Learn how to make a loom knit scarf with this simple step-by-step tutorial. All you need is some yarn and a loom kit to get started. This easy pattern comes together in just a few hours, so you can make it while you watch tv.
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This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated many times to answer reader questions. It was last updated in 2020.
Making a loom knit scarf is pretty simple. You need only a few supplies and this tutorial to help you get started. Once you’ve learned the pattern, you just repeat it until your scarf is the length you desire.
Loom knit scarf video tutorial
I put together this video to help illustrate each of the steps below.
How to make a loom knit scarf
Supplies
- beginning loom knitting kit
- yarn – I used 100 percent cotton in this tutorial (Bernat Handicrafter yarn in Anchors Away). It isn’t soft or stretchy at all, so the finished scarf has a loose-weave look. If you want something more snuggly, a stretchy acrylic (I have used Loops & Threads Charisma on several scarves and hats) will give you a tighter weave.
- scissors
- crochet hook, optional but very convenient
Quick shopping tip: A rectangle loom is good for flat things, like scarves and blankets. A round loom is good for hats, but can also be used to make scarves that are tube-shaped (and double-thick when flat).
Instructions
Step 1: Anchor the yarn
Start by unwinding a bit of the yarn. Tie one end in a casual slipknot over the peg on the end. This keeps your scarf from unraveling while you’re making the first few rows.
Step 2: Knit the first row.
Next, start weaving a figure eight down the pegs on top of the loom. It can be as wide or narrow as you like, but keep in mind that the finished scarf will be more narrow after it comes off of the loom. In general, I aim for six pegs on each side for a scarf.
Once you get to the end, you’re going to follow the same figure eight pattern back to the beginning. The last peg you wrapped around will only have one loop on it. The other pegs should have two loops, following the same path.
Step 3: Pull up the bottom loops over the top ones.
Now, grab the metal hook that came with the loom and pull up the lower loop on every peg that has two. That should be all of them except the one.
In these photos, my loops are a bit loose so you can easily see what I’m doing. When making a scarf, you want them to be pretty snug, but not so snug that they are difficult to move.
Step 4: Repeat to add more rows.
Now you’re going to do the same thing again, almost. Wind a figure eight back down to the end again. You will have two loops on every peg except for one. This time it is the peg back at the beginning.
Use the metal hook to pull up the bottom loop on every peg that has two loops like you did before. You can now go back and forth making figure eights and pulling up the loops on every turn.
After you have done a few rows, you will need to untie the slipknot loop you make on the end peg. It can just hang down for now.
Repeat the figure eight process until the scarf is as long as you want it to be. I usually make my scarves five or six feet long. It takes me about an hour for every foot, so it takes me five or six hours all together. Time to marathon your favorite show on Netflix.
Step 5: Finishing the scarf at the end.
When you reach the desired length, it is time to take the scarf off of the loom. This part was, for some reason, the hardest thing for me to learn.
It gets easier with practice. If you know how to crochet, this is basically a chain stitch.
Get a crochet hook or the metal hook from your kit. Start at the end that doesn’t have the tail of yarn. (I often do this backward!) Hook the loop onto your hook up from the bottom, then hook the next one on.
Pull the second loop through the first loop. The second loop stays on your hook; the first one goes off over it.
Repeat, following the direction your yarn goes in a zigzag until you get to the end. Hook the tail of yarn and pull it through the last loop. Pull it through so that it is a few inches long, then cut it off.
Step 6: Hide the yarn ends.
Now you have a nice, long scarf. Probably with a tail of yarn on either end. You can just weave those into the scarf so that they blend in. No need to tie a knot.
How to add tassels (optional)
Tassels aren’t essential, but they make your scarf look fancy and cover any unevenness.
Cut several sections of yarn in eight-inch lengths. For the scarf pictured here, each bundle has three pieces of yarn and there are five bundles on each end. That’s a total of 30 pieces.
For each bundle, fold the yarn in half and slip the folded end through the edge of the scarf. Poke the loose ends through the loop and pull gently.
You can see more pictures for the tassels at the end of my crochet scarf tutorial.
Now when people compliment you on your loom knit scarf, you can proudly say “I made that!” You might also want to learn how to loom knit a hat.
