Loom Knitting?

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Gina Williams on 15-10-2008

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by Gina Williams

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 separated in to three basic 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 determines its gauge. A lot of space 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 starting and a finishing point. Once Again, the gauge of the pegs in this loom is controlled by the distance between them. Only flat knitting can be done on this type of knitting loom.

A knitting board is a loom with two twin rakes. These parallel rakes are used to knit across the loom. A double knit fabric can be created with the help of a knitting board. The gauge of this type of loom is marked by two factors- the length between its pegs and the space between its rakes. A wider gauge is created by a larger distance between either of the two.

Loom knitting is facilitated by the different 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 materials that have a distinctive right and wrong side can be made 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 made a comeback but also is gaining popularity. It is simple to learn and the knitting looms are uncomplicated 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 call for use of needles and is very user friendly.

The trend of loom knitting is taking the world by storm and is for certain doing a lot good to the world of knitting.

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Brewing Brewing: Brewing Equipment Explained

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Johnny Max on 03-10-2008

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by Johnny Max

Recently I came across an old video that is an instructional video on how to build your own micro-brewery on a budget. The video was hosted by Tom Hennessy and he shows several commercial brew systems from several micro & craft breweries, including his own. These brew systems are not your normal turn-key systems that can cost about a quarter of a million dollars. These systems are a hodge-podge of equipment built with used tanks from dairies and other places.

The name of the video is FrankenBrew, because the brew systems are made from spare parts and brought to life and some do look like brew monsters. It was great to hear the different brewers talk about how they built their brewery and where they found the parts. You also hear a few things they say they would not do again, ever.

I was very impressed with Tom’s presentation. He not only shows how to build a big brew system on a budget, he also explains how the system works. As a homebrewer I learned quit a few tricks that I can use when brewing. As a beer lover it was great to see and understand what goes into brewing the craft beer I love.

If you are a beer lover you may want to add FrankenBrew to your DVD collection. It will help you appreciate the process and equipment used to brew beer, including the bottling and labeling process. I have a feeling that anybody who watches this video will have the urge to start their own micro or craft brewery.

The video I had received was on an old VHS tape produced back in 1995. A friend of mine wanted to by a copy of the video on DVD but it was nowhere to be found. He was interested, because he is hoping to build a small brewery over the next year or two. FrankenBrew was out of production and it had never been on DVD.

This video needed to be made available again, so I hunted down Tom Hennessy to ask him about FrankenBrew. I found him up in the mountains as a part-time mountain ranger and of course he was in the middle of building another craft brewery, with a FrankenBrew System. Once brewing gets in your blood, it’s there for the rest of your life.

I talked with Tom about the current boom in the Craft Beer industry and the trends. There is a big shift from the light, tasteless, fizzy water to robust flavorful full bodied beers. And, with the shift there needs to be more breweries that can brew the beer people want.

With the popularity of craft beer Tom and I talked about the need to revive FrankenBrew. He was well aware of the Craft Beer craze and wanted to bring it back on DVD already. In just a few weeks FrankenBrew was digitized and converted to DVD and repackaged. The only place that is selling it so far is BeerBooks, but I am sure you will be able to find it everywhere soon.

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Starting a Craft-Brewery on a Budget

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Johnny Max on 27-09-2008

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by Johnny Max

The world has gone real beer crazy in the last few years. Many people are wanting to taste their beer and let me emphasize the word TASTE! Germany has a history steeped in beer, but America has a CrAzY BiG beer future ahead of it.

Around the world some Americans come across as loud, braggadocios and arrogant. Well, I guess we have earned it, based on some of the pop stars in the press today. But, when it comes to beer, or should I say “Craft Beer,” we have built a reputation worldwide for new, exciting, flavorful, extreme beers. Beers that are Loud, Braggadocios and Arrogant!

America now has more breweries than any other country in the world and they are popping up everywhere. Well, everywhere except around where I live! But, that will change eventually, because the market for Craft Beer is growing everywhere.

There are many people who brew their own beer at home (homebrew) and they would love to build and start their own brewery, but do not have the funds. You can find turn-key commercial scale brew systems for about a quarter of a million dollars, but who has that kind of capitol to start?

Tom Hennessy had produced a VHS video back in 1995 called FrankenBrew. He explained how to build a commercial scale brewery using stainless vessels from old dairies and other sources. He told you where to find used tanks and how to modify them to function as brewery equipment.

Tom explained every aspect of brewing and brew systems on a commercial scale. He explained how a brewery brews beer and shows you each step of the process and gives you countless tips.

