Best Loom for Beginners

Best Loom for Beginners

Best Loom for Beginners

There is such a large array of knitting looms to choose from these days that it can make your head spin, twice. A lot of brands with all kinds of colors, different materials for the bass and for the pegs, several different shapes, sizes and prices. Does it really matter what you choose? Well in all honesty any loom can be used to learn the basics of loom knitting but in my opinion there is only one ” Best Loom for Beginners “, that is the TRUE Beginner. The one picking up the loom for the first time.

Please keep in mind as you read this article, that this is only an opinion and not the gospel. Feel free to disagree with me nicely in the comment section. I’m O.K. with that because I promise that if you stick with me long enough here on Loomahat.com we will agree on something eventually. Now back to the subject …

When I had to choose a loom for my first set of students I thought of several requirements that had to be met.  It needed to be the right size for small and large hands since I had a multi-generational group that included a range from 8 – 60 years. Of course it had to be inexpensive, light-weight, easy to learn, close to fail-proof and quickly produce a usable product on the first try. After all this is the microwave age no one wants to wait to long for anything.

All Requirements were Met by : The Best Loom for Beginners

Best loom for beginners

24 peg
Small Loom

I concluded that the 24 peg small, round, large gauge loom was the best option for my students. The brand didn’t matter very much with the exception of the Boye of which I’ m still not a fan. To read my product review Click HERE.

By-the-way, the gauge is the space between one peg and the next. The smaller the space the tighter your knitting is and vice-versa. Usually a smaller gauge is more desirable, but I don’t see that as true when it comes to beginners. It means more knitting to complete a row.

I mostly use the Knifty Knitter brand of looms but Darice and Micheal’s generic Loops & Threads work great. All are almost identical in size, cost and gauge.

Cost: Whether you buy the small round loom alone or in a set they tend to range between $4 – $6 per loom. The Knifty Knitter has become almost impossible to find in your neighbor craft store but they are still widely available on Amazon and eBay. However, a single loom package is as elusive as sweet dreams after a horror flick. So you may have to break down and get a set. Just keep in mind that the other three looms won’t go to waste they just have to wait for the knitter to get more experience.

Size: You can have the tiny hands of a six-year-old or the arthritic hands of an 80-year-old and you can still manage the small light-weight plastic loom.

Fail-Proof: Unlike needle knitting or even knitting on a long loom I feel safe in saying that knitting on a round loom is the closes ANYone can get to fail-proof. You can produce a simple usable hat or scarf by just repeating the same action with minimal thought or intention. Below is a video for basic loom knitting.

Quick: Large gauge looms allow you to finish the work a lot quicker especially if the knitter uses two strands of yarn as one or thick, chunky yarn. This keeps the level of anxiety  to a minimum. There is instant gratification from a task that was promptly completed.

 

Why Not a Small Gauge Loom Like the Knitting Board, CindLoom or Cottage Loom

Cottage Looms

Small gauge looms produce BEAUTIFUL stitches. Most are very well made. Many are handmade. I would venture to say works of art. As with the Cottage Looms they should have been named Heir-Looms. This is just great looking woodwork. And as an American I’m proud to say that they are made in America.

The best looking loom knitted items are made on these looms.

However, the peg count is high and so it takes a long time to finish even the smallest item. This one little issue can discourage your new knitter. So be cheap for now then wait for the holidays and spend the extra money of these high-end looms when the beginner is gone and replaced by an avid loom knitter ready to make scarfs and socks.

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The Number 1 Reason First Time Loom Knitters Want to Learn to Knit: HATS

Best loom for BeginnersMost beginners want to make a hat easily. It’s actually the reason I picked the name for this website: LoomaHat.com.

The other reason is charitable. With the small loom they can learn how to knit a hat quickly, easily and inexpensively, then turn around and give that tiny hat to their local hospital or favorite charity. Some that I like are Relief Share ,  Knitting Rays of Hope , Period of Purple Crying .

This size also works for most large dolls like the American Girl Doll, their cloths and accessories. There is a pattern book on the market right now for these projects by, Sharralyn St. Clair, “Learn to Loom Knit for Dolls”

After they learn to make cute tiny hats with the Best Loom for Beginners they can feel more confident about moving on to bigger more complex projects. With the commitment established the higher cost of the wooden, small gauge looms is justified.

