knitting on looms

[ms.shell]

do any of you do this? I have wanted badly to learn to knit but have not been able to teach myself using books, as i am left handed and just have a hard time understanding the pictures.
i heard about a "knitting machine," which sparked my interest, as i certainly prefer the speed of my sewing machine over hand sewing.
and then i started seeing these plastic "looms" for knitting and am wondering if i might have more luck teaching myself to do that. My ancestry includes native american, and my grandmother's family name was "Weaver," and somehow this strikes me as something i might like to do. But i dont want to waste my money on plastic thingies if i wont be able to or like using them. Especially if i could make one to start somehow or if there is something more appropriate and not plastic?
It seems like most of the knitters here are hand knitting with needles; i would be interested to hear about using looms or machines as they seem maybe more interesting to me than figuring out how to use needles...anyone wanna tell me about this? if i can't figure out the needles, am i going to be totally lost with a loom? or will it maybe be an easier way i can learn?

[ms.shell]

no one answered my question; so i guess i will answer myself, in case anyone else is interested.
i bought some knifty knitter long looms at Michael's. I need to take them back, because i shouldn't be buying plastic junk, and also because those plastic looms make the knitting really loose. I did see how to do it (or at least a bit; the instrux that come with only show one of 3 ways it can be used). I am going to get some cotter pins and figure out how to make one of these for myself. I think it will be much better that the knitting can be tighter and i will feel much better using it than some plastic molded monstrosity.
i saw this http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com/Ra...g-Pattern.html
but the knifty knitters instrux showed how to do "double knitting" using pegs on 2 rows...so i need to learn a bit before i build my loom(s), tho i definitely will and hopefully learn to use a lot.
but i am returning these to Michaels. In the meantime, my mom gave me my great grandmother's crochet hooks and a good instrux book for that, and i have figured it out. So i will be playing with that but i do think i would like to knit with a board or loom that i make for that purpose.
anyone has any links for making or using them to share, i would love to see them.

[zebra15]

I didnt see this before but I have the knifty knitter and its fine for what I do. I have the round and the oblong. The round makes hats and the oblong makes scarves. DS likes them too. I dont know how they relate to needle knitting obviously but they work well for my purposes.

[Ellien C]

Decor accents sells nice wood knitting looms in various guages/nak