Sunday, February 10, 2013

Martha Stewart Knit and Loom Kit Review and Giveaway!

***This giveaway is now over - thank you so much to everyone who entered! I wish I had so many more to give away. Congratulations to my two winners, Pascale Evans and Beth Elderton - I hope you both enjoy your new knit & weave loom kits from Martha Stewart Crafts and Lion Brand Yarn!***

 
This is my second time writing about the Martha Stewart Knit and Loom kit, probably because it’s my favorite crafting tool that I own. To begin with, I'm just an insanely huge fan of anything Martha Stewart. She's my crafting idol. She's made a career doing what I do for fun, and I have so much respect  for that. 

I’ve had my loom kit for about 2 years now, and have pretty much used it nonstop since I received it. I've been using it a lot this winter, making blankets and a variety of scarves. I've convinced so many people to buy this kit - I even have a student who asked for one for Christmas after seeing me use mine!

When I first got this kit, I used it primarily for weaving. The first thing I made with it was my 4 x 5 heart blanket, which I posted about here.

 
Since I had just gotten the kit, the squares were taking me about 2 hours each to make. I wouldn't say this was a fast project, but the results were stunning. I should note that the blanket that has held up really well, 2 years later.

This year, I made a 3 x 3 blanket for my niece, Chelsea. With experience, I've gotten it down to about an hour a square, with a little more time needed for the cross stitching.

Really though. Is she not the cutest?

I'm currently working on blanket number 3 - I haven't decided how big it will be, or how I'll arrange the squares. The blankets are quite easy to make - I keep the loom on the largest size and weave up my square. Once I have several made, I use like colored yarn to sew them together (I usually don't even use a needle, I just push the yarn through the edges.) It holds together perfectly!


This year, I decided to actually try changing up my configuration to try loom knitting. Basically, the loom kit contains a bunch of little pieces that can be configured in a variety of ways. When you want to weave, you build the loom into a square, the size that you want your blanket squares to be. To knit, you just switch the loom around to a rectangle. Easy!

I didn't really know where to start with this, as I had never loom knit before, but luckily, Lion Brand has some great how to videos, which I followed diligently until I felt comfortable with the process.

I made a couple of infinity scarves for myself:


And of course, made a little cowl with flower for my niece as well!

Basically, I love this kit. I haven't even really scratched the surface of what it's able to do. There's an entire circular configuration that I haven't even attempted yet. What could the circle be for!? Probably hats.

I decided to do this review about a month ago, and figured it was worth a shot to ask Lion Brand if they would be able to provide me with a loom kit so that I could run a giveaway with my review (because, really, what good is a gushy review if there's nothing in it for the reader?) To my huge surprise, they wrote back right away, agreeing to send me some goodies. So without further ado...


Lion Brand was kind enough to send me TWO kits, with 4 balls of yarn each (huge thanks!) That means that there will be two winners for this contest! Each winner will receive:

-1 Martha Stewart Knit and Loom Kit
-2 balls of Lion Brand wool roving (blue and cream)
-2 balls of Lion Brand yarn (red and navy)

There are a couple of ways to enter:
  • For one entry: Leave a comment and let me know what you would make if you won the Martha Stewart Knit and Loom Kit.
  • For a second entry: Post a link to this giveaway on your blog, twitter, facebook, etc., then come back and post a link in a separate comment.

This giveaway is open to anyone in Canada and the United States. The approximate value of this giveaway is around $70 per prize (but can you really put a price on all of this weaving and knitting fun?) 
The giveaway will run from now until Thursday, February 14th at 8:00pm, when I will randomly select a winner using a random number generator. 

PLEASE CHECK BACK to see if you have won! I will comment to your comment, and also update this entry. Sometimes people don't get notified about comments to their comments, so please be sure to check back! Alternately, if you leave an email address in your comment, I will simply email you if you have won!

64 comments:

  1. Thanks for running the giveaway! I'm a leftie so I've never been able to get the hang of conventional knitting. I have never seen this before but would love to give it a try and work towards making a scarf as a project. I'm crossing my fingers!

    I found your blog a few weeks ago when I was on the hunt for art ideas. My 3/4 class is currently creating their own Catching Snowflakes artwork thanks to you :)

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  2. I'd attempt a baby blanket! The one you made your niece is adorable!

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  3. I think this kit looks wonderful. What a testimonial, Aly! You're such a good marketer!!

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  4. A onesie! A nice warm onesie, potentially with a flaps and a hood. If that is too much then maybe a knock off snuggie!

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  5. I'd make scarves for myself and others as gifts. Great way to save money:)

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  6. This would be great for a scarf or a cowl.
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

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  7. Love this giveaway idea Aly! And sharing your art site with everyone at Woodroffe! Did the wild hearts with my class last week!

    My 10 year old daughter is huge into scarves now and so cool that she asks to borrow mine! First project would be an infinity scarf for her birthday and maybe even matching scarf for me too!

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    1. Congratulations Pascale - you're a winner! I'll contact you for mailing information! :)

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  8. All of your projects look great, and fun. I'd love to try making a blanket like your first project.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  9. I'd so love to win the give away. I would do a blanket/throw out of my stash and incorporate cross stitch into. I think the cross stitch takes it to another level. thanks for that useful tip !

