I am always interested in seemingly esoteric needle arts tools. Naturally, when a reference to Grant’s One Needle Looper came up in a Yahoo group; of course I had to go google. Nothing except an old eBay Auction.
Okay, on to the usual second source for “IT”, aka/ eBAY and nothing except some closed auctions and one picture, at least not for several months, then POOF, suddenly results in my automatic searches. Here is what it looks like:
However, in the last few weeks, quite a few have turned up and as importantly some instructions and patterns. (Happily original not copies)
All of the patterns and such give only the following company Information
The Grant Company
4149 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago IL 60641
The Copyrights are mostly dated between 1969 to 1970, so they must have been at that address for at least ten years, but the location is apparently now a building which has been converted to Condos.
The US Patent No is 3,228,212 and was issued in 1966 to Angela Huber of Germany. There is a later patent, 3,979,929 for what seems to be for the technique, issued to Angeline Lapi of Sprakers NY; assignee The Raymond Lee Organization
TheHenry tells me that he learned a very simliar techniques from a book on Knotting (but has not yet found the book to show me
Although obviously the patent protections may have expired, my “project” for The Grant’s Looper is to track down whomever currently holds the Copyright to the patterns with a goal to obtaining permission to place them in the public domain.
When time allows, I will add some details about the Pattern Leaflets found so far.
I would welcome any information you care to add as comments or by email to:
Wheat
email-comment@YARNandTHREAD.net
I have had this “tool” for 42 years- original box and directions - and have never tried using it! My mother used to buy every cheap “craft” item for me as stocking stuffers that she could find. I take it out of the box occasionally when cleaning/rearranging my sewing and craft items but just never have felt enthused enough to mess with it? So why do I still have it? Why do I still have three plastic thread boxes that I never use (my thread’s on pegboard on the wall)…’cause Mom gave it to me.
Thanks, Wheat…now I’ll have to learn to use it in case you come up with some great patterns. Just what I need, ANOTHER craft black hole - and I get sucked in EVERYTIME!
Wheat,
I’ve been thinking about this all evening, and finally remembered that it was also sold under the title of “K-tel Knitter.”
Do a Google search and you should turn up a whole bunch of hits on it, including some You Tube videos,including this 1970 commercial.
After watching it, I realized how much I had forgotten about this tool and the stitches associated with it, but then it’s been nearly 40 years. Your Grant’s Looper looks exactly like my K-Tel Knitter. The other one I have is made of different material but looks similar.
Brenda
A link sent by another “Crochet Partner” leads to Marnie MacLean. Marnie has written the basic instructionsin case you are one of those who “have the needle but no instructions
Hi I have a grant one-needle looper also in the box with patterns. I think I found it at an auction or yard sale.
Would like to buy a metal looper
Hi Randall,
To the best of my knowledge, there are not currently made/sold -
the only thing I can suggest is to search ebay and other sites where most of us found ours.
Sorry not to be more helpful
Wheat
I looked at Marnie Maclean’s instructions and it think this tool might be for “nallbinding”. Some people think this was a precursor to knitting. Socks made this way and found in archeological digs are very, very old. Google nallbinding and take a look.
Phyllis
Hi Phyllis,
Talk about a blinding flash of the obvious I fully agree there are great similarities in the technique and will have to dig out some of the info I have on Nalbinding.
However, the fabric this tool produces is different thatn those I had made using Nalbinding in the past.
Thanks for the insight,
Wheat
The original K-tel knitter was manufactured and sold out of Minniapolis, MN, they have been out of business since around 1970. This is a great item and makes awesome blankets, if you get a hole in the blanket it will not un=ravel, matter of fact I’m looking to find a few more to have on hand,
I would love to know how to convert a pattern made for either knitting or crocheting to using one of these. I bought two - one at a garage sale, and another on Ebay, just to have a second one. I have a lot of fun using it, as I am a terrible knitter. Not that great at this yet either, but I’m getting better. I’m going to try some of the other stitches included with the utensil, but need to know if I can use an updated pattern and convert it to what I’m using - the looper!
Hi I have the exact same one with two books. I use mine for making rugs. I use macrame cord for making lawn chairs and I braid two strands interlocking them together then when I have enough I use a ball of yarn to loop it together. For more info e-mail me at muskokapei@yahoo.com.Maybe I should send a picture later.