Pencil Knitting. 

When I was a child, we knit on pencils. Not only for economy, but they are fun to knit with and yield all types of (mostly bulky) knitting.

Pencils are almost always approximately a size 11 needle. Placing an eraser cap on them keeps stitches from slipping.

I am also a Fine Artist and after a car accident, I use pencil knitting for the colors of the pencils. My accident left me with severe PTSD and dancing dots of colors in my peripheral vision that causes seizures. I have a Service Dog, and we have ways to mitigate the dots of colors, but using pencils as knitting needles allows me to use color and movement I create, and pencils allow me to focus on preventing my seizures, being able to stop during knitting and easily write notes, etc. It’s perfect, easy, and economical.

Covid 19 brought on many stresses for almost everyone. I developed a simple Covid 19 Scarf patterns that allows people to knit through stress.

Please see these videos:

Pencil Knitting The Covid-19 Scarf - Casting On

Pencil Knitting The Covid- 19 Scarf - K2P2

Pencil Knitting The Covid-19 Scarf - Casting Off Loosely

The pattern: cast on 16 stitches using worsted weight yarn held two strands together. Knit 2 Purl 2 for the length of the desired scarf. Cast off loosely.

This pattern and all my patterns are copyright Laurie A.E. O’Meara, 1964 through 2026.

Caydo Cord Knitting Machine

 The Caydo Cord Knitting Machine

I have been spool knitting, in many different ways since I was a young child. Although I have seen knitting machines, I have never owned one. Until now.  I purchased this machine in order to do some “Knitting Nancy Knitting” quickly before Christmas.

Here is the video I made : Caydo Cord Knitting Machine

I knit roughly 23 feet of strand, and am very pleased with the result.

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Caydo Video Instruction

 Using Small Lucets for Medical Thinking-

I have PTSD and Epilepsy from a car accident.  I have found that language is a big issue for me, especially during or after seizures.  I have made simple lucets (design (c) 2012 laeom) and added text to them so that as I lucet I am reminded of a word or subject.  This helps tremendously if, for example I repeatedly forget to take my blood pressure, then I spend some time luceting with a lucet that says “blood pressure” to get my thinking back in line with my priorities.

These lucets are specifically designed to fit easily in your hand, be portable, and are able to fit in a pocket for travel.  I use either wood screws or cotter pins for the “pegs” and as these are about 1-1/2 “ apart, this makes a very nice gauge for a knitted strand. Strands can be long or short, combined to make a longer yarn or rope.  Because of the type of pegs these have, they are more suited to a loosely knit strand than a tight cord.  I use traditional wooden lucets primarily for a tight cord.

Video: Lucet- A knitting tool for hand spun cotton

 

Changing or restoring an older Knitted Boy Doll

I purchased this doll about 4 or so years ago as “almost finished”- I appreciated the work that goes into knitting a 15 inch doll, and was happy to finish it by adding the face, sewing on the hair and hat.  And then the doll bothered me because I would not have knit the head that way myself (although she seems to have followed the directions). It’s an indication that everyone’s knitting is different.

This is a copy of the vintage pattern this “Boy Doll” is made from:

You can see the difference between the doll on the cover of the pattern and the way the head had come out slightly elongated by the previous knitter.  It bothered me enough to make me change it.

The first thing I did was carefully remove the hair, hat, button eyes and embroidered mouth.  Then I started at where the head knitting had ended and pulled it all out.

I decided to make the head short, round, and I wanted to get it done quickly so I used a Boye 24 stitch round loom, two strands of white worsted-weight acrylic, and added the one strand of the yarn that was the original head.

I knew the resulting knitting would be different from the double-point knitted body, but the visual “strength” of the stripes and the garter stitch of the suspenders could handle a bulkier-knit face and head.

And there it is- reassembled!  I needed to use this doll as Christopher Robin with a large Pooh bear, or a “baby” doll for visiting grandchildren, or just a doll on the couch.  I feel it is now much more “serviceable” and durable. And cute!  It looks much more like the original pattern photo.  It teaches me to take a risk once in a while and use differing textures if they achieve the goal.

One other note about making the head and face bulky-and why I often like this change of texture throughout an item- it keeps the doll a doll, not a person, not a child, not a boy in this case- a doll. I think that’s really important when you are making……dolls.

Vintage Stoppax Darning Foot

Vintage Stoppax Darning Foot

This is an embroidery and darning foot that I have used before, mainly on a Singer 201. Now I have it on my Singer 237 (from Michigan) machine.  The directions are below.

Making a Yarn Hair Wig For A Doll or Bear

Making a Yarn Hair Wig For A Doll or Bear

In this video (LINK) I describe how I am adding yarn hair to one of my bears. I'm sorry, the video cuts off abruptly, but I was finished. The steps are laid out here:

1.Make yarn hat/cap to fit your doll or bear.

2. Use a piece of cardboard 1/2 the length of the length of hair you want, and wrap yarn around cardboard. Cut one end, which gives you strands in the length you need.  I used 1 skein Lion Brand Homespun (Made in USA) bulky acrylic in the color "Amethyst", on a 12 inch piece of cardboard to get 24 inch long strands.

3. Make wig either separate from the doll/bear by taping cap/hat to a gallon jug filled with water, or use a tapestry needle and same type yarn and attach to doll or bear's head before adding yarn hair.

4. Either using a tapestry needle, or simply by pushing the yarn through a gap in the cap, insert one end of the yarn and tie off, pushing short end of each yarn strand under cap.

5. Style as desired, trim.

Photos:

In the last photo above, I haven't quite finished adding the hair to the bear. I will post a photo of the bear with the finished wig when I have it finished.

(c) laeom "Princess Dementia Bear" Art Bear

This bear was one I made up from another knitter's loom bear pattern, separate from my own bear patterns.  I wanted to see what a loom bear knits up like, and now I have my version!

 "Princess Dementia" otherwise known as "Pajama Bear". Items she wears are designed to remind the elderly to remember their hat, wear a shawl, wash their hands, wear their slippers, put a nice little scarf on because they are worth the trouble, wear their ID bracelet, and it is okay to fall asleep in the wheelchair because this bear does it all the time.  I may be making these up for nursing home residents.  And yes, my Princess Dementia sits in my wheelchair most of the day - shhhh, she's probably asleep!

This image and idea is not authorized for anyone else's use, under US copyright laws. (c) laeom

The original loom knit bear pattern is here:  Loom Knit Bear  The author of that pattern shares it freely on YouTube, and check her videos because she had revised the pattern. I used it to make bear body pieces, and changed some aspects of her pattern, before I developed my bear further.  My own knitted bear patterns are almost ready for release and will be in my Etsy Shop shortly. They are not loom bears.