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  10. I've always wanted to try this! I would definitely make a ton of infinity scarves - for my mom, my friends, and me too of course!

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  11. shared on facebook!
    https://www.facebook.com/ktdornan

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  12. I'd make a scarf with this. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!

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  13. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/capricorn_eight/status/300875898998095872

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  14. Oh my goodness I love what you have made! I would love to win so I could make the heart blanket that you made. It's lovely!

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  15. I love to knit but have never used one of these and I'd love to give it a try - I think my kids would love it too! I would use that circular part you were mentioning to make a long cozy tube to use as a double thick warm scarf - and maybe save some yarn to make a fringe! jjrobichaud at gmail dot com

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  17. I would give this to my mom and hope that she makes me a nice, cozy throw!

    janel dot myers at yahoo dot com

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  18. I posted this giveaway on facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/janel.myers.5/posts/130026330501663

    janel dot myers at yahoo dot com

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  19. i would try making a blanket like yours!

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  20. i love that first blanket you would make, i think i would have to copy you and do that first.

    mcsweeney.erinatgmail.com

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  21. My ten year old girl has been making potholders from her loom and sells them to make money for WWF. She would love this:)

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  22. I shared this on facebook.

    mcsweeney.erinatgmail.com

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  23. I would make a blanket for my baby!

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  24. I'd make a scarf for me. And if it's wearable, I'd start making them for friends and family

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  25. I would make a blanket.

    jmartel @ live.ca

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  26. I would probably start by making something simple like a blanket. I've also seen stuffed animals at marthastewart.com that would be cool to make. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  27. I'd try making a blanket. I've never attempted something so big and it scares me a bit but I think I could do it!

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  28. I'd like to make a few hats for my son and nephew

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  29. I would start with a scarf! cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  30. I tweeted-https://twitter.com/409cope/status/301148830039166976 cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  31. I would love to make a throw for my couch

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  32. Being a lefty, looming is the way for me. I could make coasters for the family and friends. Need to expand from scarves. Maybe hats would be easier to make.

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  33. Toni Schilz‏@mstoni59

    go to paper.li for a chance to win a martha stewart loom set.



    Reply

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    twitter name @mstoni59





    7:21 PM - 11 Feb 13

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  34. Joy joy.davidson@ymail.comFebruary 12, 2013 at 3:35 AM

    I'd probably make a blanket too!

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  35. I would make a blanket for my baby.

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  36. I would make a scarf!

    leia617 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  37. As I have never seen this before I would make a blanket first to see how I coped with it

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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  38. tweet link - https://twitter.com/Vesper1931/status/301368747715866624

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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  39. Aly as always you are an inspiration - patchwork jackets for tots, cowls and hats, of course blankets for all the grandkiddies and my homestay students who need warm snuggles. I'm always looking for something crafty and would enjoy testing this out. Auntie Nancy - Hugs.

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  40. would love to try my hand at making a sweater with this loom. Looks like fun.

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  41. would love to make doggie sweaters

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  42. I would make tons of hats for my 2 yr old daughter

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  43. I would make a scarf for me and then lots of stuff for my new little girl
    terrismith@iowatelecom.net

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  44. I pinned it into my want board on pinterest

    terrismith@iowatelecom.net

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  45. I would make a hat n scarf set for my child


    Jackiekatie1105@yahoo.ca

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  46. I would totally make me and my kids new toques and scarves!!

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  47. I shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maegan.morin.3/posts/221351667990005

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  48. I would make an infinity scarves
    brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com

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  49. https://www.facebook.com/brenda.witherspoonbedard/posts/137318126435565
    brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com

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  50. I am an art teacher and a mom of three young girls! I used to knit and crochet all the time! I stopped for a while because I went through a very messy divorce (it was in the domestic violence courts :O()and just had so much going on and was taking care of 3 girls by myself. I miss it so much and now that I have gotten our lives back together I am trying to start doing all of the things I love again! This seems like so much fun and very relaxing (and I need some relaxation!). We finally have a nice place to live and my girls each finally have their own bedroom which we have fixed up so cute! If I won this I would make a nice blanket for each of my daughters to match each of their new bedrooms in our new home! They would LOVE that!

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  51. I love to crochet but I'd also love to try out something new. I think I'd try making a scarf first with this kit.

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  52. shared giveaway on twitter

    https://twitter.com/krazykabbage/status/301899658417020928

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  53. I would try making leg warmers

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  54. I would try to make an infinity scarf! llew415(at)gmail(dot)com

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  55. I'd try making one of the lovely scarves!
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

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    1. Congratulations Beth - you're a winner!! I'll send you an email for your mailing address. :)

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  56. Tweet:
    https://twitter.com/mbm218/status/302140130414714882
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

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  57. Tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/mmelw/status/302265853079089152

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  58. I am currently working on an infinity scarf using the Martha Stewart loom in a large oval. My problem is that the project appears longer at the ends of the oval. Please advise.

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