How to Loom Knit Socks [+7 Free Patterns!]
Let's learn how to knit socks on a loom!
How to Loom Knit Socks [+7 Free Patterns!]
Today, we’re diving feet-first into the cozy world of loom knitting socks! Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into loom knitting or a seasoned pro seeking some fresh inspiration, this post is tailor-made for you (pun intended!).
We’ll kick things off by exploring different sock-specific looms that are great for knitting perfect pairs of snug, stylish socks. Then, we’ll unravel some delightful patterns that’ll have your toes wiggling with joy. Of course, we can’t forget about yarn choices—the foundation of any knitting project! We’ll guide you through selecting the perfect yarn for your loom knit socks.
And fear not, newcomers! We’ve got a treasure trove of tips and tricks up our sleeves (or should we say… socks?) to make your loom knitting journey smooth sailing from cast-on to bind-off. So grab your favorite cuppa, settle into your comfiest chair, and let’s knit some magic together!
Learning how to knit socks on a loom opens you up to a whole new world of possibilities. If you’ve never knit on a loom before, that’s alright! Today, we’re learning how to loom knit socks, reliable sock knitting looms, free patterns, and more!
Disclaimer: This article contains links to external unaffiliated websites.
Tips & Tricks for Making Perfect Knit Socks!
No matter what pattern or loom you pick to make your gorgeous new socks, we have a few things for beginners to keep in mind before you get started!
So here’s how you prepare to loom knit sock patterns that fit and feel good to wear every time!
Step 1: Choose the right yarn!
There are two choices when choosing the right yarn for your next (or first!) pair of socks. First, there’s the yarn weight! Thin socks made with thin yarn are great for wearing in shoes or clogs. Thick yarns are best for socks worn around the house! Pro tip: Thick socks should be knit larger/looser than normal so they don’t bunch at the ankle uncomfortably.
Next, there’s fiber type! Yarn material will affect how your sock fits and feels on your feet. It also affects the durability and, more importantly, the stretchiness of the finished fabric. Animal fibers are stretchy, warm, and durable but they might not be machine washable. Look for “superwash” or a nylon content to make sure you can wash and wear them for years.
Cotton and acrylic are typically washable and less expensive but they’re also less stretchy and might not breathe well. We have a whole section on yarn choice at the bottom of this post!
Step 2: Choosing the Correct Loom!
There are knitting looms specifically designed to make loom-knit socks! These sock looms tend to have thinner pegs set closer together and are much smaller than other loom types! While you could use another type of loom to make socks, starting with one designed to make it quick and easy is a great idea for beginners.
Don’t worry, we’re going to get into the knitty-gritty about the BEST sock knitting looms for you later on!
Step 3: Measure Your Feet and Ankles!
Socks have to fit in a few different places. Making sure they’re comfortable around your toes, the ball and arch of your foot, and then around your heel is super important! Taking good measurements will help you make the most perfect socks.
There are a few tutorials on how to loom knit socks that fit, but my favorite is this step-by-step tutorial done by GoodKnitKisses. There is a bit of math involved so make sure to grab a pen, paper, and a calculator!
Step 4: Make Sure You Match the Pattern’s Gauge!
Your gauge might be a little bit different from the pattern designer’s. Before you start knitting your full sock, try making a swatch first. Making sure that you’re matching the author’s gauge will mean that you will end up with a loom knit sock that fits snugly and comfortably on your feet!
Choosing the Right Sock Loom for You!
Knitting looms for socks are designed to make your sock knitting experience easy and fun. So here are some of the BEST sock knitting looms for your future loom knit sock projects!
1. Sock Loom Original
This is an adjustable fine gauge sock loom perfect for knitting socks of various sizes. You can knit a pair as small as a baby’s or as large as an extra-large adult’s! There is a movable slider that you can adjust to the specific number of pegs you need for your loom knit sock pattern.
Many buyers like the sturdiness of the pegs and the heftiness of the base. This makes for a very stable loom knitting experience but is also, unfortunately, not very portable!