Video: How to Loom Knit a Hat for BEGINNERS

This video is very detailed. It is for the True Beginner.

 

 

Second Best Loom: The 36-Peg Round Loom

For the next best loom for beginners I jump to the 36-peg loom because I call it the everybody loom. It is the green loom in the Knifty Knitter set (you can see it in the picture above), the orange in Boye and in general the second largest in most loom sets.  It fits everyone from a 4 year to an adult woman or man. It’s all about the number of rows you knit. Remember that as you knit more rows the hat gets wider.

Once the beginner has mastered the art of basic loom knitting to make hats this is his or her’s best buy to cover friends and family during the chilling winter days.

Note: IF YOU CAN ONLY BUY ONE – BUY THIS ONE. It’s the one I use the most.

 

Video:  Basic Loom Knitting for a True Beginner

 

 

Here is a Size Chart to Help with Choosing Other Looms

Loom Size / Hat Size

Size Chart is based on Averages. The information is only a recommendation. Please use your own judgement in the final decision.

Note: Rows are based on 1 strand of thick yarn or 2 strands of light or medium weight yarn, e-Wrap Stitch and No Brim.
Chart Update: 10/2014
For a Folded Brim you may need 6 - 18 rows depending on the recipient. Note that to make the brim you fold the knitting in half.

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Hat RecipientAvg Head
Circumference
Loom Size Hat LengthNumber
of Rows
AG Doll11 in / 27 cmSm 24 Pegs4 in20
Preemie12 in / 30 cmSm 24 Pegs4 - 5 in20-25
Newborn 14 in / 36 cmSm 24 Pegs5 - 6 1/2 in25-30
Baby - 1 yr.18 in / 46 cmMd 31 Pegs7 in25-30
Toddler21 in / 53 cmLrg 36 Pegs7 in25-30
Tweens & Teens22 in / 56 cmLrg 36 Pegs8 in30-34
Women & Lean Men22 in / 56 cmLrg 36 Pegs8 - 9 in32-40
Lrg Women & Men24 in / 61 cmX-Lrg 41 Pegs9 -10 in38-45

 

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Comments: 40

  1. RAJKUMAR MANICKAM March 3, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Hi I’m a Classical Dancer my hobby knitting
    I like your you tube videos..it’s teach me more fr loom knitting. I owned many looms.. I lived in India thank you

    • Denise Canela March 6, 2016 at 10:56 pm

      Thank you for the Thank you Rajkumar. Very much appreciated !

      • RAJKUMAR MANICKAM March 7, 2016 at 9:36 am

        Thank you Mam.. I want to buy some cind wood looms.. I owned knit UK.. knifty knitter Boye Darice sets. Walter palange knitting pal also I have.. sock loom..

        • Denise Canela March 8, 2016 at 8:24 pm

          Rajkumar – I have never heard of Knit UK – can you send me a link if you know of any – would like to see it

          • Anonymous March 17, 2016 at 9:07 am

            Hi Mam that knit UK looms website Was http://www.knituk.com
            my mobile no +xxxxxxxxxxx send me whatsapp msg I will send pictures of my knitting pls

  2. Camille December 7, 2015 at 8:57 am

    I bought a loom set last year for my 10 year old grand daughter. I decided to buy one for myself so I could learn, then teach her. I found your website and learned quickly. Since then I have made many hats for the homeless and hospitals. My husband just completed his first hat and will continue making hats this winter for our area’s homeless. We’re hooked!

    • Denise Canela December 9, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      Camille,
      THANK YOU sooooooooooooooo much for this comment. You make my heart HAPPY happy happy. Love to hear folks loom knitting for people in need.
      BIG hugs to all of you ! 🙂

  3. Jessica December 2, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    I just got back into looming, purchased a round Knifty Knitter loom set on Amazon and have begun learning the different stitches (before my go-to was the e-wrap stitch; I didn’t even know there were other stitches). Anyway, I’m thinking I’d like to try some of the narrower gauge looms and was wondering if you had any recommendations? I’m thinking of getting a CinD (I hope I’m spelling that right) loom and was wondering if I should go long or afghan size or what.

    • Jessica December 2, 2015 at 4:22 pm

      I’m also a beginning spinner, so one of the reasons I’d like to try a narrower gage is that for most of my projects I like to use the yarn I’ve spun. Anyway, thanks for your help!

