Hey there! Trust you’re ready for another hit today.
Are you new to the knitting world, or you’re an expert? Do you ever wonder what a loop yarn is and what you can use it for? Then this is just for you.
Several things you should know about loop yarn and how attractive they make finished projects look.
I’m sure you’ll get interested in experimenting as I show you a few patterns.
Relax as we discuss in detail all you need to know.
What Can You Make With Loop Yarn?
Anything you think of is what you can make, regardless of the pattern, design, size, or color. There is a long chain of so many things you can make with loop yarn, but before that, there are essential things to know about the loop yarn before you start.
Loop yarn is thick and puffy with pre-formed loops sewn into it. To stitch the loops together, you do not need needles to knit; it is done with your fingers; you “finger-knit.” However, it is a significant introduction to knitting or crocheting, originally for kids or beginners.
Using a loop yarn, you have no reason to worry over a knitting gauge as the loops are pre-formed, which makes their sizes even.
Now, as I promised, let’s check the things you can make with loop yarn.
1. Blankets
It’s time to warm yourself up this winter, and you can make a chunky blanket from loop yarn. Three things are needed: the loop yarn, bobby pin, and scissors. Your size and weight preference determine the number of skeins required for your blanket skeins. Here are basic blanket sizes.
- For a baby blanket, you need 1-5 skeins. Making a soft and cushiony blanket for babies is cute! It is a small size blanket. Add pom poms to the finishing edges.
- For a mermaid tail blanket, you’ll need 5-6 skeins. Kids love this mermaid tail blanket, but it seems more complicated than a throw blanket.
- You’ll need 10-15 skeins for a twin or throw blanket.
In addition, your blankets can be made with single colors, or you have rainbow-colored blankets, which are my favorite. I love combining colors for my crotchet accessories, apparel, and items. It makes it visually appealing!
2. Scarfs
There are two types of knitted scarfs:
- For your criss-cross scarf, you’ll need two skeins of loop yarn.
- For a cable knit scarf, you’ll need two skeins as well.
A multi-colored skein makes your scarves more presentable, attractive, and stylish.
3. Hats/Beanies
Chunky winter hats and beanies are cute! They are inexpensive and relatively easy. For this, you’ll need one skein of loop yarn.
4. Pillows
There are two types of pillows you can make from loop yarn:
- A square pillow: Making a square pillow is more complex than a blanket. It requires
Two square panels stitched together with needle and thread. Its stitches are either knitted or purled, creating a raised accent row. For a square pillow, you’ll need a pillow form and two skeins of loop yarn.
- A round pillow: unlike the square pillow that is knitted in straight rows, a round pillow
is made by knitting two flat circles, binding them together, and stuffing them with a pillow form and two skeins of loop yarn.
5. Cardigans
For a cozy cardigan, you’ll need 5 or 6 skeins for a small size; for a medium or large size, you’ll need 6-7 skeins; and for the extra sizes, you’ll need 7-8 skeins, depending on your size preference.
6. Baskets
A chunky knit or crochet basket is beautiful, but you’ll need a stiff material like a plastic canvas to make the basket more firm as it can’t hold its shape on its own. A knit basket can store toys, clothes, or other items.
A knit or crochet basket is a functional home decor, and you’ll need 2-3 skeins of loop yarn for this.
7. Backpacks
Knitting backpacks for you or your kids are cute! I prefer to use multicolored anyways because it makes it attractive.
It, however, demands more advanced knitting skills (a beginner might find making a backpack difficult), but the main parts of the pack can be knitted with loop yarn.
How Do You Knit With A Loop Yarn?
If you’re a pro in knitting, you can select projects with loop yarn, but here is a step-by-step guide for beginners on how to knit with the loop yarn.
Note: The below step is a general guide that can help you when knitting, especially when it is straight, but if you’re working on other patterns, there are quite many free patterns online you can go for. A size eight and size ten needle, your loop yarn, a pair of scissors, and others are all you need.
Method 1: Knitting Blankets or Scarfs
Step 1: Cast on
After you’ve gotten the number of stitches from swatching or a pattern, you cast on the stitches with care to prevent them from casting on too tight.
Swatching is done to test the gauge (i.e., the number of stitches you’ll fit into a row or round per inch). A swatch is a rectangular piece of fabric knitted to test a pattern. However, you’ll be about 5-6 inch square, with about 20-40 stitches for swatching your material.
