Best Knitting Loom (2026): 6 Picks for Hats, Socks and Blankets
The best knitting loom for most people is the Authentic Knitting Board 38 inch hardwood loom, about $70, with 170 pegs and a peg slider for scarves, afghan panels and wide projects. To start for under $25, the Loops and Threads round loom set gives four hat-size looms from 5.5 to 11.5 inches.
The most versatile loom is the AKB 38" Blanket Loom, about $70. It is a 38 inch solid hardwood loom with 170 pegs, a peg slider and two spacers, so one frame handles scarves, shawls and blanket panels. If you just want to make a hat this weekend, the Loops & Threads Round Loom Set costs about $24 and includes four round looms, a metal hook and a needle.
A knitting loom is a frame of pegs. You wrap yarn around each peg and lift the lower loop over the upper one with a hook, which makes real knit stitches without needles. It is easy to learn, gentle on hands that dislike holding needles, and popular for hats, socks and chunky blankets.
Knitting looms at a glance
| Product | Price | Shape | Gauge or pegs | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 KB Fine Gauge Sock Loom | $16.99 | Adjustable long loom | Fine gauge, DK or thinner | Socks | Price |
 Loops & Threads Round Loom Set | $23.59 | 4 round looms | 5.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5 in | Chunky hats | Price |
 AKB Small Gauge Round Looms | $29.99 | 3 round looms | 80, 72, 64 pegs; 3/8 in gauge | Finer hats | Price |
 KB Adjustable Multi-Knit Loom | $39.99 | Round, oval or flat | Small or large gauge | Trying many projects | Price |
 AKB 38" Blanket Loom | $69.99 | 38 in long loom | 170 pegs, hardwood | Scarves and blanket panels | Price |
 addi Express Kingsize | $157.12 | Crank machine | 46 needles | Speed on plain tubes | Price |
Beginner
Beginner picks: a first loom under $25
Loom knitting is one of the fastest crafts to learn. A basic set and a few skeins of chunky yarn are enough to finish a hat on your first afternoon.
Loops & Threads Knit Quick Round Loom Set, 4 looms
$23.59Four plastic round looms at 5.5, 7.5, 9.5 and 11.5 inches, a metal hook, a plastic needle and instructions, about $24. The sizes map roughly to baby, child, teen and adult hats.
Best for: First hats
Check price Authentic Knitting Board Fine Gauge Wooden Sock Loom
$16.99A hardwood sock loom, about $17, that adjusts to any sock size by loosening a wing nut and moving the slider. It is meant for DK or thinner yarn, which gives a firm, long-wearing sock fabric.
Best for: Socks without needles
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Intermediate
Intermediate picks: finer gauge and flexibility, about $30 to $40
Once you have made a chunky hat, the next step is usually finer fabric or more shapes from one tool.
Authentic Knitting Board Premium Round Loom Set, Small Gauge
$29.99Three round looms with 80, 72 and 64 pegs at a 3/8 inch small gauge, plus a knit hook, about $30. Closer pegs make denser, less holey hats with worsted yarn.
Best for: Finer hats and cowls
Check price Authentic Knitting Board Adjustable Multi-Knit Loom, Small and Large Gauge
$39.99Snap-in plastic parts build round, oval or flat looms, about $40. Use every peg for small gauge, or pull every other peg for large gauge and chunky yarn.
Best for: One loom, many projects
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Expert
Expert picks: a long hardwood loom, or a crank machine
Who should not buy this tier: someone who only wants to make the occasional hat, where a $24 round set is plenty, and anyone expecting a crank machine to do textured stitches. Loom knitters can work purl, rib and cable-like stitches; a crank machine only does stockinette.
Authentic Knitting Board 38 inch Adjustable Blanket Loom
$69.99A 38 inch solid hardwood loom with 170 pegs, a peg slider and two spacers, about $70. The long bed handles scarves, shawls and afghan panels, and hardwood pegs stay put through years of use.
Best for: Blankets and scarves
Check price addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine, 46 needles
$157.12If loom speed is not enough, a 46-needle crank machine makes hat tubes and 17.7 inch flat panels much faster, about $157. You give up stitch patterns for speed.
Best for: Plain fabric, fast
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What is knitting loom gauge?
Loom gauge is the distance between pegs, measured from the center of one peg to the center of the next. Closer pegs make finer, denser fabric with thinner yarn; wider spacing needs bulky yarn or two strands held together. Manufacturers label gauges a little differently, so treat these as typical ranges and check the peg spacing in the listing.
| Loom gauge | Peg spacing (center to center) | Yarn | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra fine | About 3/16 in | Fingering, sport | Baby items, fine socks |
| Fine | About 1/4 in | Sport, DK | Socks, fitted hats |
| Small | About 3/8 in | DK, worsted | Hats, cowls, sweaters |
| Regular or large | About 5/8 to 3/4 in | Bulky, or 2 strands worsted | Chunky hats, blankets |
| Extra large | About 1 in | Super bulky | Fast, thick blankets |
Match yarn to gauge with our yarn weight chart. The AKB Small Gauge Round Looms is listed at 3/8 inch, a good middle ground for worsted yarn.
