Knitting looms have come a long way from the simple plastic rings many of us remember from childhood (though I still have mine, love it, and use it). Today’s looms come in a wide range of shapes, gauges, and materials, each designed to help makers create beautiful knit pieces without needles. Whether you are brand new to loom knitting or ready to level up your skills, understanding the different types of looms is the key to choosing the right tool for your next project.

This guide walks through every major type of knitting loom, what they are best for, and what you should look for when investing in your loom collection.

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What Is a Knitting Loom?

A knitting loom is a tool with evenly spaced pegs that hold your yarn while you create knitted fabric by wrapping and lifting loops. They allow you to knit with consistent tension and can be easier on the hands than traditional needles. Looms come in many materials, including plastic, wood, and metal, and they vary by shape, gauge, and size.

The Main Types of Knitting Looms

Below is a detailed look at every major category of knitting looms and what makes them unique.

1. Round Looms

Round looms are the most recognizable style, typically made from sturdy plastic or wood and available in sets of multiple sizes. Despite the name, they can create both round and flat panels.

Best for:
Hats, cowls, bags, leg warmers, boot cuffs, circular shawls, and simple flat panels.

Why makers love them:
They are beginner friendly, easy to hold, and great for practicing basic stitches like the e wrap, knit stitch, and purl stitch.

What to consider:
The gauge varies by brand. Smaller, tighter-spaced pegs work well for finer yarns, while wider spacing is ideal for bulky yarns.

2. Long Looms (Rake Looms)

Long looms are bar shaped with two parallel rows of pegs. Some are fixed, and others are adjustable. The spacing between these rows allows you to do double knitting, which creates a thicker, reversible fabric.

Best for:
Scarves, blankets, shawls, double knit items, and projects that need structure or thickness.

Why makers love them:
The double knit function can mimic the look of needle knit ribbing and creates a soft but sturdy fabric.

What to consider:
They can handle both single knitting and double knitting, but because they are longer, they can be bulkier to hold.

3. Oval Looms

Oval looms bridge the gap between round and long looms. Their shape gives you more workable surface area but still maintains rounded ends that are perfect for shaping.

Best for:
Hats, slipper socks, basic garments, shawls, and flat panels.

Why makers love them:
They’re versatile and comfortable to hold, making them a great “everyday” loom.

4. Rectangle Looms (Straight Looms)

These looms look like a long, sturdy frame with evenly spaced pegs on two opposite sides. They’re ideal for flat panels but can also be used for double knitting.

Best for:
Blankets, sweaters, scarves, shawls, pillow covers, and any project that requires wide, even panels.

Why makers love them:
You can knit wide pieces without seams, and the rectangular shape gives you a feeling similar to working on straight needles.

5. Adjustable Loom

Adjustable looms have movable pegs or sliders that let you change the gauge or width. Some allow you to reposition entire panels to create different shapes and sizes.

Best for:
Makers who want one tool that can do the work of several looms. Great for custom sized blankets, shawls, garments, and specialty projects.

Why makers love them:
You have full control over gauge, peg spacing, and shape. It’s like owning an entire wall of looms in one compact tool.

What to consider:
Adjustable looms can be more expensive and take time to set up, but they’re excellent long term investments.

6. Sock Looms

Sock looms are smaller looms with very fine gauge spacing designed specifically for creating fitted pieces like socks, mittens, gloves, and tiny baby items.

Best for:
Socks, mittens, baby hats, doll clothes, sleeves, and fingerless gloves.

Why makers love them:
They provide the tight gauge needed to produce durable, wearable fabric similar to needle knit socks.

What to consider:
They require smaller yarn and more precision, so they are ideal for intermediate loom knitters looking to level up.

7. Afghan Looms (S-shaped or Horseshoe Looms)

Afghan looms are large, S-shaped looms designed to let you knit wide blankets without overwhelming your lap. Their curved shape allows continuous knitting back and forth.

Best for:
Blankets, afghans, throws, large shawls, wraps, and oversized scarves.

Why makers love them:
You can knit a blanket in one piece without attaching panels later. The S shape spreads out the weight so long rows don’t drag on your arms.

8. Table and Frame Looms

These larger wooden looms are built for advanced or dedicated loom knitters. They sit on a table or floor and often include multiple rows and sections for complex patterns or wider panels.

Best for:
Large garments, blankets, woven-style knitting, and professional level projects.

Why makers love them:
They are sturdy, customizable, and can be used for intricate stitch patterns and wide pieces that smaller looms cannot handle.

Understanding Loom Gauge

Gauge refers to the distance between pegs and determines what kind of yarn you can use.

Extra Fine Gauge:
Perfect for sock yarn, fingering, and lace weight. Used mainly on specialty sock looms.

Fine Gauge:
Great for sport weight and DK yarns.

Regular Gauge:
Fits worsted weight and some bulky yarns. This is the most common household loom gauge.

Large Gauge:
Designed for bulky and super bulky yarn. These are great for quick blankets, chunky scarves, and winter wear.

How to Choose the Right Loom for Your Project

When picking a loom, consider these three things:

1. What do you want to make?
Hats need round or oval looms. Blankets do best on long, rectangular, or S-shaped looms. Socks need fine gauge looms.

2. What yarn do you plan to use?
Match yarn weight to loom gauge. Using bulky yarn on a fine gauge loom will feel tight and frustrating, and using thin yarn on a large gauge loom will look loose and holey.

3. What is your comfort level?
Beginners usually start with round or oval looms. Intermediate makers often jump to adjustable or sock looms. If you want big projects without seams, try an afghan loom.

Popular Loom Material

Plastic

Affordable and lightweight. Great for beginners and quick projects.

Wood

Sturdier, smoother, and more comfortable for larger projects. Often used by serious loom knitters.

Metal

Rare but very durable. Some adjustable looms use metal parts for added stability.

Final Thoughts

Knitting looms are incredibly versatile tools that make yarn crafting accessible for beginners and exciting for experienced makers. Whether you are creating a cozy blanket, a perfectly fitted pair of socks, or a hat on your favorite round loom, the right loom can make the process faster, smoother, and more enjoyable.