What You Need to get your free guide
A loom hat is faster and easier than needles because the pegs hold your stitches for you—you don't have to balance them or worry about dropping them. You'll need a round loom (the most common type for hats), which costs between $5 and $20 depending on size. A loom kit usually includes the loom itself, a hook tool to pull yarn through the pegs, and sometimes a yarn needle.
The loom size matters: a 41-peg loom makes an adult hat, while a 24-peg loom works for children. You'll also need worsted-weight yarn—one skein (about 220 yards) is enough for a basic hat. Worsted weight is thicker than regular yarn and works faster than thinner types. Avoid yarn that's too thin or too thick for your first hat; medium weight is forgiving.
Set up your workspace on a table where you can see the loom clearly and rest your hands comfortably. The loom should sit flat in front of you, and you should be able to reach all the pegs without stretching.
Key Takeaways
- A round loom with 41 pegs is the standard size for an adult hat and takes about one to two hours to complete.
- The basic stitch for hat looming is the e-wrap, where you wrap yarn around each peg in a figure-eight pattern, then pull the lower loop over the top.
- You cast on by wrapping yarn around every peg once, then work in rounds by wrapping and pulling loops until the hat reaches your desired length.
- Decreasing happens in the final rounds by skipping pegs, which pulls the fabric tighter and shapes the crown of the hat.
- Binding off secures the final stitches so they don't unravel, and weaving in the yarn ends finishes the hat completely.
How to Cast On and Anchor Your Yarn
Start by tying a knot at the end of your yarn and slipping it onto any peg—this is your anchor. Pull the yarn snug but not tight; you should be able to slide the loop slightly on the peg. This anchor stays in place throughout the entire hat.
Now wrap yarn around every peg on the loom in one direction (usually clockwise). Go around the loom once, wrapping the yarn around each peg as you pass it. The yarn should sit in the groove at the base of each peg, not wrapped around the top. After one full circle, you've cast on. The loom now has one loop on each peg, and you're ready to start the e-wrap stitch.
The E-Wrap Stitch: The Foundation of Loom Knitting
The e-wrap is the stitch you'll use for almost the entire hat. It creates a tight, even fabric and is much simpler than needle knitting. Start at any peg and wrap the yarn in a figure-eight pattern: bring yarn in front of the peg, wrap it around the back, then bring it forward again and move to the next peg. The yarn should cross itself in front of each peg, forming an X shape.
After you've wrapped all the pegs once (one full round), use your hook tool to pull the lower loop over the top loop on each peg. Start at the same peg where you began wrapping. Slide the hook under the lower loop, lift it over the upper loop and the peg, and let it drop on the other side. Move to the next peg and repeat all the way around. When you finish, each peg has one loop again, and you've completed one row.
Repeat this pattern—wrap all pegs in a figure-eight, then pull loops over—for about 5 to 6 inches. This is the body of the hat. Count your rows by marking them with a stitch marker or a piece of yarn tied to the loom; this helps you know when to start decreasing.
Decreasing to Shape the Crown
Once the hat body reaches about 5 to 6 inches tall, you'll start decreasing to close the top. Decreasing means skipping pegs as you wrap, which pulls the fabric tighter and creates the crown shape. On your first decrease round, wrap every other peg instead of every peg. So if you have 41 pegs, you'll wrap only about 20 of them, skipping one peg between each wrap.
After wrapping every other peg, pull the loops over as usual. On the next round, wrap every peg again (the pegs you skipped now have loops again). Then on the round after that, decrease again by wrapping every other peg. Continue this pattern—decrease round, regular round, decrease round—until only 4 to 6 pegs have loops left.
The hat will start to cup and form a dome shape as you decrease. This is normal and exactly what you want. If the fabric feels too tight to wrap, loosen your tension slightly on the next round, but keep the loops snug enough that they don't slip off the pegs.
Binding Off and Closing the Top
When only 4 to 6 loops remain on the loom, it's time to bind off. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Thread this tail through your yarn needle. Starting at any peg, slide the needle through the loop on that peg and pull it off the loom. Move to the next peg and repeat, threading the needle through each remaining loop in order. Pull gently as you go so the loops don't unravel.
After all loops are off the loom and threaded on the needle, pull the yarn tail tight. This cinches the top of the hat closed. Weave the needle and yarn tail through the loops one more time to find them, then pull tight again. The top should now be completely closed with no hole.
Finishing Touches and Common Mistakes to Avoid
Once the hat is off the loom, weave in the yarn ends using your yarn needle. Thread the anchor yarn tail through the inside of the hat for about an inch, then trim it close. Do the same with the tail from binding off. This hides the ends and prevents them from poking out.
The most common mistake is wrapping too tightly, which makes it hard to pull loops over and can distort the fabric. Wrap snugly but not so tight that your hands hurt. Another mistake is losing count of rows and decreasing too early or too late; mark your rows with a safety pin or scrap yarn so you always know where you are.
If a loop slips off a peg, don't panic. Use your hook tool to pick it back up and slip it onto the peg. If you notice a mistake several rows back, you can unravel back to that point and start over from there—it's much faster than with needles. Most beginners finish their first hat in one to two hours once they understand the rhythm of wrapping and pulling loops.
Adjusting the Fit and Trying It On
Before you weave in the final ends, try the hat on. It should fit snugly but not so tight that it's uncomfortable. If it's too loose, you can tighten it by pulling the yarn tail at the top and cinching it more. If it's too tight, you may have wrapped too tightly throughout; next time, loosen your tension slightly.
The brim of the hat will naturally curl slightly because of how the e-wrap stitch works. This is normal. If you want a flat brim instead, you can fold the bottom edge up and stitch it in place with a needle and thread, or you can knit a ribbed edge on your next hat by using a different stitch for the first inch. For your first hat, the natural curl is fine and looks intentional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size loom should I use for a child's hat?
A 24-peg or 28-peg loom works well for children ages 4 to 10. A 41-peg loom is standard for teens and adults. If you're unsure, measure the child's head circumference and compare it to the loom's finished size, which is usually listed on the package.
Can I use a different yarn weight?
Worsted weight is easiest for beginners because it's thick enough to see clearly and fast to work with. Thinner yarn (like sport or DK weight) takes longer and is harder to see, while thicker yarn (like bulky) may not fit on the pegs properly. Stick with worsted weight for your first hat.
What if I drop a stitch or make a mistake?
If you notice a mistake in the current row, unravel back to that point by pulling the yarn and lifting loops off the pegs. If the mistake is several rows back, you can carefully unravel just that section and pick the loops back up with your hook tool. It's much easier to fix than with needles.
How do I know when the hat is long enough?
Measure from the base of the loom to the top of the fabric as you work. For an adult, aim for 5 to 6 inches before you start decreasing. The finished hat will be about 7 to 8 inches tall from brim to crown. Try it on as you go if you're unsure.
Do I need to block the hat after I finish?
Blocking (wetting and shaping the hat to dry) is optional for loom-knit hats. If the brim is curled and you want it flat, you can wet the hat, pin it to the right shape on a towel, and let it dry. Most people skip this step for casual hats, but it does improve the finished look.