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.