If any part of this is confusing or you just need more help, leave a comment or send me an email and I’ll do my best to explain.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
When I attempted to make my first one right when I started to be making progress my pegs towards the middle were like squeezed together and it was very hard to get the loops from the top to the bottom and it looked like the pegs were going to break off. I have just started my second one and am not tying and holding as tight. Any other suggestions!?
Tension is probably the hardest part of loom knitting. You’re on the right track with keeping the yarn looser. It shouldn’t be so tight that the pegs move or that it’s too difficult to lift the loops. In the beginning, it helped me to use a slightly stretchy yarn. I used 100% cotton for this tutorial, but you might have an easier time with something like a soft acrylic blend (Loops & Threads Charisma at Michael’s is nice). That way you don’t feel like you need to keep it as tight and it can flex a little more without looking uneven.
I’m making a child’s size scarf for a 4 year old and the blue boye loom how wide should my scarf be
I’m not a great judge of kids’ sizing since mine have always been in the 5th percentile. I would estimate that 6 pegs would still be appropriate for width. The scarf I made here is 6 pegs wide and measures about 3 inches. I made another one only 4 pegs wide and it is about 2-1/2 inches.
I would like to give it a try, Although I am not sure if I will be able to do it, But I liked the way you have expressed everything with pictures.
The instructions made it so easy for me to do. Made a small scarf for my 5 month old niece in no time! Thank you for giving clear instructions and pictures you have no idea how appreciated that is!
Thanks, Melanie! I wrote this post because when I was learning, I couldn’t find a good tutorial with photos. They really make it much easier to understand.
I I am having trouble seeing the instructions because of the “share” bar on the left side of the screen. It is blocking the first few words of each sentence. Doesn’t show a way to close it.
Thanks for letting me know! I’ve never heard anyone with that problem before. What kind of device are you using?
Hi Keri, I was wondering if u knew how to crochet a scarf. I really appreciate it if u could make a tutorial on it. I was looking for good websites for me, but couldn’t find one. Since u did a great tutorial on making a scarf using a loom, I wanted u to make a tutorial on making a scarf in crochet. Thanks so much. Hope u could reply. 😉
Sure! I have a crochet scarf tutorial right here: https://onemamasdailydrama.com/chunky-crochet-scarf/
how do you do this on a round loom?
The way I’ve made a scarf on a round loom is similar to making a hat. You can use my hat tutorial as a guide: https://onemamasdailydrama.com/loom-knit-hat-beginners/
Skip the part about making the brim. Just go around until the scarf is the length you want. You’ll basically have a long tube with both ends open. You can add tassels using the same method, just flatten the tube and pass the tassels through both sides to close up the ends.
Let me know if that doesn’t make sense!
What weight/thickness is the yarn you’re using with this scarf?
I used the Bernat Handicrafter 100% cotton yarn. I don’t have the label anymore, but I think the weight is 4/medium. Like this one: http://www.joann.com/bernat-handicrafter-ombres-and-prints-340-grams-yarn/zprd_12625430a.html
If I wanted the scarf to be wider, would I just use more pegs?
Yes!
You showed the steps in a very easy way. You made it easy to learn and get started.
I make scarfs on rectangle loom, why is it that beginning rows are always so loose? What can be done to tighten them?
I have that problem too. My best solution is to use stretchier yarn so it pulls closer together as it comes off the loom. With this cotton that isn’t stretchy, I pulled the sides of the finished scarf to kind of even out that end. The tassels also help with spacing.
I found this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2eah1IhuSs&t=1s) from Looming Crafty that shows a great, simple way to eliminate the loose loops at the beginning.
Thanks for sharing!
Take yarn put it thru the needle then take needle put it thru each peg as you
Remove the yarn from the peg keep the yarn together on the yarn that’s thru the needle at end I can take yarn and gather it however tight u need it .. I hope u understand this and it helps.
Your tutorial was very easy to follow. I think I had a couple of oopses along the way but nothing major. Thanks for the clear instructions and pictures. I’m going to try a hat next.
You’re welcome. The first time is always the hardest!
It seems that the cast on stitch and bind off stitch don’t match. The beginning is stretchy but with this bind off, it is tighter at the end. I have tried to go back to the start and find first stitch and pull it tighter, but now I just have a mess.
Hi Lisa! That’s a common problem with loom knitting. It’s the main reason I put tassels on all of my scarves – to cover the unevenness.
