Learn How to Close Your Loom Knit Hat
A lot of folks find themselves stuck here. I did. I first learned with a sales rep at a Joann’s Fabric demo. I never learned from her how to close the hat. I had to read it from the little book that came with the kit. I HATE reading instructions. But I learned. Now I’m here to teach you.
The skill is an incredibly important part because you will use it again and again and again with other projects. Learn it well.
This page is a text and picture tutorial only about closing the hat. If you missed the first steps of loom knitting you can Click here.
For a Video Tutorial on Closing the Hat: Scroll to the Bottom of This Page
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Otherwise, let’s get started! Please follow the pictures from left to right, the written instructions can be found under each college. If you get stuck on one part of the project… feel free to return to that spot as many times as is necessary, you can leave your questions below or email me at denise@loomahat.com
Happy Looming !
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Supplies: Circular Loom , Yarn , Yarn Needle, Hook, Scissors
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Part 1
1. Measure your knitting and make sure that your hat is the length that you want.
2. Take your working string and pull almost completely around the loom.
3. Cut your string
4. Thread a yarn needle
5. Every peg has an indentation. Rest your needle in the indentation and pull your needle up through the loops on the peg.
6. Use the string to lift off the loop
Part 2
1. As you pull the loops off – gather them to the opposite side.
2. When all the loops are off the loom and your hat is FREE ! you will have a long string left over.
3. Pull that string and with two fingers roll down to help close the hole.
4. Push you needle through the hole
5. Turn your work inside-out.
6. Start sew the hole shut
Part 3
1. Use basic sewing to close the hole.
2. Make sure you get the edges.
3. Tie a knot
4. You can turn your hat back outside-in. Note: I don’t most of the time. I happen to like the hats inside-out.
5. A little note to read
6. Something I made with to simple hats like the ones you just made.
How to Close a Loom Knit Hat Video
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If you want an Easy to Follow Full Video Tutorial for a Hat from Start to Finish
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Well, my wife and I are going to Michaels tomorrow and buying looms and materials. I have been watching your basic tutorial for beginners, and you make it look so easy, that we are going to give it a try. Being in a cold climate, we hope to make some hats for the local fire department to give to people in need. Being middle aged, I hope this will help keep the old fingers nimble and cause the rheumatism to decline a bit 🙂
David – your comment as totally made my day. Thank you SOOoooooo much. I love beginners and I love love love a givers. Loom knitting is a great craft and I hope you guys find lots of projects you both enjoy. Here is one of my favorites: Click HERE
I thought my hat was big enough and took it off the loom and went ahead and closed it but apparently my husband wanted it a bit longer is there anyway to put it back on the loom without messing it up. I tried once before and failed.
Here is a video I hope is helpful: Click HERE
Hi! Thanks for all your videos, I am making my sister (enormous) head a hat, a combo of brimless and spiral of your patterns. I accidentally gave my self two ‘brim’ edges, and no drawstring!!!! 🙁
Any tips on how i would close it now?
Thanks
Thread a needle – feed it through the loops on one end – it will become your drawstring – pull the drawstring to close the top and sew in a circle until it’s completely closed.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website.
I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content from you in the future as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own blog now ;
)
Super cool – so happy to hear that 🙂
Good teacher & clear instructions, thank you, getting started again, forgot, now I’ll try again.
Thank you Jean – glad my post was helpful
So im confused about what you do with the string that I tied on the peg when I started the hat. I need help. I’ve attempted to make a hat like 5 times with no luck.
Hi Kelsey – you need to weave-in the working yarn. Here are a few videos that might help: Click HERE
Hello to all, the contents existing at this web page are actually awesome for people knowledge,
well, keep up the nice work fellows.
this video helped so much thank you so much
Thank you so much for very clear instructions. I am new to loom knitting and just love it. Have completed your scarf and hat and am going to attempt the loom flowers to place on hat.
Thank yo again
Joy
I need some help. I’m trying to finish this hat I’m making. It is a 36 peg loom. Odd loops have been moved to even pegs (there are now two sets of loops on the even pegs) and the odd are now empty. It now says Slip the working yarn behind the empty pegs and flat stitch two loops over one loop on the odd pegs. I’m not sure how to do that.
Ana – it sounds like you’re working on a pattern – I don’t really like to instruct on other designers patterns – always best to contact them if possible. I do have a bind-off that is similar to what you are working on : Click HERE
Thank you! I will look. I did try to message the designer, but no answer yet. I appreciate your time. I love your videos, by the way. I learned how to do my first hats from them. ?
Thank you – hey and I also wanted to share one more video with you just in case you haven’t seen it for the flat knit stitch: Click HERE
Thank you, thank you! After spending the (admittedly short) time looming the hat, I was really concerned about finishing it! The instructions that came with the loom set are pretty worthless. So glad I found your site.
Thank YOU for the thank you Susan !!!
Yes these instructions are fantastic! Can you do video on casting off ear Warmer? I saw where you said it’s like a hat, but afraid I’ll get the hole too small.