2. Adjustable Multi-Knit Loom
If you want an option to adjust your loom’s size, the Adjustable Multi-Knit Loom might be more your style. It has 18 attachable parts that you can snap into place or remove depending on what you’re knitting, this includes socks!
3. Katech Adjustable Knitting Loom Set
Light and portable, the Katech Adjustable Knitting Loom Set is a knitting loom that you can bring on-the-go! You can mix-and-match pieces to create different sized looms. All this extra flexibility also means this loom is less sturdy than other models. This is a great one to choose for beginners who want to work on projects at home!
4. Coopay Flexible Loom Knitting Kits
Easy to use and adjustable, the Coopay Flexible Loom Kits is going to be your best friend. This sock loom is fantastic for new loom knitters learning how to loom knit socks and other fun patterns. All you have to do is snap the parts in place until you get the right peg count you need for your project!
Learn more about the different types of knitting looms available to you:
THE 4 TYPES OF AWESOME KNITTING LOOMS!
Free Loom Knit Sock Patterns!
Ready to put what you learned into practice? Here are some amazing loom knit sock patterns that are comfy and absolutely free to use! They’re excellent patterns that new knitters like you can try out.
I hope these help you on your journey of learning how to knit socks on a loom!
1. Zoey’s Toesies
By: Bethany A Dailey
Yarn: DK
Loom: KB Sock Loom Extra Fine Gauge
Sizes: Newborn – 12 months
Small projects like the Zoey’s Toesies is a great starting point if you want to learn how to knit socks on a loom.
These adorable socks are easy to make and quick to knit up. The loom knit sock pattern teaches you how to work a sock from the cuff to the toe in the most beginner-friendly way possible.
Definitely worth the try!
2. Flower Loom Footsies
By: Jennifer K Stark
Yarn: Baby yarn 2 strands held together
Loom: 12 peg Knifty Knitter Flower Loom
Sizes: Newborn
Newborn-sized loom knit sock patterns give you an in-depth look at all the techniques involved in loom knitting socks.
The Flower Loom Footsies teaches you how to knit socks on a loom with a ribbed cuff. Ribbed sock cuffs are very stretchy and tend to fit better around the ankles. Perfect for a cozy pair for your little bundle of joy!
3. Shorty Socks LM5368
By: Isela Phelps
Yarn: Aran
Loom: KB Knitting Loom: Sock Loom 2
Sizes: Customizable
Ready to learn how to loom knit socks for adults? The Shorty Socks loom knit sock pattern is going to be your next favorite pair to wear with low-cut sneakers!
Using bamboo cotton for this loom knit sock pattern will result in a light and breathable pair that is perfect for the summer heat.
4. Men’s Colored Sole Sock
By: Ace Beorchia
Yarn: Fingering
Loom: His and Hers Sock Loom
Sizes: Adult men’s
More of a “traditional” look to loom knit sock patterns, the Men’s Colored Sole Sock is a cozy everyday-wear type of project that uses light fingering weight yarn.
This particular pattern will call for a knitting loom with a finer gauge to achieve that snug, cozy fit we’re all familiar with.
5.Loom Knit Heels and Toes Crew Socks
By: Faith Schmidt
Yarn: Fingering
Loom: AKB Sock Loom
Sizes: Adult women’s
Soft and smooth, the Loom Knit Heels and Toes Crew Socks is a comfy and stretchy loom knit sock pattern perfect for combat-boot-lovers out there!
The long cuff hugs the skin around your ankles, which is amazing for preventing blisters and abrasions from forming.
6. Semaphore Socks
By: Bethany A Dailey
Yarn: Fingering
Loom: Sock Loom EFG
Sizes: Adult women’s
POV you want fun ankle socks! Well, the Semaphore Socks pattern is an eye-catching loom knit sock pattern that you can mix and match colors with!
This loom knit sock pattern is a bit more complex. There are frequent color-changes that will need some getting used to.
If you are just learning how to knit socks on a loom, you might want to keep this loom knit sock pattern as a progress goal!
7.Eureka Knee Highs
By: Renita Harvey
Yarn: Worsted
Loom: Knit on the Sock Loom 2 by KB
Sizes: Adult women’s
Want something cozier? These Eureka Knee Highs are exactly what you’re looking for.