I have heard of others having success with blocking the finished scarf. Basically, you use steam or water and stretch the scarf to the desired size/shape, then let it dry. Unfortunately, I don’t have a good tutorial to reference for that.
What do you do if you run out of yarn partway through and want to attach a new piece?
You can start a new skein of yarn in kind of the same way that you started the first one. Loop onto the end peg for security, then wrap just ONE time and hook it into the previous row. Keep that tail tied until you’ve done 2 or 3 rows and then you can remove it from the end peg. You’ll have to weave that loose tail into the scarf when you’re done.
Have you ever made an infinity scarf on a rectangular loom?
I haven’t made one on a rectangular loom, but I have on a round loom. (See my loom knit hat post: https://onemamasdailydrama.com/loom-knit-hat-beginners/) All you need to do for either loom is, when you get to the end of the scarf, put the beginning loops over the pegs and wrap around one last time to secure them in place.
The best tutorial ever! Thank You. And, I was able to look my scarf ends off by following your pictures. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much, Julia! Hearing this makes my day!
Hi Keri–your instruction are some of the better ones that I have come across! I was wondering if you would consider sharing a format of the instructions that I would be able to print out.
I work with seniors and we are trying to find items that they can take into their rooms and work through without assistance. We are just working through the challenges presented with COVID 19 and helping our Residents to remain in rooms and practise physical distancing. The vision would be to have the instructions with photos, a loom, yarn, and the hook. I can cut and paste the instructions and reprint but would like to see if you could share with us so we don’t have all of the adverts – and of course sharing where the info came from.
I thank you for considering this request.
Hi Lee Ann! I’m so glad you found my tutorial to be helpful. I can’t imagine what your job is like right now and want to help if I can. The advertising is what allows me to offer this content for free, but I can understand it complicating the learning process for seniors. If I was to make this available for purchase as an ebook, is that something you would be interested in?
I love your instructions and pictures. However I do not under stand the end. The loop thru loop I was fine up to there now I am completely lost. The pic doesn’t help me. Sorry.!
CAROLYN
That part can be confusing. To finish the scarf and remove the last row of loops from the loom, you’re basically going to crochet the last row together.
Start with your hook going through the loop on the end (like in the photo). Take the next loop beside it off of the peg and onto the hook, then pull it through the first loop. That will leave the new loop on your hook and the first one closed. Repeat the process down the row.
Let me see if I can take a few photos tonight for better clarification too.
Carolyn – I just wanted to let you know that I got the post updated and put together a little video. I hope that helps!
This helps a great deal. I’ve tried the printed instructions that came with the kit. Yours are easier to understand and the video and clear pictures make me feel like I can do this…
Thanks, Beverly! I’m so glad I could help!
I’m new at this I can hand knit, I put the yarn on quit tightly I got the first loop over the peg and next then the loop over the next one , so what happens is that the rest of the loops are very loose. Do you know what I’m doing wrong. If I put the yarn on any tighter I won’t be able to get the yarn over the pegs..Doreen
Hi Doreen! Loom knitting takes some practice, especially with the tension. Knitting on a loom is much looser than knitting by hand. It sounds like you need to start out looser on the first few rows – and make sure you keep the same tension throughout. If you watch the video, you can see that there’s a lot of space and the loops are loose.
Thanks a lot Ms, I,am hooked to loom knitting..a,man of 72yrs.. and I.love to do all these..cause I,am on pension..and to me it,s very relaxing doing this..cause it take my mind off many things..I do appreciate this platform sooo much..I,ve start doing a scarf with single strands but it curls to the inside..perhaps you can explain..You must en joy your looming as much as me..and all the others..
I’m so glad that knitting is relaxing for you! My scarves tend to curl to one side a bit also. Make sure you’re not pulling the yarn too tight when you get to the ends. You should be able to shape it a bit after you’ve finished just by pulling the whole thing to be a bit more square. Hope that helps!
I don’t remember how many times I had to start over. The ends never came out right. Boo hoooo I gave up after the 5th or 6th time I had to start over.
Hello Marie! I’m so sorry – I wish I knew how to help.
i liked your step by step and was really interested in a video. The casting off kind of confused me but I will try it again.
Casting off was the hardest part for me to learn. I hope the video was helpful!