and teens have made hundreds of knit projects for relief organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, Relay for Life, other charities, hospitals and orphanages around the world.

In February of 2013 I recorded Jackie to create a loom knitting video tutorial just for kids. You have to see her in action to believe that she is only 10 and is such an eloquent and effective teacher.. Watch with the kids. I promise that you will learn to knit and be inspired. I also assure you that you will have a lot of fun in the process.

I marvel at the picture above of Jackie at the tender age of 8 when she learned to make purses out of her loom knitted hats . These have also found their way to many happy little girls around the world. She is as proud as she looks of her great accomplishment. I must say that I am TOTALLY proud to call her my friend.

You’re Going to Love Jackie as Much as We Do and

You and Your Kids will

Learn to Knit!

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Knitting with an Attention Disorder

December 31, 2012 Comments: 24

For Attention Disorder Sufferers: You Can Knit!

Most people use a pattern when they knit. I’m not sure whether I can’t or I just won’t knit with a pattern. I say that I’m not sure because no one has ever held a gun over my head and said, “Your life or some well knitted puffy slippers using this here pattern!” The problem is that when I look at the list of instructions the lines seem to be duplicating in length and in complexity as I scan the document. I immediately feel overwhelmed and after the second or third line well, everything is a blur. Even if I start it seems almost impossible to finish. I start to think about other issues and ideas and off I go to another project without cleaning up the mess I made getting all the supplies for the first one.

Do I have ADD?..I don’t want to talk about it. Time is ticking and I might loose your attention, or my own. Let’s talk knitting and how I’ve done it even when it’s difficult to focus; for what ever the impeding reason.

I devised a formula that helps me. I’m not a medical professional of any sort – and this may not be of any help to you or for who ever you are reading this article. But if one person can knit because I shared this information then it was worth it. So here it is…

My Fab Five Formula: I use Video Tutorials, Simple Project Instructions instead of Patterns , Coins to Count, Looms Instead of Needles and I Change the Colors of the Pegs on my Looms depending on the project.

Let me explain each in detail:

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How to Loom Knit a Doll Dress

December 25, 2012 Comments: 21

Knitting Doll Clothes is Important Because Barbie Always Needs a New Dress

Knitting doll clothes can be fun and easy. If you can make a couple of pom poms and a simple small knit hat this outfit is yours.. Personalize it even more with bows , buttons or colored string. The point is to dress-up Barbie with a beautiful easy to make gown.

For creative choices, a few changes to the pom poms and the yarn color and the dress takes on a whole other look.

Take a look at the next picture for examples of mild changes with interesting visual implications.

I so loved this project. I have recycled Barbie Dolls now for 3 years. They have been sent all over the world, which I think is awesome for what would have been throw a-ways.

Scroll Down for a FREE Pattern and Video Tutorial

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Loom Knit a Doll

December 16, 2012 Comments: 17

Loom Knit Dolls – Easy

I looked for a guide on how to loom knit a doll. I wanted to make some for my Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes and Reliefshare.org. During my internet quest I found A LOT on how to crochet all kinds of patterns for knitted dolls. Well, I don’t know how to crochet so I didn’t need any of those patterns. But by the grace of God I woke up on a Saturday at 6 am with all the instructions in my head. The end product is a video on YouTube and what I hope is an easy picture tutorial below.

My cutie: The Ball Dolly. .. is precious to me.

She is easy to assemble but you must have 2 preemie loom knit hats which are easy to make.

If you don’t know how to make a preemie hat scroll down to the bottom of the article for a video tutorial.

For a 24 picture and text tutorial on how to loom knit a doll go the end of this article.

DOLLY VIDEO TUTORIAL AT THE END OF ARTICLE: If you don’t know how to make a Preemie Hat Scroll Down to the Bottom of This Article for an easy to follow video tutorial or Click Here

Another Loom Knit Doll is this

“Little Lady” comfort doll.

For a Free Pattern: Click Here

Another Loom Knit Doll is this

“Little Dude and Friends” comfort dolls

For the Easy Free Pattern: Click Here

So let’s get started on the Ball Dolly! Please follow the pictures from left to right, the written instructions can be found under each college. If you get stuck on one part of the project… feel free to return to that spot as many times as is necessary, you can leave your questions or comments below.
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Supplies Needed: Two Loom Knit Preemie Hats, Poly-Fil, Extra Yarn Strings, Scissors

TO PURCHASE THE DOWNLOADABLE PATTERN: CLICK HERE
Consider Joining Patreon . For as little as $2 get all patterns posted each month. With a higher $5 pledge you also get a mothly downloadable video so that you don’t need to be online to create your project.

