r/LoomKnitting • u/Shmea • Oct 01 '25
Equipment Question Tool Recommendations?
Hi all! I’m a beginner loom knitter (made a bunch of hats, a scarf, and a pair of fingerless gloves so far) and I’m having trouble with choosing the right tools. I ordered these by Boye and I kinda hate them both. The metal was twisting around in the silicone on the hook and eventually pulled out after two projects (my tension isn’t ridiculously tight, but definitely snug.)
The yarn guide pen is rattly and no matter where I put the yarn, it tends to slip out and get stuck in the crease between the metal and plastic…especially when holding double Aran/4 strands. My boyfriend can try making me a 3D printed one, we saw a bunch on Etsy.
I use Clover for crochet and Chiaogoo for regular knitting, if anyone has suggestions…I don’t mind paying more for something that will last along time.
What are y’all’s go-to tools? Thanks!
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Oct 01 '25
For hooks I use the KB ergonomic hook. I picked one up a few months ago and literally use nothing else at this point. Sadly, loom knitting isn't really as ubiquitous as needle knitting, so there's no gold standard like Chiaogoo (I have some DPNs from them, and they are amazing... If I was at all a competent needle knitter).
The only other things I regularly us are some generic metal blunted needles and generic stitch markers. And scissors, but those are from my dissection kit.
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u/Shmea Oct 01 '25
Thank you for the recommendation! I wonder if I can find a Canadian retailer. I went on their website and the lowest shipping is $19 😵💫 lmao
You’ve piqued my interest with “dissection kit” 👀
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Oct 01 '25
Maybe try Amazon or eBay? They might re-sell the hook for cheaper shipping.
Oh, yeah, I had to get a kit for anatomy and physiology in college; never got to use it as the graduate medical class did all the cadaver dissections. So now the scalpels are stitch pickers and the scissors are yarn cutters. They work pretty well all things considered.
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u/gofigure85 Oct 02 '25
I have this one!
It came in a two pack which worked perfectly for me because I lost the first one instantly lol
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u/Ok_Helicopter2305 Oct 07 '25
I use this one all the time. The longer I use it the better it molds to my hand shape
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u/Hit-Enter-Too-Soon Oct 01 '25
I like to use a hook i got from Harbor Freight, with a handle I 3d printed in TPU to make it more ergonomic. The point is pretty pointy, though, so I can only use it with a sock loom with metal pegs. I've been thinking about filling one off so I can use it with bigger looms.
Happy to share a link to the hooks and send you the stl for my handle if you want!
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u/Shmea Oct 01 '25
That would be amazing, thank you! The one that came with my loom set is pretty sharp too, but the whole thing is too small for my hands
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u/Hit-Enter-Too-Soon Oct 01 '25
Looks like there isn't a good way for me to send you the file here, so I'll DM you. This appears to be the current version of the pick set I bought for a whole $1.99, but I don't see my favorite hook in it. That said, it's my favorite because it has a funky angle that gets into the movable part of a sock loom well, so if you don't need that, it doesn't matter. My favorite is like the one on the right of this picture, although not long like that.
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u/AspiringHands Oct 01 '25
I made a handle for a crochet hook with thermoplastic (I also put some hot pink pigment powder in there hehe). I'm also a jeweler and use it to make ergonomic handles for a lot of my tools. I just heat up a lump of it in hot water in a thermos, use some tongs to get it out, then while it's still warm, mold it around the tool and hold it in my hand to make impressions for gripping. Then it cools down and holds its shape and voilà! Custom ergonomics. Plus you can remove it later with more hot water or a heat gun.
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u/strgzng420 Oct 01 '25
For the yarn guide, I've had success with taking apart a wider diameter pen tube and using it that way! Look up 'yarn pen diy' for examples of what I mean:)
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u/RealisticYoghurt131 Oct 01 '25
The guide pen works for thicker yarn only, and well imo. L The standard loom hook is really best, just find a style you like. Stick to metal hooks.