I finally found a pirated copy of the old FrankenBrew video and when I first saw it was amazed! WOW! Where had this video been all of my beer loving life? I tried to find a source to buy one, but it was not available and it had not been available for years! I am a devoted home brewer and I though I knew it all, but there is a difference between home brewing and commercial scale brewing. I watched that video ten times and I learned something new each time.

I host the podcast BrewCrAzY, so I contacted Tom Hennessy and interviewed him about this video from last century. He was amazed to find that there were FrankenBrew Systems all over the world. FrankenBrew had become a cult classic.

Because of the demand, this video needed to be brought back to life. So, just like the real Frankenstein Monster of Old-FrankenBrew has been raised from the dead! In a joint effort between, Tom Hennessey, the original producer and BrewCrAzY, FrankenBrew is back, alive and kicking! BrewCrAzY had Tom send them one of the last four remaining original VHS tapes. We digitized and formatted it to DVD and did the best we could with the old technology. You can only get it from BeerBooks online, but they are the number one source for books and DVD’s about beer.

If you are a home brewer and have no desire to start a commercial brewery, you still need to see this video, because you will learn so much. By the time you get halfway through it, you will be thinking about starting a microbrewery. If you don?t brew beer, but love a good Craft Beer you need to see this video also. You will become the brewing expert amongst all your beer drinking friend. It will help you understand your beer.

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Woodworking Guilds-Are They Right For You?

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Greg F Williams on 23-09-2008

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by Greg F Williams

A woodworking guild is a club or an organization of craftsmen in the woodworking industry. Woodworking guilds are groups of people who have high woodworking skills. If you want information about the woodworking guilds in your city you can always take the help of Internet.

There are numerous web sites that offer up to date information on these guilds and there members. The main function of woodworking guilds is to share skills and to work together for the betterment of the woodworking industry.

Here are some well known woodworking guilds:

Cabinet makers Association: It was cabinet shop owners who formed this association. The chief aim was to talk about problems that confronted the cabinet shop owners. They also got a chance to communicate with managers and owners of other small cabinet shops.

Central Florida Woodworkers Guild: This association cultivates appreciation and awareness of woodworking crafts. It promotes and encourages high standards of design and workmanship of woodworking crafts. You can take the help of their wood workers for counseling.

Colorado Woodworkers Guild: This association is a group of professional and amateur woodworkers who imparted their knowledge for the welfare of the society. Their goal is also to promote and encourage excellence in woodworking.

Columbus Woodworkers Guild: Each and every month this affiliation conducts a general meeting. The association makes sure that the meeting is full of useful information, also is enjoyable and educational to all members.

Conejo Valley Woodworkers Association: This association is in Ventura County, which is located in California. Their main goal is to teach, promote and share their woodworking experience with others and so by doing so, they advance other members skills.

Fine Woodworkers of Austin: This non profit club is located in the Texas area, that provides information and education to those who are interested in learning fine woodworking skills.

Greenville Wood workers Guild: This association strives hard to lift the peoples knowledge of the the art of woodworking. Through a collective effort it generates revenue numerous Charitable causes.

Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers: This is a non profit making group of serious amateur woodworkers that education, communication and fellowship. This association makes exquisitely crafted wood carvings and elegant furniture.

Guild of Oregon Woodworkers: This association gives know how about their woodworking skills, this is done through lectures, demonstrations and seminars.

Lake Charles Woodworkers Club: The main purpose behind starting this organization was to give information about the safety measures while handling woodworking tools. Their members includes professionals and amateurs from all fields of woodworking industry.

Minnesota Wood workers Guild: This association is a group of amateur and skilled woodworkers, it has three main goals, these are to educate the people about woodworking, to make new friends and spread the importance of woodworking skills and the last is to promote high standards of workmanship in woodworking.

Northwest Indiana Woodworkers Association: The main goal of this association is to further develop their woodworking skills and share the latest ideas.

Scroll saw Association of the world: This internationally renown non profit making organization, is committed to the improvement of scroll sawing. Their intention is to give information about scroll sawing skills. This organization endeavors to provide useful knowledge in woodworking.

So if you have any queries about woodworking, then you can always ask the help of these woodworking guilds.

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Learn How To Macrame

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Diane kelly on 07-09-2008

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by Diane Kelly

In the centuries gone by Arab weavers of hand-loomed fabrics used to knot the excess yarn along the edges of the fabric and make them into fringes on bath towels, shawls and veils to give decorative effect. This textile-making craft which uses knots on thread or twine or hemp instead of weaving or knitting is called macrame.

Along with the Arab weavers products the macrame craft also traveled to Europe. Sailors picked up the craft; they started using macrame to decorate the handles of knives and other objects and sell or barter these articles at the ports where the ship would call.

