I originally started loom knitting as a way to bring down very high my blood pressure. Did some research seems knitting will relax and bring it down any where from 45 - 25 percent. Knitting calms the soul.
I had done knitting as a teen using regular knitting needles. - as I always seemed to knit very large loops with out trying. (I had no control over tension and yarn.) my projects were very stretchy to say the least and did not look as I had envisioned them to be. So I put my needles aside and went forth to other pursuits.
Now I have arthritis in both hands; they stiffen up and wont unbend when holding needles for an hour. I have to soak my hands in water to unbend them. Yet I can use the knitting looms for hours at a time with no arthritis effects pain free and make very sturdy beautiful projects.
I often take my knitting with us, riding in the car with my husband or on long trips or even to knit during my lunch and brakes at work. I often explain to the curious what loom knitting is. Since Walmart, Joanns, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft shops started selling the looms I have noticed an increase in people using them. Especially in needle knitters that found the needles uncomfortable to use either skill wise or mobility wise.
Loom knitting may never become main stream but I hope it does find a place beside our knitting needle sisters as a viable art.
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