AllFreeKnitting Guest Post: The Basics of Loom Knitting (with Pattern Roundup)

The Basics of Loom Knitting by AllFreeKnitting for Underground Crafter | Find out what you need to know to get started with loom knitting, and explore 13 free loom knitting patterns!I’m excited to have Kathryn from AllFreeKnitting.com here today with a guest post about a topic I know very little about: loom knitting. Kathryn’s going to share the basic information you’ll need before getting started with loom knitting. I found her post so inspiring that I started looking for loom knitting patterns, and I’ve included a roundup of 13 free loom knitting patterns at the end of her guest post.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.

The Basics of Loom Knitting

Guest Post by AllFreeKnitting

Hi everyone! It’s Kathryn from AllFreeKnitting.com. Marie was gracious enough to let me talk about one of my favorite topics with you today – knitting with a loom.

The Basics of Loom Knitting by AllFreeKnitting for Underground Crafter | Find out what you need to know to get started with loom knitting, and explore 13 free loom knitting patterns!

Whether you’ve never heard of loom knitting or you’re already a loom devotee, there’s always something new and exciting to learn about this alternative knitting method.

In fact, many people find loom knitting easier than knitting with standard knitting needles, because you don’t need to worry about juggling both your needles and your yarn while making sure your tension remains consistent. As an added bonus, knitting with a loom is often a much faster process than traditional knitting (depending on the weight of yarn).

Instead of working on two needles, the knitter works along the loom. Using a loom allows stitches to be clearly seen and you cannot lose your place – making it easy to detect any potential mistakes. Since there are many different shapes of knit looms, you can use one to complete a wide variety of patterns, including hats, scarves, socks, etc.

For those who suffer from arthritis or cannot physically hold knitting needles without experiencing discomfort, loom knitting is a wonderful alternative. However, everyone, regardless of age or ability, can enjoy the wonderful benefits of knitting with a loom.

What is a Knitting Loom?

Before learning how to loom knit, it’s important to understand the basic design of a loom and how it operates.

When you head to a craft store, you will quickly realize there are a variety of different brands and styles to choose from. However, all looms include a number of evenly spaced pegs on a frame. You use the pegs in order to knit.

Round looms are most often used for hats or even socks, while rectangular looms are typically used for blankets and scarves.

The Basics of Loom Knitting by AllFreeKnitting for Underground Crafter | Find out what you need to know to get started with loom knitting, and explore 13 free loom knitting patterns!

Knitting looms come in many different sizes, so how do you know which size is right for you? You will need to choose a loom depending on how wide you want your knitting to be instead of how long. Keep in mind looms give you the ability to knit two colors of yarn at once – provided the yarn is not too thick.

In general, round looms tend to be more versatile than their rectangular counterparts. The round shape allows you to knit in a circle or knit flat panels.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about which type of knitting loom you need, keep in mind the pattern will usually specify how many pegs your loom should have to successfully complete the project.

How to Knit with a Loom

Now that you have a greater understanding of your loom options, it’s time to dive in and learn how to knit with this thing!

Trust me – once you get the hang of loom knitting, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to give it a try.

Knitting with a loom is a simple process. To begin, wrap the yarn around the pegs and use the hook to pull the bottom loop of yarn over the top loop. The process is exactly like traditional knitting except the loom is holding all the stitches instead of your needles.

Check out the steps for casting on with a circular loom:

  1. Tie a slipknot with a 5-6 inch tail.
  2. Slide the slipknot on the anchor peg and gently tighten it.
  3. Move the yarn to the inside of the loom, straight up from the anchor peg and bring it around a peg in a circle to the inside of the loom again.
  4. Repeat for next peg.
  5. Continue all the way around the loom. At this point, the yarn crosses over itself on the inside of the loom and there is a single wrap of yarn on the outside of each peg.
  6. Once you get to the beginning of the loom, go all the way around again.
  7. The second row of loops should be above the first row. When you finish the second row, there will be two loops on each peg.
  8. Wrap the yarn around the anchor peg a few times to secure it or use a half hitch.
  9. To knit off, insert the hook tool into the lower loop and pull the stitch over the top loop, over the top of the peg, to the inside of the loom.
  10. Continue knitting off all pegs until all pegs have just one loop on them. The first peg will have two loops. When you start knitting, treat the two loops on peg 1 as one loop.
  11. Knitting loom is threaded and ready to be worked.

For more information on loom knitting stitches or techniques, be sure to check out knittingboard.com. You can find step-by-step reviews of various stitches with accompanying photos.


Loom Knitting Tips

When working with a loom, it does not matter if you wrap the loom in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. When you knit flat pieces on a round loom, you will be working in a back and forth motion.

The Basics of Loom Knitting by AllFreeKnitting for Underground Crafter | Find out what you need to know to get started with loom knitting, and explore 13 free loom knitting patterns!

Keep in mind it also does not matter whether you hold the loom with the pegs facing up, down, to the left, to the right, or any other direction.

Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice is to avoid wrapping the yarn as tight as it will go when casting on. You will have a hard time moving the yarn off the pegs if tightly wrapped. You want the loops to be snug enough to not fall off.

Knitting is no longer reserved for needles only! Once you get the hang of loom knitting, you will be amazed at how many wonderful patterns you can create.

If you’re also new to traditional knitting, be sure to check out Beginning Knitting Supplies: The Ultimate Knitting Tools List for a comprehensive outline of everything you need to start knitting like a pro.


13 Free Knitting Loom Patterns

Roundup by Underground Crafter

Are you thinking a knitting board might be right for you? Or, do you already have one and you’re looking for some patterns to try out? I’ve rounded up 13 free loom knitting patterns from around the web. Photos are copyright the respective publisher and are used with permission.

The Basics of Loom Knitting by AllFreeKnitting for Underground Crafter | Find out what you need to know to get started with loom knitting, and explore 13 free loom knitting patterns!

Top row, from left to right:

Center row, from left to right:

Bottom row, from left to right:

Not pictured:

Looking for more loom knitting ideas? Check out the Authentic Knitting Board’s Stitchology Series playlist on YouTube.

Leave a Comment

Subscribe to the newsletter to get my secrets and access to the subscriber vault!

5 Secrets for Improving Your Crochet Skills