    • Denise Canela December 3, 2015 at 6:16 am

      Hi Jessica – I like CindiWood alot – I also use the Adjustable Hat Loom a lot both are good for different reasons. I like the the AHL is lightweight and ADJUSTABLE. Cindiwood has a GREAT product with a lot of variety. The size depends on what you plan to make. I mostly use round looms even for my scarves and cowls. I’ve used my KK sound set for 99 % of all the designs on this page. I did a review on CinDWood: Click HERE I say – take it slow. Work with what you have for a while – then move on to the small gauge. If you can spin worsted weight – you will have more designs to knit then you can finish in years

  4. Vikki November 25, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Thank you so much for the video tutorials!! They are amazing and so helpful for a beginner like me 🙂

  5. Joanne October 31, 2015 at 9:57 am

    Hi Denisw, I’m just wondering do you know the gauge of the Darice looms…..I bought the boye looms….and not really happy with the gauge..my stitches seem to be to far apart….I read that the dare de is slightly smaller…would that make a difference in the distant between stitches? Thank you , Joanne

    • Denise Canela October 31, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Hi Joanne – not a fan of Boye at all (click to read the review HERE). Yes, I have not read the information – but the gauge is a bit smaller, things look a little bit better but KB is a great option if you want a smaller gauge. They’re expensive but you can use a coupon even online – that’s what I did.

  6. Deb October 12, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I am having alot of problems trying to fiqure out the wast yarn for my dishcloths.Please could you help.

    • Denise Canela October 12, 2015 at 7:26 pm

      I don’t use waste yarn – here is a video from The Answer Lady that might help: Click HERE

  7. Janel Cobianchi May 8, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    I just purchased my first set of round looms and came across your videos. I’m curious. What do you do with the little bit of excess yarn from the slips knots after they’ve been removed from the anchor peg? In your video with the orange and yellow hat, it looks like they’re just left hanging on the inside of the hat.

    • Denise Canela May 8, 2015 at 11:20 pm

      Hi Janel – different people do different stuff with them… Sometimes I just cut the off and some times I weave them in.. depends on the project and my mood. For that hat – I cut them off

  8. Taylor April 10, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    Your website is so helpful! Thank you for everything you share! I just started learning how to loom knit, and your videos are a huge help. I ended up purchasing the Darice loom set based on your review, and am very pleased with them so far.

    • Denise Canela April 11, 2015 at 6:24 pm

      Glad to hear.. I still think they’re a GREAT deal !

  9. Aj hubeny April 3, 2015 at 3:35 am

    Hi, I have purchased a set of round looms and many patterns booklets. I really need to learn some techniques like using waste yarn or removing a project from a loom (before its done) then reattaching it in a different way like three loops on 1 peg, this is for making dish cloths. How do I keep from loosing loops? Can you recommend a book or books or DVDs that explain how to do these things? Patterns just say to do them not a word on how or pictures I really need help when I can’t make easy projects! Please help and I would be so thankful!

    • Denise Canela April 3, 2015 at 7:08 am

      AJ, your best bet is to go to YouTube and enter the technique you’re wanting to learn – add the words Loom Knit to your search phrase. Let me know if it worked for you.

  10. Ken Slattery March 23, 2015 at 9:01 am

    I am a new “loomer” and produced first time hats for two grandsons with no luck at all. One for a toddler and one for a teen and neither one fit, both being not large enough, but length being ok. I used BERNAT SOFT AND CHUNKY and followed your hat looming dimensions. Where did I go wrong? i need to redeem myself to my grand kids so please help. Thanks……

    Ken S.

    • Denise Canela March 23, 2015 at 9:50 am

      What size loom did you use?

      • Ken Slattery March 23, 2015 at 11:04 pm

        I used a 36 peg loom for both applications.

        Ken S.

        • Denise Canela March 24, 2015 at 9:56 am

          Wow, I understand that in some instances it may not fit the teen but seems odd that it didn’t fit the toddler. One thing is that the Chunky can sometimes reduce the width dramtically. It works like padding on the inside. I’m wondering if you used a #6. If you see my notes my recommendations are based on Worsted weight. I would not go beyond a 36-peg on the toddler. Instead get the lighter weight yarn and knit with two strands as one. With the teenager I would go up to the 41-peg loom and make a Slouchy hat. Just do a Rib Stitch border (Knit 1, Purl 1 to end of round) for at least 10 – 12 rows then what ever stitch you want after that. My Teens love a slouchy hat.