Thanks!
Hi Beth – here is a video that should help: Click HERE
Is there another way to close. I’m not a fan of the bumps on top of the head. Love your videos tho. They have helped me alot.
Yep – here is one that will give you a FLAT top – you just have to be willing to do the extra steps: Click HERE. Come back and let me know if it worked or not.
I just bought my first loom and I never would have made it without your videos! Thank you! I do have one problem. Why is my pom pom so floppy? It moves around on top of my hat and it seems no matter how I tie it, it flops to one side.
Hi Doris – First – thank you for the thank you – I REALLY appreciate it. As for your question – I would suggest threading a yarn needle with matching thread – start from the inside of the hat and feed the needle through the middle of the pom-pom then feed it back to the inside of the hat. That should leave you 2 strands on the inside of the hat that you can tie tightly.
Let me know if that makes sense or not.
How do I close the hat but leave a hole at the top for a ponytail? Thank you!
Hi Patricia – you can weave in a string and pull to close only as much as you want to close the top – hope that helps
SUPER video. I’ve been trying to learn how to use my round looms for months. The written instructions were useless! I just finished my first adult hat in only a couple days. Thanks so much for such a clear and easy video.
You are VERY Welcome – and …. Welcome to the family !!!
you have a parrtern for a ponytail hat, very easy to make. you say to make it 17″ long, from brim to finish. do i stretch it to measure or just measure it “flat” almost done and love how simple it is. thanks, Geri
Hi Geri – wrong designer – I do not have a ponytail hat pattern – sorry.
HI. A FEW MONTHS AGO THERE WAS INFORMATION ON MAKING HATS AND SCARVES ON THE LOOM AND SENDING THEM TO MONGOLIA. I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS SOMEONE FROM LOOMAHAT. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS!!
Yes that was here on the site: Click HERE
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Denise!!
I’ll definitely will watch the video. I saw one on YouTube and tried it. But the top of the cap came out really lacy (holey). I’ll watch yours. Do you have any pointers on how to recast the caps to lengthen them?
Thanks so much for your help.☺
Stretch the crown until you can see the working yarn you used to close it – pull on it and cut. Locate the loops and place them on something like a knitting needle or chopstick. Pull out the working yarn – place the loops on the loom – tie more yarn unto the working yarn – start knitting.
Yes, thank you. I’ve seen it and many others. I guess I am not communicating well. On some of my hats, I have binded off too soon. Therefore the hat is too short to be worn. I’m looking for information and instructions on fixing this. Can the hat be recast on to the loom to add more rounds and make it longer? I also have 2 hats casted off using the peg to peg method That’s where you take the loop from the second peg and put it on the 1st peg, knit off and place the remaining loop back on 2nd peg. When I pull the string to close the hat, the string won’t move. It’s stuck in place and won’t pull closed. Those are the 2 problems I would like help with. The video here and other sites doesn’t address these mistakes. I’m sure they’re common enough.
Lavon, yes you can remount a hat back onto a loom but I don’t have a post nor a video for that. One of the bind-off methods that you’re mentioning is not meant to be used for a hat.
Here is one recommendation that is close to it : Click HERE
Hi Denise – I am new to looming as of December 2015 It is going very well and I am very thankful for your excellent videos. Discovering them when I got my loom for Christmas was extremely helpful. Just one question. When I make a hat using the e-wrap stitch, my stitches look great, but I get a line down the hat in the area of the knob on the loom where you secure your initial work. It is looser than my other stiches and despite looking for solutions on line, I am still stuck. What am I doing wrong to get that less uniform stitch in a line down my hat in that area?
Melissa the same thing happens to me, did you receive a reply on how we can correct that?
Thanks….Wilda
Hi Wilda – No I have not received a reply.
What happens to me is the last peg knitted before I would start to e-wrap for the next round, ( when making a hat) is a smaller looking knit stitch, and there are ” ladders” in between the stitches. The only thing I can figure out is that the last peg that is knitted, isn’t an e-wrap. It’s a u-wrap,or known as the knit stitch…which is a smaller tighter stitch. Then you begin the next round which is e-wrapping around the round loom. I hope I explained this so it can be understood.
I cannot figure out how to alleviate this.
Denise, could you comment on this if you would please ?
Thanks so much, Wilda
I JUST MADE A HAT!!!
BECAUSE OF YOU! THANK YOU!
Welcome to the family Mia ! So glad I’ve been a part of this first step. Venture around the webpage – lots of cool stuff from me and other awesome loom knitting designers. Almost all patterns have video tutorials. Always watch the video before you start your project – then dive in. You can consider this your loom knitting home – come back if you have any questions or comments. Love them all.
Big Hug Loomy,
denise
HELP! I thought I measured my hat correctly. However, when I took it off the loom to pull the drawstring, I realized it was too short. Is there a way I can fix this to make it longer? Could I start new rows on the loom until its long enough and stitch the two together? Could I pull the drawstring back through the last row and replace it onto the loom?
