Loom Knitting Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting on a Loom, with Over 30 Fun Projects

by Isela Phelps

Knitting looms are flying off the shelves in craft stores because loom-knitting is such an easy craft to take up―it can be learned by both children and adults alike in just a few hours. If you have fond memories of spool knitting (a round wooden spool with a central hole surrounded by four small nails) when you were a child then you know how easy it was to create yards and yards of knitted tubes. Today's loom are just as easy and fun to use!
Widely available in craft stores, looms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some are circular, others rectangular, some tiny and some large. The size of the loom dictates the size of the knitted piece although you can easily join smaller panels together to make larger items.
This book is designed as a hands on project resource as well as an essential reference for the growing band of loom knitters. Clear step by step illustrations throughout show how to cast-on, bind-off and knit a wide range of stitches on both round looms and knitting boards. Practice projects are provided for each technique, and there are more then 30 attractive patterns to get the crafter started.
- the first book to provide patterns for an increasingly popular tool
- comprehensive techniques and information provide the essential back-up manual to supplement the minimal instructions that come with the looms
- over 30 quick and easy patterns for sweaters and accessories
An Alternate Selection of the Crafter's Choice Book Club

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2007

Reviews

[Yvensong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for beginning and intermediate loomers.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you plan on loom knitting much, I'd recommend that you keep this book on hand.

There are a lot of really excellent textile arts out there, and in most cases, I would eschew books in favor of one of the better done youtube videos or websites out there. But these can often leave you out in the cold on an overview of the technique, or bringing together some of the various parts of the art into a cohesive whole. You might not understand the breadth of what you can do with the technique, or the depth you might need on a particular issue.

In the case of loom knitting, I would still recommend watching I videos because some of the descriptions and drawings used in This Book are a bit difficult to follow and a video is better. And yet this book is great at bringing it all together. The introductions, the project descriptions, summaries and all the other bits and bobs make this an excellent reference for beginners and experts alike.

This book should be kept as a useful reference even once you've got started, and a source of challenges once you've been doing it for a while. It will not get stale just moments after you get started on your first project. The author also wrote Loom Knitting Pattern Book: 38 Easy, No-Needle Designs for All Loom Knitters, but I can't recommend that one. Not that I need that level yet, but it does seem to be a rather sub-par attempt to add to this book.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always wanted to learn to knit, but could never get the hang of using knitting needles. Looking for a new hobby for 2020, I bought a knitting loom on a whim. This book, along with some great youtube videos, helped me learn the basics. I had my first scarf knitted in a week!

Fair warning, it does focus more heavily on round looms than board/long looms so if you have one of those you will probably need to find videos to help you learn.

[xarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great place to start if you’ve never used a loom before! The included patterns weren’t very imaginative though.

[Mary Foxe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong beginner's book on loom knitting with clear directions and visuals.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a learning book, easy to understand

[Zayd Tarjuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best knitting book I ever got about knitting. Now I know rib stitch and a bunch of other stitches too. Great book.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're just learning loom knitting this is a great book. I've made a whole bunch of caps for newborns with the smallest loom. Great way to be productive while watching TV.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really neat book full of patterns to learn how to make different projects on knitting looms. It incorporates a variety of different looms, which I find I must invest in! I don't have all the looms needed in order to make all the different projects in this book. The looms I currently own are all square looms, and the looms in this project book are circular looms, which in my opinion, leaves the opportunity to make much broader variety of items to make.
I enjoy this book very much and look forward to making quite a few of these patterns. There are so many different patterns, from hats, shrugs, right down to socks! The result is weaving yarn around a loom to get your end result. It is quite interesting!
This is one of those books a mother/daughter team can do and learn together. It is great when there are these types of books available when mother/daughter, or even friends can do together. In the same breath, this is also a book one can use alone, as well, in making the projects in this book.
I look forward to making some of these projects!
It is very well written, and the directions are very easy to follow. This book does surprise me with the variety of items you can make on a knitting loom!
I bought this book this year for my birthday! A birthday present for me, to me!!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do NOT like loom knitting. I can knit faster with needles. I can create more complicated stitch patterns with needles. AND on the rare occasions that I do make a mistake, I can ALWAYS fix the mistake IF I am using two needles. NONE of this is true when I use a loom. I have a special dislike for those looms which are used for knitting socks. They are tedious. It takes hours just to create 2 inches of sock leg. When I knit with needles I can knit the entire leg in the same amount of time.

