The Next Knitting Wave

Known by name such as rake knitting, board knitting, circle knitting, and knitting without needles, loom knitting is enjoying a modern resurgence in today's knitting world.

A descendant of the frame loom, the birth of the knitting loom is unclear, as a patent for an early mechanized knitting loom dates to 1882, and a patent in 1981 was filed for a manual knitting loom (Google Scholar). Patents aside, items used in loom knitting have been found that date well over 150 years old.

Looms generally come in two forms, the rake and the board. A rake loom is a frame usually in the shape of a circle, with grooved pegs evenly spaced all the way around the frame. A knitting board typically is rectangular in shape, with grooved pegs evenly spaced down each side with each side parallel to the other. While a rake can be used in place of a board for panel knitting, a board is typically is not interchangeable with a rake for circular knitting as the spacing of the pegs is not always ideal.

In using either a rake or a board, knitting is accomplished by wrapping the pegs and using a hook to "knit off" each stitch. Knitting looms lend themselves well to hats and scarves; however there are many types of wrapping patterns used to achieve any stitch used in traditional needle knitting making project options nearly endless.

Today's looms are available in a variety of styles, each often exhibiting their own unique specialty. While there are generic looms used for just about anything, there are also looms designed with specific projects in mind. For example, there are looms made with socks in mind, as well as looms made with shawls in mind. The added benefit is that these specialty looms are not limited to just what the maker intended, as a sock loom may make the perfect size mitten, or a thumb loom made for a mitten loom set is the perfect size to make arms and legs for a knitted doll. Modern looms are typically made of wood or plastic, with the pegs being made from plastic, wood, nylon, or metal.

While loom knitting most likely will never replace needle knitting, it does have its advantages. Loom pegs are spaced perfectly, insuring that tension and gage remain the same throughout a project, and (most importantly) items worked on a loom work up faster than on needles, providing more of an instant gratification of seeing a project through to completion.

Looming is a fun alternative to needles, and is enjoyed by many people of all ages. Beginner looms are relatively inexpensive, so even children can start at a young age learning the wonders of the knitting world.