What can you make on a knitting loom?
- Hats: round looms, sized by diameter. The most common first project.
- Socks: an adjustable sock loom like the KB Fine Gauge Sock Loom, including a shaped heel with loom techniques.
- Scarves and cowls: long looms or a round loom knit as a tube.
- Blankets: long looms in panels, or a large gauge loom with bulky yarn.
- Stitch patterns: e-wrap, knit, purl, rib, seed and more. Our knitting stitch library explains the needle versions of the same fabrics.
Loom vs knitting machine: which should you buy?
They solve different problems. A loom is slow-ish, portable, quiet and does many stitch patterns. A crank knitting machine is fast but makes only plain stockinette tubes and panels.
| Question | Knitting loom | Crank knitting machine |
|---|---|---|
| Speed for a hat | An evening or two | Under an hour |
| Stitch patterns | Knit, purl, rib, seed, more | Stockinette only |
| Yarn range | Depends on gauge, fine to super bulky | Mostly medium to chunky |
| Noise and portability | Quiet, travels well | Clamps to a table, clicks |
| Price for a good one | About $17 to $70 | About $50 to $157 |
If you want the speed of a machine, see best knitting machines. If you are really after woven fabric, a rigid heddle loom is a separate craft; see best rigid heddle looms.
How much yarn for a loom blanket?
Large gauge loom patterns often hold two strands of worsted together, which doubles yardage compared with a single strand. A throw on a large gauge loom commonly lands in the same range as a chunky needle-knit throw, roughly 1,400 to 1,900 yards of bulky yarn, or twice that in worsted held double. Your stitch choice matters: e-wrap uses less yarn than the true knit stitch. Get a size-specific number from the blanket yarn calculator.
Is loom knitting easier on your hands?
Many crafters who find needles uncomfortable enjoy looms, because there is nothing to grip while you work the stitches, and the loom rests on a table or in your lap. The motion of lifting loops with a hook is still repetitive, so short sessions and a comfortable hook help. Wooden looms feel warmer and heavier on a table, which some people like. For more ideas, see knitting needles for arthritis.
Light the pegs, not just the room
Dark yarn on dark pegs is hard to read. Aim a bright daylight lamp across the loom at a low angle so loops cast small shadows and each peg is easy to see.
How we chose
We did not test these looms in person. We compared manufacturer specifications (peg count, gauge, loom sizes, material, included tools), verified listings, and recurring themes in verified owner reviews about pegs loosening, instructions, and how well each loom handles different yarn weights. Loom gauge ranges are typical industry conventions, not measurements.
Buying tips
- Pick gauge before size. Gauge decides which yarn you can use.
- Round looms for hats, long looms for scarves and blankets.
- Buy a hook with a comfortable handle if the included one feels thin.
- Hardwood lasts longer than plastic for heavy use.
- Swatch on the loom before a big project; loom fabric can be looser than expected.
- Adjustable looms are good for exploring before committing to specific sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a knitting loom good for beginners?
Yes, loom knitting is one of the easiest ways to start making knit fabric. There are no needles to hold, stitches cannot slide off the end, and a basic set with round looms costs about $24. Most beginners finish a chunky hat within a day or two. The main skill to learn is keeping even tension as you wrap each peg.
What size knitting loom do I need for an adult hat?
For an adult hat with bulky yarn, many knitters use a round loom around 9.5 to 11.5 inches in diameter, depending on peg count and gauge. Smaller looms make child and baby hats. Finer gauge looms with more pegs make adult hats with worsted yarn. Measure the head, then check the pattern, since loom fabric stretches considerably.
Can you knit a blanket on a knitting loom?
Yes. Long looms like the 38 inch hardwood loom knit wide panels that you join, and large gauge looms with bulky yarn make quick blankets. Some knitters also make many squares on a small loom and seam them. Blankets take a lot of yarn, especially when patterns hold two strands together, so estimate yardage before buying and get one dye lot.
What yarn works best on a knitting loom?
Match yarn to loom gauge. Large gauge looms suit bulky yarn or two strands of worsted, small gauge looms suit worsted or DK, and fine gauge sock looms suit DK or thinner. Smooth yarns are easiest to lift over pegs. Very fuzzy or splitty yarns tend to catch, and yarn that is too thin for the gauge makes holey fabric.
Is loom knitting the same as weaving?
No. Loom knitting makes knit stitches by lifting loops over pegs, producing stretchy knit fabric like hand knitting. Weaving on a rigid heddle loom interlaces two sets of yarn at right angles, making woven cloth that does not stretch in the same way. Both are called looms, but they are different crafts with different tools and results.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.