Having said all of this, IF you are determined to learn loom knitting then Isela is the one to teach you the possibilities. However, before you buy this rather expensive book, you should check for those U-tube videos of the techniques which Isela Phelps has posted.

[Becky H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of patterns but I felt like I needed to already know how to knit (and I don't know how). I was able to figure out some of the stitches. I will try again later.

The library has started a knitting while listening to an audio book group. One of the ladies is going to teach me how to read the patterns. So, I'm going to give this one another try. I really like the looks of several of the projects.

I got this book for Christmas and I have now made 2 hats with different stitches. It is so fun to learn something new. With a little help from the knitting group this book is becoming more and more clear.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I've been loom knitting using various instructions on the internet for about a year and decided to read an actual book about it to fill in my skills. This primer reads easily and has some pretty good illustrations. There are also some nice reference charts about yard and loom specs. I only got to do two of the patterns in the book before I had to return it to the library, but they were successful. I think there some unclear points in her instructions, and one stitch simply didn't seem to work the way I interpreted what she wrote, but in general, I think new loom knitters will find this the best reference out there. It's worst failing is very strange organization."

[Judie Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I already entered a review for this book, but can't seem to find it. I won this book from good reads--thank you for choosing me. I was so happy to get this book. I've seen people working on these circular looms and wanted to know how to do it. This book tells everything you need to know about using many types of looms and many different stitches. It also contains 35 patterns from the very simple to the more advanced. I've had my plate full lately, but I can't wait to try some of the easier pattern and then hopefully work my way up to the harder one. I would recommend this book to crafters and knitters, or people like me who don't knit, but wish they could.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been wanting to read this for a while, as there was a bag in it that I wanted to knit...however, this book was chock full of information, and for me, so close to the holidays was a bad thing. I was completely overwhelmed. So, I am going to try to give it a shot again in March or so. Definitely a must-read for anyone who wants to get started knitting with a loom! It goes over EVERY thing you need to know!

[Kath Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed perusing this book as I started a knitting group at our library called "Sticks and Tomes" (we listen to an audiobook and knit at the same time- all ages). While I'm not a great knitter, I found loom knitting fit my time and efforts quite well. The pictures and directions are clear and concise. I made several hats over Christmas and this book was very helpful. I know I can always 'borrow' it from my library, but I think this is one I'll add to my personal collection.

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite the title, these patterns are typically not written FOR the knitting loom at all - they are conversion of needle knitting patterns, which are poorly done at best. Explanations are incomplete, terms are not consistent with what the loom-knitting community use at large. Many patterns are hard to follow because of being so poorly written.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've dabbled with knitting but never with a loom. Admittedly I don't have any. It is doubtful I'll invest in any. The book looks great with clear instructions. But its been shelved to my "at some point in the future" projects. And we know what happens to those.

But if for some reason it becomes an unshelled project, this book will be useful!

[Donna Zigmont · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very informative and helpful. I received a loom set and the DVD that came with it was confusing as well as the booklet with projects. The diagrams in this book were great and easy to understand. I am confident I can start a project soon.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book enough that I'm going to buy it for my very own self.

[Annlouise Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great encyclopedia of loom knitting stitches and projects.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you plan to buy someone a set of Knifty Knitter looms, please buy this book, too. It is so much more helpful than the leaflets that are normally sold alongside the looms.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely need to own this book. From start to finish this book has perfect step by step instructions and wonderful pictures. I really, really, really want to own this book!!!!

[Sara Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with clear graphics and fun projects for loom knitting. Loom knitting g is great because the gauge is constant.

[Liane Manso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to loom knitting. Can't wait to start more of the projects.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buy this before you buy any other look knitting book. It covers all the basic cast-on and bind off techniques and gives great project ideas to learn several stitches.

[Jec · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative

[Jill Spano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meh served it's purpose

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads and found that this book will make learning and doing loom knitting so much easier,

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely wanting to do some of these projects!!!