How do the looms work? Do you use something like a crochet hook to transfer stitches? (When I was a kid, someone made me a small "loom" out of an empty thread spool and 4 small nails. I made acres of that stuff! Is the same thing?)

The looms are GREAT! They are the same as the spool you worked with as a kid, but bigger ... there are many sites that you can find out about the looms. I started with a set I got at Walmart for about fifteen dollars. Four different sized looms and the tool ... low impact for those of us with achy hands, easy enough for the youngest child to master, patterns galore in books and on the web ... check out "Bev's Country Cottage" for ideas ... and, then there are looms that are big enough to make a sixty inch afghan ...
I am left-handed, and have discovered that most of the problems I have had learning was being aware that I am left-handed ... since I learned as a child, I have never been sure who was the most concerned, my teacher or me, but I did have a hard time learning how to knit right handed.
Funniest thing - - my left handed daughter could not learn how to knit or crochet from me!
I do the loom left-handed, simply because I relaxed and did with my left hand what I was watching done by the right-handed person, though I may be a bit ambidexturous, so who knows? I just know that I have managed to do a lot of things with my left hand when I just relaxed and reversed what I was seeing.
I lost all of my favorites when my computer grounded me in September, and have had no reason to bookmark any of the websites that I learned so much from about loom knitting ... but, it is a great form of creativity. <wave>

Have you checked with your local Extension Office. They usually have people who know how to knit and crochet on file. I learned to knit in the 5th or 6th grade through 4-H, and my mother taught me how to crochet. Don't do too much any more because I am too busy quilting now!

EXACTLY! 4-H and mom taught me how to crochet, too! Cool! <wave>

I love knitting and crocheting. I taught my sister years ago and now she crochets and I quilt.

Omak -- Thanks so much!! Now I definitely will have to get a set of the looms!! ;)

I had a Senior in high school select Operation Stork for her community service project. When she came to me, she was trying to knit, very frustrated, going very slow ...
well, you know? some of the reason people don't appreciate knitting is because they don't understand the concept of what is happening to make the stitches.
Well, I wanted her to succeed at something, succeed at something quickly, and I wanted to encourage her in her knitting by showing her in a different way the knitting concept.
Knitting Looms!
That girl went from making a little hat to making shawls, blankets, a ducky hooded blanket, and LOTS of hats! And, now, she is in Idaho at Job Training, took her looms with her and has TAUGHT a BUNCH of friends to knit with looms ...
talk about making a difference in someone's life! Those knitting looms surely have
She is a great testament to their ease of use and continuous challenge!

OK, I was looking at looms online. Do I need round looms, oblong looms, pattern books?????? :D

check out twistyarnshop.com
if you don't find the help you need on her website, you can email her directly. she is very good

I started on the round looms ... the plastic ones that come four in a set ... then, I went to the oblong ones to create blankets and shawls and scarves ... then, the more I did (I liked the bigger looms because I could do charity work quickly since you use double four-ply yarn) but the more I did, the more I wanted the finer, wooden looms which are more specialized.
I will go look for some of the websites that I frequented.

http://www.myknitter.com

http://www.loomroom.com/index.html

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/how-to-loom-knit.html

http://www.decoraccentsinc.com/

http://www.knittingboard.com/

I went to my search engine and typed in "knitting looms" ...
Bev's Country Cottage is an amazing site of how-tos, crochet, knitting, sewing with thousands of patterns, links, and a heart to share

The decor Accents, Inc ... is a premiere site for wooden looms, my goal is to own an infinity board ... it will make an afghan that is is 60 inches wide ... and has a LOT of videos to whet your creative abilities on the loom.

These are not all the sites by any means, but you will be able to research loom knitting for yourself and decide which looms you will want, and what projects you will enjoy making.

Omak, thanks for all the links! Yes the wooden looms look much nicer than the plastic (LOL) but I ordered a set of 4 round plastic looms from ebay to see if I like to do it before I spend much money. Thanks for all your help! :D

Oh! This is soooo exciting! Be sure to keep us apprised of your progress ... and, you can use any video for loom knitting on the plastic looms, even though they are showing work being done on the finer, smaller looms ... a loom is a loom <g>.

I love knitting but can't do any large items anymore because of the shoulder but everyone loves getting the dish cloths & slippers for Christmas. It seems they just last a year so they are a big hit every year plus I get to keep my hands busy so that I won't be putting snacks in my mouth.
Double whammy is what I call it.
Serena

I love to crochet too, been doing since I was 9.

I taught myself to knit last year. I really wanted to make socks, but decided it must be a secret type of Chinese torture!! I just found it impossible.

I'm new to quilting and find it soooooo relaxing...just loving it!

I could NEVER figure out how to use more than two needles at a time without stitches falling off :lol: :lol:

WOW! I am so much like all of you! I think sitting around with nothing to do is such a waste of a day!
When I showed my son the Gingerbread House I made (after completing my last quilt) he said, Mom, I hope 2010 brings you a JOB!"
They all appreciate the things I make and the cooking I do but they know it drives me insane to be idle!
Thanks for allowing me to feel like I fit in somewhere...most of my friends, family and former colleagues thought I was just an "odd duck"!!! I feel like a card-carrying member of the "Land of the Mis-Fit Toys"...WITH PRIDE!

I have been tolf that I crochet "wrong" but my grandmother taught me how to crochet so I don't care. Whem she taught me, she told me to wrap the yarn in a loop around my pinkie finger and then the strnad goes over my index finger and that helps control the tension. FYI: Last Christmas, gave DH the yarn for his scarf and this Christmas he finally received the scaref that i had crocheted!! He loved it and I'm relieved it's done so now I can quilt without remorse! :)