I do not know how to knit or crochet. I have seen the Martha Stewart Knitting Loom and watched the videos and am thinking about trying it. I was wondering, how similar is knitting with needles and knitting on the loom? For anyone who does both, which do you prefer? Which would you recommend for someone who has never knitted or crocheted before?
Thank you for your help. Any opinions or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Although the final product looks similar using a loom is less useful unless you just want to make scarves and hats. Ive seen a lot of frustration learning to use a loom. Most everyone here hand knits so getting loom help is harder.
Knitting isn’t hard. It’s basically just two stitches, knit and purl, and some variations. It takes patience and practice just like any new hobby.
Do you think that learning on a loom translates to learning with needles or would the loom be a complete waste of time?
I don’t think time spent learning something you want to do could be considered a complete waste. I don’t see how you could learn anything from loom knitting that would really help when knitting with needles. The method of making the fabric is too different. What is it you want to accomplish? If you want to be able to knit just about anything, then learning to use needles would make sense IMO. If you only want to make a scarf or hat, I’m really not sure what else loom knitters make, then a loom could make sense. It all depends on what you want to do. Asking here is not likely to get you a really balanced response, as Jan said we all use needles. There aren’t a lot of loom knitters here. I’m surprised there doesn’t seem to be a place for asking questions about loom knitting specifically somewhere online.
Hi, I’m just learning to knit with needles, but I’ve been using a loom for years. To be honest, the two are similar in some ways, but very different in others. It’s true that there are less things you can make on a loom than with needles, but it isn’t just limited to hats and scarves, the more people start using looms, the more patterns come out. Bev’s country cottage has alot of needle & loom patterns, and for a beginner loom knitting might help you to get the basic concept down, but it’s still different from needle knitting.
When it comes down to it (in my humble opinion):
-Loom knitting is easier, but with less options
-Needle knitting is harder, but with more options
Either one would be good to start with, if you have the patience. Maybe try a little of both & see which feels better for you 
I’ll clarify my position by saying straight off that I’m not a loom knitter.
From what I’ve (very briefly) seen about loom knitting I think of it being more like the manual, or hand, version of machine knitting. (I know that sounds like a paradox.) A bit like the way a manual typewriter relates to a computer keyboard. So, I don’t think loom and hand knitting translate to each other. As for being a waste of time (in its own right), I’m unable to comment either way.
I put ‘loom knitting forum’ into Google and came up with a lot of hits. I’ve had a quick look and these two look promising:
http://loomknittinghelp.com/index.html
I think, if you do take up loom knitting, YouTube videos and hunting round for any forums that you feel happy with will be the way to go.
I do know how to do both Loom knitting and hand knitting. I have made different things with the looms other than hats and scarves. I did purchase the Knifty knitter looms as they have the round type and the long type to make different things. I have made Afghans with the long type and Yes it can get boring just going in a circle. If you cant hold the needles like some of my friends the looms work Great! I think it just depends on what your hands can do. There are lots of books for the knitting looms and its not that hard to do, as some are intimated by the knitting needles and some cant figure out the patterns. I just do what I want and even make my own patterns. I guess it just comes down to what is more comfortable to you to use. Good luck in your decision!
Where to find info on loom knitting, which is its own craft:
At LionBrand, where there are 92 loom-knit patterns.
At Ravelry.com, where there are groups dedicated to loom knitting.
At the sources provided by a previous poster on this thread.
At this site, which was a pass-through from “loomknit.com.”
HTH! 
i think i will like this going to share with loom knitting friends maybe we can get some long time loomers in here to answer questions
I would like to try it just for fun. It seems like it’s hard to find a kit that doesn’t have a bunch of bright colors, though.
There are lots of videos online for loom knitting. If you bought just the loom or looms you could use your own yarn in your favorite colors. What would you like to try as a first project?
I mean the looms themselves. They come in bright pink and green. Not guy colors. I would probably try a hat.
Hey don’t tell my son these aren’t guy colours!
Maybe you can make your own, then you get to make it any colour and use a drill. 
They can be made out of cardboard too, but then you don’t get to use the drill 
When i was a kid i I had a home made French knitting spool which was just 4 nails hammered into the top of an old wooden sewing thread spool. Fun for a while but I got bored of making worms.
Your loom sounds like a spool (of a tool) for I-cords. 
Oh yes, it was nonstop icord. Now there’s the Internet it turns out there lots of cool stuff to make with icord. It’s not just worms after all.