          Click on the links – With the Slouchy there is a simple versions on the bottom of the post- let me know if you have more questions. Share your pics on FACEBOOK when you done. I LOVE PICS !
          denise

          • Ken Slattery March 24, 2015 at 2:32 pm

            Thank you very much for your reply ad help with my hat problem. I will take your suggestions to heart and try again with the hats and hope to get the grand kids believing in Gramps again. Thanks again and have a nice day…..

            Ken S.

            • Denise Canela March 24, 2015 at 5:13 pm

              Please let me know if I can make things easier. I’m sending you the patterns I suggested in PDF printed form to the email address you included.
              I’ve got faith in you Ken! Can’t wait to see those pics. 🙂
              Hugs,
              denise

  11. DeAnne Ridenour January 6, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    ON a whim, I picked up a single Boye loom just to see if I could do this loom knitting. I had not read reviews so I had no clue. I made a single scarf, then a friend sent me the entire Boye set. I have made three scarves and hats and have not experienced any problems. I might order the KK set and see which I like best. Love your videos. Thanks !

  12. Janet December 1, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Thank you for your great article. It helped me decide what size loom to get my grandchildren for Christmas. I wanted to teach them to crochet but, they were having difficulty so I decided to loom knit first…thank you

  13. Marni November 11, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Well in my excitement I didn’t take the time to fully search the site and I found the videos!
    thanks again

  14. Marni November 11, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    THANK YOU! Nice video. I just got my first loom set for my birthday and am so excited to learn how to loom knit. My daughters love slouchy hats, and nice thick infinity scarves.
    Do you have more more teaching videos?
    thanks again

  15. Linda Mauws October 24, 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Just curious why you never mention any Loops & Threads products from Michael’s? There loom are almost identical to your post.

    • Denise Canela October 24, 2014 at 6:44 pm

      Hi Linda, I have to assume you didn’t read this article because just in the second paragraph under the title “All Requirements Met” on this exact post I wrote this sentence: I mostly use the Knifty Knitter brand of looms but Darice and Micheal’s generic Loops & Threads work great. All are almost identical in size, cost and gauge.
      Take another look – I repeat this statement through out this website.
      denise

      • Angela Statton-Hunt March 1, 2015 at 12:58 am

        I don’t like the loops and threads long looms I’ve gotten two sets from Micheals and both sets all but one loom broke. Cracked right in the middle, the plastic is cheap and can’t handle the tension. I haven’t had any problems like this with kniffty knitter long looms.

  16. DorothyW. October 22, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    Hi Denise,
    Thank you for your loom knitting demonstrations. I have a question, do you know how to knit on the pocket loom? I have one, but can’t figure out how to knit on it, and have yet to find any thing much on how to.
    Thank you very much.
    Dorothy W.

    • Denise Canela October 23, 2014 at 7:05 am

      Sorry Dorothy – I am familiar with the pocket loom but I must admit that I have not tried one. But I will be one in my list of product reviews. Thank you 🙂
      Hugs,
      denise

  17. maria blanca súnico October 20, 2014 at 7:59 am

    quisiera en dónde puedo comprar todos estos modelos en valencia capital,, en españa

    • Denise Canela October 23, 2014 at 7:28 am

      No se Maria, Yo vivo en los EEUU – pero aqui tienes en enlace para una tienda en eBay que hace envios mundial : Haz clic Aqui

  18. Vivienne Fagan October 20, 2014 at 7:57 am

    Very interesting article. I’m not a beginner loomer, but this has given me the confidence to think about teaching loom knitting to some of the members of our Special Needs Group, the Ealing Handicapped Irish Dancers. I have all sizes of looms, but it does make a lot of sense to start them on a 24 peg ring. The repetitive actions should be fairly easy for them to concentrate on. And knowing our little group, there may well be hidden talent in there. You should have seen the amazing creations they came out with when the ladies from the church came round to do flower arranging with us!

    • Denise Canela October 20, 2014 at 8:10 am

      Vivienne, THANK U for sharing this with me. I love to read stories such as this one. Warms my heart and keeps me running. So glad I could be of any help.
      Lots of Hugs,
      denise

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