Meet my GAL

I have a Gal and I love her dearly. She is almost perfect in every sense. She still has a few quirks that we need to fix on her but overall she performs her duties quite as expected. One loom to do it all....almost. The project still in process. Many ideas are going left and right and the grinding has been arduous. Hubby's background in the field can shoot ideas faster than a machine and he is able to tell right away if an idea will work or not. Many of my ideas are not as good as I have no idea how to build them....but I can most definitely use them and tell him exactly what I want the item to do.

So far, we have played with one setting on the GAL, results: same loom, one setting change and jumped up a whole stitch per inch. It went from making a baby size hat with worsted weight yarn to making an adult size hat with bulky weight yarn.

The GAL is still in prototype stages. Research and development caps are on right now and we have a few things that we would like to change to it. We want something fully, fully adjustable in the round, we are talking 1 loom to make items from baby booties up to hat, or even an afghan: something along the lines of the Wonderloom but adjustable in gauge too, not only size.

Many ideas have come about how to make it adjustable in size: adding pieces and bolting it together but that is extra hardware and hardware=extra weight, not to mention not very aesthetical. Products are very much like food, if they don't look pleasing to the eye, they are not going to work the magic as we first consume a product with our eyes. Hubby is trying to convince him he needs a lathe to make it seamless....anything to get a new toy for the shop. He still convincing me....

So far, points that are good about the prototype:  can produce a few different gauges by changing setting and thickness of yarn. Produces items that are circular by working around the loom and single sided by working back and forth.

Where you come in: if you are a loom knitter and you would like to test this particular prototype or the next prototype, DA is looking for five willing loomers to take it for a little test ride and report their findings/thoughts.

It is my GAL and I already love it...but she needs a little help in becoming the perfect loom...would you help? Please leave a comment and DA will choose 5 random people with the help of the Random Number generator.

How is it used:

It is used just like the Pocket Knitter (view the video I made on using the pocket knitter) follow the same video for knitting a flat panel. If knitting in the round, simply continue around the loom until item reaches the desired length.

What is the difference between this one and the other rounds out there? The other rounds produce only 1 gauge, or 2 if you work 1 item with the Knit Stitch and the other with the Twisted Knit Stitch (Twisted Knit Stitch produces a larger stitch). The GAL you can change settings and produce a different gauge (more/less stitches per inch) using the same stitch. In the case of the above prototype, I was able to use the same loom and get one whole extra stitch per inch by changing just one setting thus producing a larger hat. Also, since it is used just like the Pocket Knitter, creating the Knit Stitch is a bit easier and faster than when using a regular loom.

Thinking caps are on...more on my GAL to come.

Comments

[Connie Haney]

I'd love the chance to test this GAL!

[lenora]

ooooh pick me. I would love to test drive your GAL.

[Stacey]

:::: raises hand and jumps up and down :::: OOOH! Pick me!! Pick me!! I'd love to give it a whirl!

Happy birthday and congrats! I knew you could do it! My first time out, I failed because PA required 3-point turns and it took me 4. At least mine was on a testing lot and not real drive time. PA used to have a state trooper administer the test. I mean really... a cop in the car with a 16 year old.

I can't wait to hear tales of your zooming :D

[Liz Anderson]

I vote for Sam getting a lathe in the workshop! The potential watershed of projects and ideas with something like that in his hands---phenominal! Go Sam!!

[Shannon K]

I would LOVE to test out you GAL!!! It seems like a great product! I haven't used looms a whole lot but would love to try! And Happy Birthday you seemed to have a pretty great one you are very lucky to have a great family and friends

[alwen]

Wow, that's intriguing. So many interesting new (and revived old) things have come out in the loom knitting world in the last few years. What a great time to be alive!

[Andrea]

I would love giving it a try. Being able to get different gauges with one loom sounds very interesting. Happy Birthday and Great work!

[Nel Brandwijk]

I would love to help you with your new loom

greetings from holland,
nel

[Nadine B]

Oooooooo...pick me!!! I am a bit of beginner, but am working my way up. I think I could provide a good gauge of how well a beginner could use it.

[Marsha in Upstate SC]

What a wonderful little loom! I would love to be included in your group of testers. And even if I'm not chosen, I am still interested in what can be made with your new GAL.

[Chrsity]

What an absolutely wonderful invention! I'm fairly new to looming but that would be alot of fun to learn more on!
Happy Birthday and congrat's on the license!

[Becky Johnston]

Wow!!! What a great loom!! I would love to give it a try! I have a large family and live in cramped space... all my looms are hiding where ever they can find a spot! Being able to use just ONE would be so GREAT!!

[Lou Ann Beard]

Would love to give this a test ride. It would sure make all my looming for xmas gifts great to have to use only one loom. Being disabled and on a limeted budget being albe to test drive one of the GALs would sure make my day.

[Stephanie]

I would love to help you out. This looks like its going to be another work of art for Sam and you. Keep those creative juices flowing.

[Deborah Sage]

It is simply wonderful!!!! I think that it is amazing that you and Sam can come with such wonderful ideas. Can't wait to see more from it.

[Jackie Phillips]

I think this is a wonderful idea. I was trying to make an adult hat last night with Jiffy yarn on my KK and it was just too loose a knit. Here in SoCal it is too warm for 2 strands of that type yarn. I was thinking, man, it would sure be nice to be able to adjust the gauge on this loom. I have the 30" AJAL so will be trying that tonight, but was wishing it was a little shorter since it is the only small guage I have. Anyway, all this to say that even if I am not a tester I will probably be a buyer of a GAL!

[Marian Mallder]

I would love to test this GAL. PLEASE PLEASE CHOOSE ME!!!! Marian in Iowa

[Martha]

Wow, that seems totally awesome. I would love to try it out.

[martha]

FIrst, Happy Birthday and congrats on getting your licenses.

SEcond, I love that loom. what ya'll are trying to create is what I would love.

I would gladly test it out for you if you want. :)

[Lela in Idaho]

Now this is a loom I could get excited about! Oh, the versatility! One loom that can do ANY project. Now that's a dream. Like most, I can't afford to have one of every loom. I'm anxious to see if this new loom will be easy to use, and how functional it will be. This is exciting! Way to go Isela and hubby!

[Jenny]

OH! OH! OH! ME! ME! MEEEEEE!!!!!! Purty Purty Purty Please with cherries on top? I will loom day and night (puppy dog eyes) and write a thorough, informative review. (now I'm going to go cross my fingers and make some wishes :D )

[Kathy Fellows]

I would love to try it. I've used the pocket knitter and would love to see something more versitile in gauges, etc.

[Rhea]

ooh! ooh! ooh!

One loom, multiple gauges - it's a loomy dream come true!

I'd love to give this a tryout and help you and Sam produce yet another really useful loom! (Sorry. My son love Thomas the Tank Engine and I couldn't resist the opportunity to use that wonderful phrase!)

[karen mentzer]

I would love to be a tester on something new. I am by far not one of the better knitters but i would be willing to give it a shot.

[Melissa Ruth]

I'm new to looming-I would LOVE to try something like this! It looks like it would really be VERY cool! I just spent $40 on all the KK looms Joann's sells here in town...this would have been so much better!