Casting on a knitting loom

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\My Pictures\2007-01-13\loom and yarn.jpg$

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\Knitty\Felted Baguette.jpg$

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\Knitty\Cables Bag.jpg$

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\My Pictures\2007 02 20-1\CQnobkg.jpg$

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\Knitty\Baby Sweater.jpg$

There are various methods to cast on a knitting loom, the method shown here is the Crochet Cast on. The Crochet Cast on provides a nice, non-loopy edge that works well for most of the loom knitted items: like socks, scarves, blankets--or any other item that has the first row showing.

If you are knitting a hat that doesn't have a brim/cuff, this would be an option to the e-wrap cast on method.

Items needed:

Knitting tool
Knitting loom
Yarn

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Step 1: Forming a slip knot

$C:\Documents and Settings\Family\My Documents\My Pictures\2007 01 25\slip1.jpg$

With your working yarn, form a small circle--the short tail of the working yarn should be at the top.

Mauigerbil says: Jul 26, 2011. 4:12 PM

Use a latch hook instead,if you want to. Its much faster once you get the hang of it. Once, I made an anime cat ears hat! It was adorable!!

BeaHoney says: Sep 2, 2010. 9:33 AM

I have learned the knit and purl stitches on the loom and am wondering if it is possible to convert regular knit patterns into loom patterns? Can you provide some direction or instructable on this?

a paperdoll gypsy says: Aug 6, 2010. 11:45 AM

I love knitting with needles and crochet. It is another skill I love doing! You can do almost everything with the loom you can with the needles. Baby things, blankets, socks, hats of all shapes and style the list goes on and on. This is one of the best ways to start your loom knitting. Give the loom a chance and enjoy! Make yourself happy doing what you love doing! It is fast and portable. BTW... I haven't ever had my loom taken away from me when I fly. Bottom line, It is a fun craft. Great Job PurlingSprite!

dojers says: Jun 24, 2010. 7:28 AM

An easier way of doing this is to take the tail of the yarn and wrap it around your finger twice. Take the bottom loop on your finger and pull it over the top loop. Grab the now bottom loop (was the top) and pull it up and over your finger making sure the now top loop (that was the bottom) stays on your finger. Pull the string tight and slip off your finger. You now have the perfect slip-knot.

charchar2 says: Mar 26, 2010. 2:56 PM

you can do it so much simpler........ maybe I'll make an instructable

chi chi chippy says: Sep 15, 2009. 12:23 PM

i get how to start it but how do i make this.... (i dont no if i did it right there should be a picture.)

Dr.Bill in reply to chi chi chippyMar 13, 2010. 4:10 PM

Makes good tube sox and hats tied at the top.

Dr.Bill says: Mar 13, 2010. 4:07 PM

I made one of these when I was a kid out of a bicycle wheel and bent spokes. It made really fine constricting tubular nets. We used them for lobster pot entrances. Held open with wood hoops, the lobsters could get in but not out.

thepelton says: Mar 13, 2010. 3:48 PM

I recall a knitting machine sold as a toy when I was a child that worked similarly to this. You just wove the yarn around the posts, and some hooks moved back and forth on them to create rows of knitted wool as you turned a crank.

jherr201 says: Jan 3, 2009. 5:45 PM

I'm starting my first project. I am using a round loom and have made some progress toward I guess what would be a tubular scarf? Sort of like rigatoni, with a hole in it? Is it possible to cut it in half later on so it will be twice as long or would that cause it to unravel? Also, I dont understand what it means to crotchet the end. Do I just pass each single stick over the peg next to it? Yikes! :-)

alvincredible says: Feb 11, 2008. 11:02 AM

im curious as to how you would make a hat for this. how does it come together at the top? anyway... good instructable. very clear...even i get it!

enders_girl in reply to alvincredibleDec 11, 2008. 7:52 PM

once you get the project to hat length, you cut yourself a long tail, then thread it through the needle that comes with the loom (all the looms I've ever seen come with a hook for making things and a large plastic needle for finishing things). Then you go around the loom, slipping each stitch off it's peg and onto the tail and basically just cinch the hat closed at the top, the weave in a bit of the end and tie it up. Loom knitting is really quick an easy. I totally recommend it.

Sunny124613 in reply to alvincredibleDec 7, 2008. 10:12 AM

oh well i JUST made a hat like an hour ago,and all I did was do a square knot at the top and put and cut off the ends.Also,you could turn it inside out so that the knot does NOT show

girlmacbeth says: Oct 2, 2008. 11:15 AM

how do you bind off in mid piece though I just don't understand the term and can't find the answer anywhere thank you

cloverbird27 says: Mar 16, 2008. 1:52 PM

This is a great this love this product product you can you use it anywhere and I love it. Can Anybody send me insctutions on how to to make an easy scarf and fun projects maybe for single cohret that are not to hard and give me some locations that have low priced or braiagin yarn.

idontcare says: Feb 23, 2008. 3:12 PM

I made one of those but in a much easier way, I also used the hook that came with it and used a shade of yarn like the one in the first picture I made a hat

Della57 says: Feb 2, 2008. 1:57 PM

I've tried the rest and use the best. Isela's Crochet Cast-On method is the ONLY cast-on method I use for my round looms.