This gave a greater circulation to this craft. It spread all over the world and in the course of time it became fashionable. Fashion circles of Victorian England and America started using macrame widely to provide fancy trimmings for colored and black costumes. Many other articles such as belts and hammocks also were commonly made in macrame.

In the course of time the craft of macrame fell out of fashion when mass produced goods became cheap and were easily available. Now it has become fashionable again and is gaining popularity. Macrame easily lends itself to different projects easily. A wide variety of items from and from jewelry to Christmas decorations and from plant hangers to furniture are being made in macrame.

Articles such as wall hangings, draperies, bedspreads and tablecloths in macrame are very popular and in great demand. Jewelry items such as bracelets, earrings, chokers, ankle bracelets, etc are popular as gift items. Small jean shorts, plant hangers and flower pots are some of the other items that are very much in vogue.

In sewing and knitting you use needles to achieve the result and make a design; by contrast in macrame you have to rely on a wide variety of macrame knots. There are some simple knots, and some more complicated ones. It is the macrame knot that decides the pattern that will emerge when you make macrame.

There is a wide range of different types of macrame knots such as larkshead knot, square knot and granny knot, etc. Sliding knot and figure-of-8 climbing knot are some other commonly used macrame knots. Tying the macrame knots is a skill which you can develop with practice.

But learning to make knots in ropes is only half the story. You need select macrame patterns, select one that will be right for what you intend to make. A wide range of macrame patterns are available and each pattern can use only certain types of knots successfully.

The modern internet communication has made it easy for people to give and receive macrame instructions. There are many websites to tell you how to macrame. They specialize in imparting macrame instructions with detailed illustrations or photographs, many websites provide tutorials telling how to macrame so that even a novice can learn such arts and crafts easily. Basically macrame is a craft that can be learnt only by practicing it. More and more people, especially women, now want to learn this ancient craft. Some want to learn it as a hobby and some even think of making a career out of it.

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Tips on cleaning Leather & Leather Products

Filed Under (Arts and Crafts) by Ethan O. Tanner on 25-08-2008

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by Ethan O. Tanner

A good starting point for cleaning leather is to establish if your leather item is finished or unfinished. In general finished leather items will have a shiny or smooth surface which may be luggage, garments, handbags, wallets, or garments. Unfinished leather and suede usually have a natural dull finish or nappy finish like saddlery, work boots and shoes or sport gloves.

Purchase good leather cleaner and rub it into leather furniture in even circular motions. Follow with a leather conditioner. Leather Balm with Atom Wax Leather Conditioner is an excellent dressing, which will clean, soften, and condition leather. Do not use saddle soap on a leather couch, as it is too harsh for furniture.

Keep leather out of direct sunlight as it will fade or discolor. One tip for removing spots from leather is to dip a soft cloth into rubbing alcohol and rub the spot. Water spots can be removed from leather by moistening the area again with a little water then let it dry or gently blow dry. Oil leather with a leather preservative such as mink oil.

Be sure to wipe leather shoes with a damp cloth frequently, and keep them well polished with a paste. For waterlogged leather shoes, insert shoe trees and let air-dry. Discoloration: For leather garments, gloves and bags that are discolored use a leather spray designed to restore color.

If you experiment with leather conditioner, first try it on a small corner in the back of the couch, in case your particular brand of leather does not react well to the treatment. Do not use saddle soap on a leather couch, as it is too harsh for furniture. Do not let spills or water dry; they can penetrate the dye in the leather and leave a spot. Avoid products like mink oil, shoe polish and waxes when cleaning leather furniture or garments. Use a damp cloth or sponge to rub saddle soap into the leather; work soap into a light lather. Oil leather with a leather preservative such as mink oil.

Dry leather needs rehydrating with water, and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils will dry out of leather. It is crucial to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly, and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this. For car leather seats, the owners manual says to use a 5% solution of detergent made for wool ( Woolite). Sounds strange, but it cleans and protects leather of all kinds.

Another option for cleaning leather is to take a damp cloth, wipe it across moisturizing soap and lather the leather. Again remember when removing spots from leather to always test any cleaning method on an out-of-the-way spot first.

For suede shoes, try an art gum eraser first and if that doesn’t fix the problem, use undiluted white vinegar on a soft cloth, and be sure to blot — never rub when treating suede. Suede is an unfinished type of leather that needs to be handled with care. Some people recommend low-cost leather cleaning processes, like baking soda or salt.

The best technique for cleaning leather is determined by the type of the stain and the kind of the leather. The following are ideas for common leather cleaning: Always test the cleaning on a small invisible patch of leather before proceeding on the whole item. You should also follow cleaning with a Fiebing Suede and Fabric Coat leather protector, which will act like a ’scotchgard’ and hold back dirt and stains from being absorbed. This makes cleaning easier the next time.

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