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Resurrecting Our Poof & a Flax and Twine Giveaway!


Y'all remember when I knit my living room a poof a few years ago?
Well, it went from looking all perky like this....
to this.... (my honey liken it to a watermelon that gets left out in the garden after a few hard freezes)
So, I decided I would arm knit it a new cover and see if I could breathe some life back into it!And it totally worked! WOOT!
I spent last Rhinebeck with Anne of Flax and Twine, and watched her arm knit the whole time we hung out... I knew I had to try it, and when her book, Knitting without Needles, released this fall I quickly made sure to get a copy. (As an aside, I think Anne drank less than I did that weekend as her arms were too full of yarn to drink her Martini!)
Perhaps the hardest part was choosing yarn.  I really really really wanted one of these Loopy Mango skeins, but my budget said NO!, so I found Brown Sheep Burly Spun at my LYS and got myself 4 skeins... I soon discovered that I arm knit just like I normally knit (loose) and ended up having to hold the yarn with 8 strands together, which meant I needed to go back and buy 2 more skeins. I also decided to cover the "old" poof with a piece of muslin so the green didn't show through, and I added a little extra stuffing while I was at it to firm it up even more! Anne also has kits in her shop which makes things easy if you want to make one too!

Arm knitting is a blast, have you tried it? Anne has a tutorial on her blog to get you started... but if you are intrigued, or you know someone who might enjoy checking it out... her book is a great holiday gift!

Time for a giveaway...
Miss Anne has offered up a kit to make this Arm Knit Pom Pom Hat from her book AND an exclusive video that shows you every step of its making for this week's giveaway! How sweet is that? I'm sorry if you thought this post was going to be me giving away a poof... but I'm keeping this one, it is way too heavy to ship!!

Have you ever knit with something besides your knitting needles? Do tell! Just leave a comment below by 12pm (EST) on Nov 17th.

I will randomly choose a winner and announce them in next week's Friday giveaway post!

Last week's winner... 

Congrats to .... Danielle Baines! Get in touch so I can get you your bundle of Craftsy classes! You lucky winner!

And now I want to arm knit some pillows...... oh my, this might be the start of something cray cray...
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Comments

  1. NaomiNovember 13, 2015 at 8:22 AM

    This sure does look like fun.
    Kat50 on ravelry

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  2. wendyNovember 13, 2015 at 8:42 AM

    Looks great, Laura! Did your arms get tired?

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    1. Laura NelkinNovember 13, 2015 at 8:48 AM

      Only a little... it was so quick there wasn't time for exhaustion!

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  3. auntmeanie682November 13, 2015 at 8:47 AM

    Wow, looks like fun! do you have to finish it in one sitting?

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    1. Laura NelkinNovember 13, 2015 at 8:49 AM

      No, I had to put it down a few times... I just slipped my arms out and laid it flat! (But remember I knit loose!) This might be harder to do if you knit it more tightly!

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  4. ElisaNovember 13, 2015 at 8:48 AM

    Never tried arm knitting but I admit I am intrigued! Your pouf is so cool!

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  5. carolNovember 13, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    I have never tried arm knitting but maybe that is what I need to do to tighten up my flabby old lady arms:)
    Carolm7323 on Ravelry

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  6. RCNovember 13, 2015 at 9:23 AM

    Hmmmm, intriguing. Hiw fast can u get it off your arms? I frequently have to toss my knitting aside for the dogs

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  7. Word LilyNovember 13, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    Does using giant knitting needles my husband made me count? I knitted this from combed top: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/WordLily/scissortail-art-center-christmas-window-display

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  8. UnknownNovember 13, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    This looks awesome! I've knitted with my fingers before!

    - Judith

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  9. asterideNovember 13, 2015 at 11:33 AM

    I used two broomsticks and three strands of mohair/silk yarn and made myself a wonderful soft light shawl! Still I have small beads to sew on the edge.

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  10. UnknownNovember 13, 2015 at 1:27 PM

    I have done the finger knitting thing, but nothing else so far. I want to do some arm knitting to use up some of my random onesies of fancy yarn! Kimt8511 on ravelry.

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  11. UnknownNovember 13, 2015 at 1:28 PM

    I have done the finger knitting thing, but nothing else so far. I want to do some arm knitting to use up some of my random onesies of fancy yarn! Kimt8511 on ravelry.

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  12. amchartNovember 13, 2015 at 2:05 PM

    I love your pouf! And that hat pattern is awesome. Rav amchart

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  13. MeganNovember 13, 2015 at 3:41 PM

    I've never arm knitted but I've always been keen to try! I love how your poof cover turned out!

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  14. Knittingdancer on RavelryNovember 13, 2015 at 3:44 PM

    I have only used knitting needles to knit.

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  15. AnonymousNovember 13, 2015 at 4:08 PM

    Hi Laura, It's Ingrid Gomez! Last winter I taught a cowl arm-knitting class and had 8 students (mostly my friends and their friends) and we had an absolutely wonderful time. This past summer, I volunteered for 8 hours to teach kids in the South Bronx how to finger knit. They loved it! I love finger knitting a lot, and arm knitting is fun too!!!!! email is ipgcsw@yahoo.com :)

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  16. UnknownNovember 13, 2015 at 7:23 PM

    I have tried to knit with bamboo fishing poles cut into 12 inch long pieces with clothesline as the "yarn." We were camping and I was bored! Did not work well. Your poof is fabulous! I am Mikkilayla from Ravelry.

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  17. maryNovember 13, 2015 at 8:47 PM

    I have done some arm knitting but my technique is off because every other row of my work is twisted stitches. A kit and instructions would probably do me some good ;)

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  18. SheilaNovember 14, 2015 at 1:56 AM

    I haven't really knit with anything but needles. When I was a kid I made a snake using yarn scraps on a wooden spool with nails in the top, I think it's sometimes called french knitting.

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  19. AnonymousNovember 14, 2015 at 3:35 AM

    No, though I've been tempted to try some of the numerous pairs of chopsticks in my kitchen.

    carolsumie on Ravelry

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  20. craftsonthegoNovember 14, 2015 at 5:42 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. LaurelNovember 14, 2015 at 9:41 AM

    I've never done any arm knitting but my girls have and they have made a cowl before. I think the hat is pretty cute!
    lkgervitz

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  22. CoriNovember 15, 2015 at 9:07 PM

    Arm knitting scarves with my nieces. Thank you for a chance on a great giveaway

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  23. AnonymousNovember 16, 2015 at 2:39 AM

    No never, but I'd like to try.

    Rav ID: piaheuerandersen

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  24. Beth HNovember 16, 2015 at 7:52 AM

    Always used needles, never without but would be interested to try. Ravelry id hirsheybolt

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  25. UnknownNovember 16, 2015 at 4:15 PM

    I tried arm knitting to demonstrate for my daughter and her friends. Almost dislocated y thumb trying to tighten up a very loose knit. My daughter did a much better job.

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  26. TanyaNovember 16, 2015 at 7:54 PM

    That is an awesome looking book. An arm knit hat must take all of 5 minutes! I'm up for trying!

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  27. KarenPowellCanadaNovember 17, 2015 at 10:45 AM

    have tried the finger and arm versions, both very neat techniques. Have tried various looms too. love it all. sticks and string as my niece calls it

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