Brand New Knitter. Round Loom Questions!

How-to Questions
1

Hi everyone,
I just joined this board today and am excited to geek out on some knitting info.

I started needle knitting back in December and have just started tackling round looms. I ended up (accidentally) making a headband of sorts, but am looking to make scarves (straight/flat and infinity).

Here are my questions:

  1. What’s the difference of the difference diameters of round looms? I bought a set of 4 and am unsure what the difference is between the smaller one (which seems to be most common one) and the largest one (which looks like it could fit around my hips)

  2. What’s the difference of knitting on a round loom using HALF the pegs verses ALL of them? I am thinking this is the difference of a flat/line and a tub like shape? Unsure which one would be applied when knitting an inifinity scarf?

  3. Patterns. Are these mainly for the flat (skinny) boards and needle knits?

  4. Double loops verses single? I saw one video where you wrap each peg once then pull the bottom over top, and repeat. I then found another video where they wrapped each peg twice and pulled bottom loop over top. Is it the same thing?

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!!
L

2

Welcome to KnittingHelp!
There may be a few loom knitters around but most knit with needles. Good to have you join us.
1.The different size looms can be used to make different sized tubes in the round for everything from scarves to sweaters. You can also use them to work back and forth to make flat pieces in many sizes up to blankets.
2. Using all the pegs and continuing around (connecting the first and last stitches) will make a tube. Using half of them will make something flat to be worked back and forth. The more pegs you use, the bigger the piece. For an infinity scarf, connect the stitches using all the pegs and keep working around and around.
3. You can use patterns with any of the boards depending on the pattern requirements.
4. It seems to me that double or singe loops can be used as you describe to start (row or round one) but from then on I’ve only seen single loops used.

3

The previous answer will give you all the basics you need. Basically, the more pegs, the more stitches… and hence a larger piece. You can work round and round to make tubes, or work back and forth to make flat pieces, which can be a scarf or stitched together to make sweaters or bags or whatever.

These knitting looms are fun to play with, but are limited in what you can do with them. The knitting will look poorly made, usually, because of what yarn you are forced to use. You can only use a particular size of yarn; too fine and it is sloppy, and too coarse and the work will be thick and stiff. There are limited stitches you can do with them, but are better than nothing at all, I guess.

Be careful how you wrap the pegs. If you actually go around the peg, you will get twisted stitches, which is nice as a pattern (sometimes), but not that useful as a finished garment. It tends to pull your work in tighter, which might be what you need, or will make your work smaller than expected.

Wrapping twice is only used on the first round (still don’t know for what reason) and is not recommended as general knitting. If you do it throughout your work, you will get elongated stitches, and makes your work loose and sloppy.

I would very strongly suggest that you take a basic beginner class in loom knitting, or (real) knitting with needles, at your local yarn shop or library or guild or church group. There are many around. You will learn so very much that you can’t learn from books or the internet. Real live knitters are your best resource!

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Knitting Looms: “will look poorly made” I disagree! I love to knit, and have done knitting loom work before, and one thing about the looms is: every stitch comes out perfectly even, the loom pegs being firmly attached. The pieces actually come out knitted perfectly, as if done by machine. I guess one could call the loom a “machine” of sorts.

Now, as to the OP’s question “What’s the difference in diameter of the looms”?
I measured all of mine once, I have the original Knifty Knitter looms. Just get a tape measure and string it across the inside, there you go!

Double wrapping pegs: Try out the “Figure Eight Stitch” for the looms. Awesome! You will get a lace-like pattern, and No, it does not look “sloppy and elongated”. One of my first loom patterns (using the smallest loom) and the Figure Eight Stitch, which double wraps two outside pegs, created a fantastic arm warmer. The smallest loom is perfect for creating arm warmers, just keep going, making that tube until it’s the proper length you want, and bind off. I would use the regular stitch to make a set of real warm warmers, however.

Patterns are mostly for flat knits, but there are patterns out there just for loom knitting. Check out “loomahat” and “myteacup” dot com sites for loom patterns.

Your Q on difference between using all the pegs vs using half? Just means making a tube vs a flat piece. Experiment!

I find using needles is FASTER than using the loom. At first, being a beginner, you might find the loom “better”. BE careful of stitches coming off the pegs… it is the same as a regular knitter dropping a stitch. It happens.

I bought many looms before I learned to knit, I never thought I would catch on to knitting at all. I made so many mistakes! Wrapping the yarn backward, dropping stitches, misunderstanding pattern instructions… ugh.

If you enjoy loom knitting, keep it up. Like I said experiment. Would the large loom fit over your hips…? Wow I am jealous :slight_smile: I know though, it looks HUGE! But, did you know that is for hats?? It looks like it would be too large, but it’s not. It is the perfect one to make winter beanies. Try it and see for yourself, it’s not too large at all.

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