This long loom knit sock pattern is the epitome of cozy. If you live somewhere that doesn’t frequently have warm weather, these babies will be your best friends!
Best Yarn Fibers for Knit Socks!
Socks should be comfy and last you more than a few washes. It sucks to see your favorite pair of socks start to deteriorate after one round of laundry! So we made sure to list down some of the best yarn fibers for the coziest pair of socks you’ll ever wear:
1. Superwash Wool
Superwash wool is a fantastic option for cozy wearables like sweaters, cardigans, and socks! It is soft to the touch and can handle machine washing. However! I do encourage hand-washing your socks even if they’re machine washable becauses It helps them last much longer.
Yarn brands:
2. Merino Wool
Merino wool is a fantastic choice for knit socks due to its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. It keeps your feet comfortable by regulating temperature, ensuring warmth in the cold and coolness in warmer weather. This natural fiber’s ability to wick moisture away from the skin also helps prevent discomfort from sweat, making it ideal for all-day wear!
However, it’s important to note that merino wool can be more expensive than other yarn options, and it requires gentle care during washing to avoid shrinking or felting.
Yarn brands:
3. Nylon blends
Nylon blended with other fibers make them more durable and elastic! Nylon holds up against wear and tear, particularly in areas with a lot of friction like heels and toes. This durability ensures that your socks last longer compared to socks made using 100% natural fibers!
Yarn brands:
4. Bamboo
Bamboo yarn is an eco-friendly fiber that is well-loved by knitters. It’s soft, non-allergenic, and lightweight. Bamboo yarn is amazing for baby clothes, and yes, socks!
If sustainability is what you’re after, then consider using bamboo yarn on your next loom knit sock pattern. This fiber types can be quite pricey, but the perks are definitely worth the investment. Bamboo is less stretchy than animal fibers which means you should only use it in patterns that suggest a cotton or plant-fiber yarn.
Yarn brands:
Pro Tips for Beginner Loom Knitters!
Learning how to loom knit socks? Well, I have a few pro tips that will help you on your journey. These tips are based on my experience as I learned how to knit socks on a loom.
Oh, and these tips aren’t just for socks. They can help you through almost EVERY loom knitting project you decide to pick up in the future!
Tip #1: Use a Loom Pen!
Using a loom pen to loop your yarn around the pegs can help you keep an even tension and make those small pegs less fiddly to knit with. It also speeds up the whole looming process!
Tip #2: Keep the tension low when wrapping your pegs
You don’t want a tight cast on row, especially around sock cuffs! The last thing you want is to finish a loom knit sock pattern only to find out that it doesn’t fit. If you’re casting on by hand, avoid tugging on the yarn strand too tightly as you go along your knitting loom.
If you have a loom pen, that can help make your cast on tension much more uniformed!
Tip #3: Go slow
Loom knitting looks like a quick and easy way to knit up a project. But that’s not exactly true! It still takes time and patience to finish a simple loom knit sock pattern.
Don’t feel too pressured into quickly looming your project. Slow and steady is key to finishing any loom knitting pattern.
Tip #4: Keep a measuring tape close by
Some loom knit sock patterns need a bit of tweaking in order to fit. So make sure to keep a measuring tape at arm’s reach. Plus, you’ll need it to measure your gauge anyways!
Tip #5: Use locking stitch markers or cheap nail polish!
Loom knit sock patterns have ribbed cuffs, increases, and decreases. That can get confusing. Attaching locking stitch markers to specific stitches can help you keep track of the pattern repeats.
Pro tip! You an also use some cheap, brightly-colored nail polish to paint the tips of important pegs. Don’t worry, once the nail polish dries, you can peel it off or rub some acetone on a cotton pad to take it off.
Enjoy the Wonderful World of Loom Knitting!
I’m sure your head is reeling with the amount of information we tackled. There’s so much to loom knitting than meets the eye. Many fun crafts and masterpieces can be made using a single loom. Learning how to knit socks on a loom is just the tip of the loom knitting iceberg!
Check out the links below for more cool loom knitting stuff!
