Free Project: Loom Knitted Hat

From LoveToKnow Crafts

When I wrote the article about loom knitting recently, I had never practiced the craft. In a work of serendipity, my favorite craft superstore was having a sale on knitting looms the next week.

I bought two, a large one and a small one, because I wanted to see what different kinds of projects could be done with different sized looms. My first project was a loom knitted hat.

Supplies

Large round loom (the one I bought looks like this)
One skein worsted weight yarn or a scrap of yarn that amounts to about 50 yards
Loom hook (should come with the loom)
Scissors
Yarn needle (should come with the loom

Instructions

Wrap the end of the yarn around the peg that sticks out from the side of your loom. Wrap the yarn around the back of the first peg, around the peg clockwise and back around the back, so that there is one loop of yarn on the peg. Repeat until there is a loop around every peg.

Push the loops down so they are at the bottom of the peg. Wrap each peg in the same manner again, so that there are two loops on each peg.

Using the loom hook and starting with the first peg you wrapped, grab the lower loop and pull it over the top loop and the hook. There will now be one loop on the peg and one loop hanging a little loosely off the peg.

Don’t worry if the tension doesn’t seem right. As you work your way around the loom (in the same direction that you looped the pegs) it will tighten up a little.

Once you have reached the end, where every peg has one loop again, repeat the process of adding a second loop to each peg and removing them in the same manner.

Work until you have about eight inches of knitted material on the loom. Cut your yarn if you are working from a full skein, leaving about two feet of yarn attached to the loom.

Thread your yarn needle and use it to pick all the loops off the pegs (there should be only one loop per peg when you do this). Pull the yarn tightly and suddenly you will have a hat shape.

Secure the top by weaving the yarn into the hat a couple of inches and tying a couple of knots. Trim the yarn to leave an inch or two to weave in at the end. Weave in the yarn from the beginning of the hat.

Tips for Loom Knitting

If you’ve never used a loom before, here are some tips.

Hold to loom hook like you would a pencil. This makes it easy to maneuver (though it is still somewhat stressful to the wrist if you have repetitive motion issues).
Loom knitting goes very quickly. I finished my hat in under two hours while watching television. If you’re not paying attention, you might end up with a very long hat (not that that would be the end of the world).
Don’t worry. The tension will seem all wrong, and you’ll wonder how something that actually fits your head will come off of a loom that’s so big. It really does work. Don’t worry.
If you have purchased a full skein of yarn to make your hat, why not make a matching scarf to go with it? It’s even easier and quicker than making a hat.
Because loom knitting is so quick, you can easily make gifts for everyone on your holiday list, even if you don’t start until December. Why not make everyone a matching hat and scarf in their favorite color? The whole project, both pieces, will take less time than a winter afternoon, and your friends and family will love them.

Loom knitting is a lot of fun. It’s sort of a combination of crochet and weaving. Whatever you call it, though, it’s a good way to do something different and get some great projects finished fast!