If you’ve ever wanted to start knitting but don’t know where to start, a knitting loom could be a perfect choice for you!
From ease of use to project variety, knitting looms are an excellent foot in the door to the knitting world.
They’re much easier on the hands and wrists, too, making them an excellent option for young ones and older folks alike.
Keep reading to learn more about the best knitting loom choices for beginners!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Addi Express
Budget Option
READAEER Round Knitting Loom
Best for Kids
Creativity for Kids Quick Knit Loom
Best Overall
Addi Express
For the best quality, most versatile knitting loom for beginners, you can’t go wrong with the Addi Express Knitting Loom!
- It features 46 needles with some replacement needles and storage. It also has two different mounting options: sturdy base feet and hooks for table mounting.
- The machine itself is incredibly durable. It’s made of solid plastic and has sturdy legs that keep the loom firmly in place while you work.
- The Addi Express runs smoothly and rarely drops stitches, producing nice, uniform rows. It’s compatible with many different yarn types, fibers, and thicknesses (but works best on weights 4-8).
- Circular knitting projects on the Addi Express will reach roughly 15 inches in diameter and flat panels about 18 inches wide.
A downside of the Addi Express is its noise, especially when you begin a new row. But overall, if you’re looking for a top recommendation for knitting looms, the Addi Express is the best one.
Pros
- Extremely durable and sturdy
- Versatile
- Cuts down significantly on project time
Cons
- On the pricier side
- Loud
Budget Option
READAEER Round Knitting Loom
When you’re just starting out with a new craft or want to try a different technique, going all in and investing in an expensive tool might not be very appealing to you.
So, if instead you’d rather try a more affordable, entry-level knitting loom to test the waters, the READADEER Round Knitting Loom is a great place to start.
- This round knitting loom kit comes with four different sizes of looms, perfect for anyone wanting to try out some new projects.
- The kit also includes a hook, a yarn needle, and even pom pom makers, everything you need for tons of fun knitting crafts!
- Even for beginners, the READAEER makes knitting quick and easy and has excellent, easy-to-follow instructions.
- The knitting looms are smooth, lightweight plastic, and easy to handle and maneuver.
However, with a lower price point comes a few kinks and quirks.
- The READAEER kit isn’t the most durable. The pegs can bend and snap easily, and the smooth plastic makes it easy to drop stitches.
- Thin, fine yarn isn’t best for this knitting loom – textured, thicker yarn works much better and sticks on the loom much easier.
But still, for absolute newbies or smaller budgets, the READAEER knitting loom is a great choice that doesn’t break the bank!
Pros
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Lots of different size options
Cons
- Flimsy plastic
- Poor traction
Best for Kids
Creativity for Kids Quick Knit Loom
An adult knitting beginner’s skill set and needs will differ from that of a young, budding crafter. Smaller hands need tools of different sizes and looms with fewer pegs as they learn the ropes.
- This knitting loom kit for kids comes with a small, round loom, rainbow pom poms for decoration, a knitting hook, felt patches, a plastic needle, and a threader, everything you need for a first-time knitter!
- As a bonus, the knitting loom kit has 90 yards of fun rainbow yarn.
- And even when you run out of yarn, you still have all the tools you need to replicate knitting projects repeatedly.
However, what this kit doesn’t come with is paper instructions. Instead, there is a guided video tutorial you have to access online.
This knitting loom also isn’t made of durable materials. The pegs and feet that anchor the knitting loom tend to break after extended use.
This kit wasn’t built to last forever, but it’s a fun and effective training tool to teach kids a new skill that improves creative thinking, dexterity, and attention span. Plus, they get a fabulous hat or cozy pair of socks!
Pros
- Specifically made for children
- It comes with yarn included
Cons
- Not durably made
- It doesn’t include paper instructions
Best Knitting Loom Kit
ALIMELT Round Knitting Loom Set
If you’re really just starting out with knitting, you won’t likely have everything you need on hand, even after you’ve snagged your knitting loom. In this case, a knitting loom kit like the ALIMELT Round Knitting Loom Set would be perfect for you.
- It comes with 4 round looms, a flower loom, a rake loom, and a bunch of other knitting equipment and accessories, such as looming hooks, yarn needles, and stitch markers.
- The pegs are even removable so that you can adjust the gauge of your knitting project.
This knitting loom kit is affordable for all it offers, but it lacks a bit in quality. The pegs come loose and are prone to snapping.
The tools provided also aren’t necessarily fit for every project or every set of hands. They’re small and would be perfect for a young one, but tough for adults to maneuver. However, it’s an excellent knitting loom set for beginners who want to try many different things!
Pros
- It comes with tons of available knitting loom options
- Perfect for starters wanting to build up their toolkit
Cons
- Flimsy pegs
- Cheaply made
- Not one size fits all
Best Knitting Loom Board
Flexee Loom Knitting Board
Knitting boards are perfect for creating large knitted panels for making blankets or sweaters. This Flexee Loom lets you adjust your knitting loom precisely how you need it.
- With this loom, you have 48 different loom links with two pegs each so that you can modify the size of the board to your heart’s content.
The downside to the Flexee Loom is the gauge and peg size. It only comes in three gauges: skinny, regular, or chunky. If you want to create projects of different thicknesses, you must obtain multiple looms. Depending on the strength and agility of your hands, the links that snap in and out of place can be tricky to work with.
