What Size Loom Should I Use for Knitting Hats?

After leaning the hard way...knitting a bunch of hats through trial and error (giving the unintended hats to charity), I learned what size loom was appropriate for what size hat. I have a set of Knifty Knitter Looms. I thought I would share with you what I learned. FYI - the picture above does not include the flower loom. I snagged this pic off Google so you could see what I'm talking about.

**Please note this sizing is based on using one normal yarn strand (size 4 bulk), and another fancier and bulkier yarn (5 or 6 - I really like to use 6). Because of the extra bulk of using two strands of yard the sizes become smaller than you would think.

12 Peg Loom (Flesh/Pink colored): Baby Booties, Baby Mittens

24 Peg Loom (Blue): Preemie Baby Hat

31 Peg Loom (Red): Newborn Baby Hat

36 Peg Loom (Green): Hat for Young Children (1 yr to maybe 8 yrs?)

41 Peg Loom (Yellow): Hat for Tweens and adults (this includes women adults especially... it looks WAY too big but believe me you need this size! I'm not sure about the age in between the 36 peg and 41 peg. I've used the 36 peg loom for my 1 year old and my 4 year old and it works great. We do have big heads in my family though :)

Loom Knitting Neborn Baby Booties Template, and Baby Bootie Heel Template

Loom used: 12 peg loom (Knifty Knitter is what I used)

Yarn used: I use two strands of yarn so the bootie has less space in between each chain (no holes which makes them warmer!). I will usually use a normal cheaper yarn mixed with the nicer and softer specialty yarns. I have also used a third strand that is super thin but adds color and variety.

Step 1: Knit 6 rows (I use the basic e-wrap - if you need help with the basics please check out Provo Craft's website - search Provo Craft Knifty Knitter and you will find it)

Step 2: Turn Cuff (It's like making a brim on a hat)

Step 3: Knit 2 rows

Step 4: Knit the Heel (You will not be knitting around and around in a circle. You will use only pegs 1-8)

Heel Template For 12 Peg Loom
This template is good and bad. Good because it makes a cute gradual heel like you see in a normal sock. Bad because it will leave larger holes than the rest of the bootie, and you will have to at the end repair the holes.

wrap pegs 1 through 8 knit off

wrap pegs 7 – 2 knit off

wrap pegs 3 - 6 knit off

wrap pegs 5 - 4 knit off

wrap peg 5 only knit off

wrap pegs 5 - 4 knit off

wrap pegs 3 - 6 knit off

wrap pegs 7 - 2 knit off

wrap pegs 1 - 12 knit off


Step 5: Knit 7 more rows (I've done 6 rows and it looks just a bit smaller than I would like. Next time I will try the 7 or 8 rows. This step is where you are making the length of the toe. Adjust according to your personal desire).

Step 6: take off with gather method - leave a REALLY long tail like 18 inches long

Step 7: Turn the bootie inside out (it already should be for the gather method). Use your really long tail to then sew up the holes that you find throughout the heel. If you use nice thick fun yarn you will not be able to see much of this. As I'm doing it I am very aware of what I am doing on the outside of the bootie to maintain a cute look. There is no real trick to this. Just sew up the holes.

Step 8: I do not recommend weaving a ribbon to tie around the booties. I'm a nurse and this sets off all sorts of alarm bells in my head. It would be so easy for mom or dad to tie this too tight and they wouldn't be able to tell because the blue oxygen-deprived foot wouldn't be showing! So I just sewed on a cute bow for cuteness factor.