Step 2: Border Knitting
When knitting the blanket foundation rows, the first row is knitted to form the blanket border on one side, and this stitch doesn’t curl. Then, knit a border from the beginning to the row ends as you proceed to the body, creating a blanket border on the other sides as you knit.
Step 3: Body Knitting
After you’ve completed the border, the next is the body of the blanket. Carefully follow any partner you decide for the body. Take note of when the pattern changes or if you’re working on a color jam, pay attention to when you need to change the yarn color.
Step 4: Cast off
After the final border, your casting off should be a stretchy one so the final edge won’t be tighter than the others.
Step 5: Finishing
Finishing the project includes tying the ends, joining the pieces, and blocking. Use knots to secure the loose ends, and weave the ends into stitches with the needle.
Some blankets are knitted in just one piece, while some patterns are in squares or even stripes which require stitching together.
Blocking is done by wetting the final piece of your work to set its size and even the stitches. This process requires a flat and dry surface, making the work design more defined.
Knitting a scarf is the same method for a blanket but note the following:
- To cast on, you’ll need a long tail.
- An average of 18inches or more is the scarf width.
- Knitting the scarf is done by garter stitch – knitting all the rows in plain.
Method 2: Knitting Hats/Beanies
Before you start, get the head measurement for you or whoever you’re doing the work for.
Step 1: Cast on
Cast on the stitches amount needed for the work based on calculation.
Firstly, you should knit a swatch. Then multiply the head measurement by the number of stitches needed per inch, which makes up for the number of base stitches. However, note that yarn stretches and it is best advised to round down by a number divisible by eight for the hat top.
Step 2: Join the cast-on stitches
Joining the stitches is done in a round form, and the circular needle makes this easier. While joining, avoid twisting because once a round gets twisted, it can’t be fixed, and the result won’t be in line with what a hat is.
Step 3: Continue Knitting
Keep going around and try your hat on to determine how many rounds you need to knit. The circular needles create brims that roll automatically, and knitting should be done a bit longer to cover up for the lost length.
Step 4: Finishing
Place the hat comfortably on the head to decrease or knit stitches together. Then place a marked point at every eight stitches. Slowly decrease and decrease in each round. When you’ve decreased, the hat gets smaller, and you can adjust the needle accordingly.
Step 5: Cut the yarn
When you’re left with four stitches on the needle, then you’re free to. For finishing, snip off about 15-20 inches.
Step 6: Remove the needle
To remove the needle, you’ll have to pull a loose yarn through the remaining four stitches one at a time as this tightens the hat top, then slide the needle out. The excess loop yarn should be pulled inside the hat using your needle, then weave the loose end.
Yes, your hat is ready!
Method 3: Knitting Pillows
Step 1: Cast on
Your cast-on should be 12 stitches.
Step 2: Knitting
Knit the first row, then purl the second and keep repeating until you have the desired length like mine is about 26 inches.
Step 3: Joining
Fasten the pillow over the pillow insert. Pick a length of loop yarn of about 60-65 inches and start to weave under from the bottom through the loops of the pillow cover. Keep weaving under and around the pillow until you get to the final corner, which makes the woven seams invisible.
Step 7: Remove the needle
To do this, slip your needle out, keep weaving the sides together, and be sure to join all loops at the top.
Step 8: Finishing
Weave in any preferred end and give the pillow a fluff.
Method 4: Knitting Cardigans
This is done just like a blanket and scarf but not the following for the sleeves:
- Determine the number of stitches for your size.
- Use a size eight needle and stitch six rows for the sleeve borders using the garter stitch.
- Then, change your needle to size ten and begin knitting using the stockinette stitch.
- When the sleeve is about 28-30 rows, then your work increase should start.
- Increase into the edge stitch at every four rows as you move up to the shoulder and continue till you attain the measurement.
- Once you’ve got the desired length, bind off the stitches.
- Then join your sleeves together on the wrong side of both.
- Sew the front and back pieces of the cardigan, attach the sleeves at the shoulder and sew up to the neckline, and your cardigan is good to go!
Method 5: Knitting Baskets
Step 1: Knit a flat circle for the base.
Step 2: Start the main body by knitting the first row in the back loop
Step 3: Continue knitting around till the baskets reach the desired length.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to be a pro or just trying something new, knitting or crocheting with a loop yarn is a great idea, and there are so many designs, patterns, and styles as to what to make with loop yarn. Just get started and have fun while you work.
Knitting with loop yarn is exciting, and my kids would always pick up needles and yarns and get creative. Trust yours to fall in love with this idea.
Trust you had a great time learning!