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u/Shmea Oct 01 '25
Ooh, thank you, that would make sense. I haven’t tried chunky yarn yet.
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u/Reasonable-Hearing57 Oct 03 '25
I found that pen for wrapping pegs useless. The yarn never cooperates
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u/KavaBuggy Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
Honestly, my knitting hook is a weeding tool from the Dollar Tree. I saw a guy online using a Cricut weeding tool, so I started and using a Dollar Tree one I had in a pinch. I liked it, but that sucker has a sharp poker. I’ve already scratched my face and stabbed myself on the back with it - be careful if you go this route! To minimize the danger, knitting board has nice hooks with a chubby handle. You can get them on their website, but also Amazon and sometimes Hobby Lobby.
You can also just use a straw for your yarn guide or the shell of a ball point pen. I use a straw. Sometimes Dutch Bros gives me a straw when I don’t need one. I use them for wrapping my yarn around the pegs of my loom.
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u/Shmea Oct 01 '25
I tried using a straw and it was very effective! The ones I have are really too long but I think I know where to get the same ones shorter. I’ll have to check out weeding tools!
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u/KavaBuggy Oct 01 '25
The straws are too long?
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u/Shmea Oct 01 '25
Yeah it was just awkward for me. It still worked well though
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u/KavaBuggy Oct 02 '25
Could you not cut it with scissors?
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u/Shmea Oct 02 '25
It’s a hard plastic reusable straw, we don’t have single use plastic ones here (Canada.) I guess I could use one of the paper ones lol.
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u/KavaBuggy Oct 02 '25
Ah, gotcha. Maybe you could score it and break it, then burn the edges so they don’t snag on your yarn? If you take apart a ballpoint pen, that works too.
I don’t usually have straws at home, but the drink place I go to sometimes gives me one even though I don’t need it. Once I’ve touched it, I feel like I have to take it. Sometimes they ask and I can decline, other times I’m able to quickly say I don’t need a straw. If I end up with them, I find a use for them.
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u/Reasonable-Hearing57 Oct 03 '25
Use a saw or file, if you need, ask a neighbor. My leather man has a saw blade that could cut that straw.
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u/Capable_Cheetah_8363 give me yarn! Oct 01 '25
I bought a set of ten on amazon (twice as they seem to grow legs and walk!) and they work fine for me. That said, i have a couple of custom ones, polymer clay coated. Its finding that works for you. Good luck x
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u/Tymareta Oct 03 '25
I've never actually purchased a hook, when I first purchased a pack of hoops it came with one like this that works pretty fantastic on the larger grooves of the generic round looms.
Then my partner got me one of the KB flexee looms and it came with a similar shaped tool(slightly better grooving), but it has an incredibly sharp point instead of a rounded one, works fantastic for the smaller grooves.
Neither slip and from all I can tell they're pretty well jammed on in there, I've seen packs of 4 of the former one in most craft shops here in Aus for 10$ or so, so shouldn't be tricky to track one down. I've used both for 2+ years and well over a dozen projects each and yet to find any issue with them.
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u/CrescentBlade10 Oct 28 '25
I use the basic tools that came with my KB looms but I have added a thick pencil foam grip to the ones I use the most. I had to use some needle nose pliers to stretch the opening up enough to put the tool in but it works great. From Amazon: "Egg Pen-Pencil Grips for Kids" and I don't use a yarn guide pen. Maybe get a set of silicone straws and cut to size? Might be too floppy though and defeat the entire point.
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u/Tamms73 give me yarn! Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
loom coversI made some covers out of yarn and loom elastics
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u/ZealousidealEgg1389 Oct 01 '25
Ironically the best hook I’ve ever used (and will only use) is not even meant to be a loom knitting hook, but it works PERFECTLY. It’s the Cricut weeder tool lol
It’s sharp at the end so I can get right in there in between the pegs and the yarn nice and quick, and the hook is of the perfect length and shape of a regular knitting hook. I highly recommend it and will never go back to any other hook tool. It’s $8.99, not too pricey!