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to Della57Feb 9, 2008. 9:57 AM

Della, Glad that it has worked for you.

GettinItPegged says: Feb 8, 2008. 7:14 AM

Awesome job, as usual! Everyone...Just so you know: you can knit flat pieces on the round looms as well! It doesn't have to be round. :)

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to GettinItPeggedFeb 9, 2008. 9:57 AM

Thank you!

dcarroll62 says: Feb 2, 2008. 1:19 PM

As always, you are the bright light of looming. Dianne

rrrstudio says: Feb 2, 2008. 12:00 PM

Thank you very much for helping me.

morley227 says: Jan 6, 2008. 1:02 AM

While I understand how to cast onto a knitting loom, I would like the specific instructions for that hot pink twisted scarf they show right below the instructions, that appears to be a scarf that can be done on that loom. Is that true or am i missing something?

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to morley227Feb 1, 2008. 10:36 PM

The pink twisted scarf is the Curly Q scarf. It was created on a loom. You can find the instructions over at www.loomknit.com. The pattern is for sale though.

rrrstudio says: Jan 22, 2008. 9:50 PM

when I am done with my project how do I get it off the loom?

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to rrrstudioFeb 1, 2008. 10:35 PM

It depends, if you are knitting in the round and you are planning to close the item as for the top of a hat, then you pass a piece of yarn through all the stitches and you cinch it close. If you are knitting a flat panel, then it gets a little more complicated. You will use a crochet hook and remove the first loop to the left of the end of the working yarn. Take the loop on the crochet hook, then crochet 1 chain, take the next loop off the peg, then crochet 1 chain. Keep going until all the stitches have been removed. Come and check out the instructions over at www.loomknit.com, I have videos that may be able to help you remove the item off the loom.

jpirkle says: Feb 1, 2008. 6:58 PM

Great instructions Isela. Get everyone looming yet ;o)

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to jpirkleFeb 1, 2008. 10:33 PM

Thank you :)!!! Thank you for your support!

MaggieBelize says: Jan 5, 2008. 7:16 PM

What a great alternative to the e-wrap cast-on! Thanks for the great instructions.

corozalblues says: Jan 5, 2008. 1:27 PM

Looms are fun, especially for those of us who always admired knoting, but can't deal with sticks and string. Loom knitting is so easy and satisfying!

Shark500 says: Apr 14, 2007. 1:37 AM

and this oes what exactly?

PurlingSprite (author) in reply to Shark500Apr 14, 2007. 10:28 AM

This is the cast on to start knitting on a knitting loom. It is the first steps needed to thread the knitting loom. After you have completed the cast on, the knitting loom is ready to be knitted on. You can knit many different things: hats, scarves, socks, slippers, bags, sweaters, shawls. They are nifty little items. Many loom knitters have previously tried knitting with needles but found the needles difficult, a knitting loom allows them an outlet for their creativity.

Shark500 in reply to PurlingSpriteApr 14, 2007. 11:28 PM

ohh so it makes round things. : )

Sunbanks in reply to Shark500Jan 3, 2008. 3:30 PM

There are some that make rectangular things.

Sunbanks says: Jan 3, 2008. 3:28 PM

I have some of those and I like making hats with them. I never knew you could do different stiches on them though. :)

TraumaComet says: Nov 27, 2007. 10:25 AM

Knitting looms rock!! They are, however, not new. People have been using these for hundreds of years. It used to be the women's job to card and spin yarn, and then the men would use knitting looms to create blankets, sheets, scarves and hats. It was called "knitting jenny" back then.

loom_knitter says: Oct 22, 2007. 11:24 AM

wow this cast on is awesome...thank you for sharing it and with photo's which help a lot.

BatGrrl says: Jun 29, 2007. 11:19 PM

This stitch is a way fancier one than the one I learned. Thanks! Also, they sell a loom that does straight panels, and is perfect for scarves, etc. I cranked out a scarf in two days. The next one I make, I can weave in this new stitch. Coolio! I'll post how to make one of these old-timey "spool knitters" and I'll show you the simple stitch too! Cheers!

bookratt says: Apr 25, 2007. 5:18 PM

These looms make seamless tubular items; using them is faster and easier than using 4 double pointed needles to do the same/similar thing. They rock!