But overall, when it comes to beginner-friendly knitting loom boards, the Flexee board is a great starting point to try your hand at some projects of all different shapes and sizes!
Pros
- Highly versatile in project output
- Customizable
- Easy to transport
Cons
- Less versatile in gauge size
- Links can be challenging to pull apart and snap together
Knitting Loom For Beginners: Buyer’s Guide
How a Knitting Loom Works
A knitting loom works by using a fixture to secure cast on rows of loops onto a series of pegs from which you can continue stitching.
Instead of using a knitting needle to hold the non-working yarn, a knitting loom holds the stitches taut and gives your hands a break from the knitting motion.
This way, you can step away from the project when necessary. It’s also a great learning tool for anyone struggling to get the hang of traditional needle knitting.
The only real downside to loom knitting, as opposed to needle knitting, is the storage.
With knitting needles, you can pack up your needles and a small skein of yarn and take it with you on your commute.
Knitting looms are not so easy to transport and are definitely more suitable for at-home projects.
Types of Looms
There are many different kinds of knitting looms that are beginner-friendly and come in all different shapes and sizes.
Different styles of knitting looms will produce various types of projects.
- Circular knitting looms are the most common and are usually used to create a tube shape, like a sleeve, sock, scarf, or beanie.
- Knitting boards, also called rake looms or long looms, create large, flat panels. Typically, they’re used for big projects like clothing items and are adjustable.
- Knitting boards come in single or double knitting styles depending on the desired fabric thickness.
- Another type of loom is called a flower or triangle loom. They can be tough to find but are a fun addition for loom knitters looking for a challenge or to add some extra embellishment to their work.
Gauges and Pegs
Like knitting needles, knitting looms come with pegs of different widths to create different-sized stitches and gauges.
The gauge of a knitting project refers to the stitch density, usually conveyed in stitches per inch.
If you want a smaller gauge knitting loom, you’ll likely look for one with thin pegs spaced close together.
This will create dense, tightly knit fabric conducive to thinner yarns. For chunkier knits with a larger gauge, the opposite will be true.
Knitting looms with larger gauges are easier and quicker to work with but create loose, big projects.
Smaller gauge knitting looms present more of a challenge and take longer to complete a project, but make for neat, dense products.
Ease of Use
Knitting looms are typically much easier to use than knitting with needles and, thus, better suited for beginners.
However, there is a range of difficulty amongst the individual products.
Some knitting looms have a steeper learning curve than others. More advanced knitting looms geared towards serious knitters can be as challenging as knitting needles.
However, if you’re just starting out, there is a wide range of knitting looms perfectly suitable for beginners. Look for larger sizes, bigger pegs, and larger gauges!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best projects for knitting looms?
Like any kind of knitting, you can find the best projects for your specific knitting loom by looking up patterns.
If you purchase a knitting loom kit, it will likely come equipped with some sample patterns ready to go.
Or, you can start with a pattern and determine which type of loom you need by looking at the pattern specifics and instructions.
Regardless of your knitting loom choice, most knitted projects will require different parts to be woven together at the end.
There are a few reasons why one might choose a knitting loom over knitting needles.
For starters, it’s usually much faster, and you can produce large quantities promptly.
When it comes to knitting, speed isn’t important to everyone. But a knitting loom may be a good way to go if you want to mass-produce beanies for the whole family.
Another reason folks might use a knitting loom is that you can see your stitches much easier and keep better track of your knitting.
It’s much easier to drop a stitch or lose count of your rows with needles than with a knitting loom. As such, it’s a great starting point for new knitters! You can see your work much more clearly.
Finally, knitting looms are much easier on the hands and wrists. The knitting motion is much more gentle on a loom than on needles and requires less dexterity.
But ultimately, you can make anything on a knitting loom that you could knit with needles! Just make sure you have the correct pattern first.
Why use a knitting loom?
There are a few reasons why one might choose a knitting loom over knitting needles.
For starters, it’s usually much faster, and you can produce large quantities promptly.
When it comes to knitting, speed isn’t important to everyone. But a knitting loom may be a good way to go if you want to mass-produce beanies for the whole family.
Another reason folks might use a knitting loom is that you can see your stitches much easier and keep better track of your knitting.
It’s much easier to drop a stitch or lose count of your rows with needles than with a knitting loom. As such, it’s a great starting point for new knitters! You can see your work much more clearly.
Finally, knitting looms are much easier on the hands and wrists. The knitting motion is much more gentle on a loom than on needles and requires less dexterity.
But ultimately, you can make anything on a knitting loom that you could knit with needles! Just make sure you have the correct pattern first.
What loom shape should I use?
The best way to choose your knitting loom is to decide first what you want to create!
A small, circular loom will be perfect if you’re more interested in smaller, circular projects like socks and beanies.
However, if you’re more interested in blankets and sweaters, it would be better to go for a knitting board with at least 100 pegs.
Try a Knitting Loom Today!
For the top knitting loom option, you can’t go wrong with the Addi Express.
But there are loads of great choices out there to fit your knitting loom needs, whatever they may be!
Once you get the hang of your new knitting loom, why not try out one of these 21 Fun Yarn Crafts That Anyone Can Do?
- About the Author
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Leah is a writer for That Sweet Tea Life and is passionate about learning and trying new things.
She has a master’s degree in English and loves to write about and share her colorful & crafty DIY experiences!
Leah can be reached at leah@applepiemedia.net