To join Patreon: Click HERE

Part 1 of Picture Tutorial

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How to Loom Knit Baby Booties with a Flower Loom

December 12, 2012 Comments: 44

How to Loom Knit Baby Booties : Very Cute Very Easy

I wanted to loom baby booties for charity. Priority number one was that they needed to be really cute but very simple to make because I don’t like to knit complicated projects and because I wanted to make a lot of them.

Since I didn’t know how to crochet or do regular knitting, figuring out how to do this using the same basic skills I use to loom hats was a bit difficult in the beginning Going back and forth didn’t feel very natural with the first little sock. But, once I got going making these little knitted shoes it was easy as pie. Then I was hook I wanted to loom baby booties in every color and for everybody, even the dog. By-the-way, even if you can loom baby booties for the dog you should reconsider. I don’t think they like the feel of the yarn. Any way, that’s another story for another day and another project. If you do make some for your dog or cat, PLEASE send me pictures!
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ReliefShare.org

December 6, 2012 1 comment

ReliefShare.org : A Great Organization!

One of the slogans is, “giving relief through sharing.” What a beautiful statement. For me, it is spot-on as far as what I want to do with my loom knitting projects. If you love to knit, sew, or put funds together for an awesome cause you need to visit this website and get to know these folks. The blog is especially sweet.; full of pictures of sewn and knitted toys, hats, booties and blankets. I must suggest however, that you have tissue in hand. Some of the pictures will tear you heart apart and help spring you into action.

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Operation Christmas Child Loom Knitting Projects

December 5, 2012 Comments: 6

Operation Christmas Child : My All-Time Favorite Charity

Operation Christmas Child started in 1993. It is the gift giving project of the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. Today they have traveled to over 130 countries and have delivered over 100 million gift filled shoe boxes.

This charity is especially close to my heart. How can I express the love my family and I have for this project but by telling you that we work all year-long looking for bargain items and making special hand-made gifts to fill shoe boxes that I know will travel across the globe to some poverty-stricken, hurting , and often abandoned children left in cold and unloving orphanages. I have personally met two recipients, now grown-ups, who have told us of unspeakable situations and the impact of a small but powerful little shoe box.

I know that many of these kids have Never had a toy or a candy. That many will go to school for the first time because in my little boxes I remembered to include school supplies.

I am so amazed of the joy that I can give with just a few store-bought items and a few loom knitted toys. Let me show you what that joy looks like…

How Can Your Loom Knitting Help Operation Christmas Child?

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How to Loom Knit a Hat EASY

December 2, 2012 Comments: 17

How to Loom Knit a Hat- Easy

Learn how to loom knit the basic hat is almost fail-proof with a circular loom. To top that off your supply list is made-up of only five items, a loom, a hook, yarn, a yarn needle and scissors making loom knitting an affordable project that will serve you well many times over.

Once you know this simple project a lot of the others you will find on this site are just adjustments of the basic loom knit hat.

Follow the links below for picture and text tutorials.There is a video tutorial as well if that is of your preference.

Important Note – For the hat in the picture – just turn your basic loom knit hat inside out.

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How to Loom Knit a Flower – A Very Different Flower

November 13, 2012 Comments: 15

How to Loom Knit a Flower – The Flat Hat Flower

I wasn’t looking to learn how to loom knit a flower when I discovered this beauty. I was first learning how to loom knit hats using the Knifty Knitter loom. I made a mistake and created a really cool knitted flower … I named my odd creation and now I make them often in many styles and colors. Loom a Hat Style. Below is the not so fascinating tale of this adventure, a text and picture tutorial and for you visual learner there is a link to a video tutorial.

The Official Story behind The Flat Hat Flower:

I was looming one of my first hats with the Knifty Knitter blue 24 peg loom. Half-way through the project I discover that the loom was the wrong size and that the knit hat would be too small for the teenager I intended to bless with the gift. In my frustration I flattened the hat to put it away. I noticed that it looked a lot like a flower sooooooo I put a button on it and baptized it, “The Flat Hat Flower”.Talk about a great lesson about turning your mistakes into advantage. Hope you like it as much as I do.

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