Yes you can mount the hat back onto the loom. I do suggest using something like a chopstick to feed the loops through before you pull out the working yarn.
Is there a video tutorial or instructions with photos to help me with this? Thanks again, Denise.
Hi Lavon,
Sorry but I’m a bit confused about your question. This post has photos, written instructions and a video. Did you scroll down the post ?
Thank you for such easy to understand instructions. Very helpful!
You are very welcome Sharron – and Thank you for the thank you !
Thanks for your videos! They allowed me to actually make a usuable hat and not give up which was what I was about to do when I came across your site!
Thanks for the Thanks Liz
I JUST FINISHED MY FIRST HAT!!! thanks so much for this wonderful website
Hello-
Thank you for taking the time and effort to make the videos. i am trying to make an infant beanie with a brim and from what i understand from the mother, i need to enlarge the bottom portion. The mother was not able to measure her son’s head and so i am in the dark about how many increases to actually make. Henceforth, my question is how many increases do you suggest as well as when i make the increases do i make it throughout the hat or do i just make it on a particular row? Thank you, ahead of time for letting me have the opportunity to ask this question and you answer it.
Hi sorry for the delay.. Your terms sound very much like knitting needles – here is a post with a video and a sizing chart that I think will help: Click HERE
Hi Denise, I just listened to the video on the Tiny Heart Stitch and read the pattern for the hat. You wrote something about closing it with the flat stitch, but I can’t seem to find it on the site.
Can you tell me where it is, lol…..btw, I love that stitch and would like to make some for charity.
Thank you much.
Dorothy, the hat pattern contains links (words in red). I actually used the drawstring cast-off. By the way, this one can be a bit painful at the end – but give it a try if you haven’t because it’s really cool how nice the project ends.
For the Flat Drawstring Cast-off: Click HERE
Hope that helps
Perfect, yes it does. Thank you.
Hi Denise, I am a beginner loomer and my trouble is closing the hat. I use number 5 or 6 chunky wool when making my hats so when I go to close I only have one string not two. How do I close with the one string?
Hi Allison, Once you’ve pulled the hat to close the hole on the top.. with your yarn needle sew the top close. To make a knot feed the needle through the fabric half way.. that will leave you a loop turn the needle back around and feed it through the loop. That will create a knot. Your’re done.
Hope that helps,
denise
Hi Denise Do you know if there is knifty knitter long loom sets and where to get a set if there is such a thing in that brand? Thanks so much
Hi Denise Do you know if there is knifty knitter long loom sets and where to get a set if there is such a thing in that brand? Thanks so much
Yes. You can still get them on Amazon and eBay
hi
just want to ask, i’m actually a beginner…i wanted to make a beanie for adult.what yarn and hook will i use and how many ply?
thanks!
Hi .. I recommend watching the video on this post completely. It will answer all of your questions : Click HERE
Hi Denise,
I really love your website! I’m new to loom knitting and am considering starting a loom knitting project for a slouchy beanie for a guy. I’ve been looking around at other tutorials (youtube and patterns), and am wondering since I’m making a slouchier beanie, do I need to decrease the crown of the hat? It seems like it might be a good idea to decrease to get that nice hat shape, but maybe it doesn’t matter for a slouchy beanie (it also seems easier to not have to learn how to decrease as well). Any thoughts would be appreciated!Thanks!
Hi Hannah .. depending on the style that you want the back of the hat there are several ways that you can close the hat. There is the Drawstring : Click HERE for the post. I creates a Flat back .. I don’t like the decrease to much because it leaves a few holes.. with some stitch patterns this doesn’t matter.. I prefer to just do a few rows of the Rib Stitch ( knit1, purl1 ) and then do the gathered method. .. But if your loom has a lot of pegs – like more then 66 then go for the decrease.
Hope that helped some,
denise
Hi Denise,
Thanks for the quick reply. I just bought the Loops and Threads (the michaels brand) knitting looms. Since it will be a guys hat Im going to use the largest one.
Great choice. Those are really good looms. Consider the style of hat and head size before going for the largest. My hubby has a small head and very little hair so to make a beanie for him I choose the large and not the extra large unless I’m making a slouchy.
Send pictures if you can 🙂
Okay so I made a hat from the martha stewert knitting loom using I believe 64 small pegs and normally when I close it off I can just thread a string through each loop and tie it tight. Well having 64 loops instead of 36 large peg loops I can’t close it all the way. What do you suggest. I end up with about a 6 – cm hole. For one hat I crochet a circle and sewed it on top but I don’t Care too much for how that looks..
Angela – not sure what happened. I have managed to close hats with even more loops. With a finished hat I can only suggest that you sew it close or mount it back on the loom and decrease the crown by putting 2 pegs on each loom – knitting over and then close the hat. For future reference – here is a link on how to do the Drawstring Bind-off : Click HERE
This video is excellent in explaining how to knit a hat. You do this with ease and it is really easy to understand. The calmness is what I appreciate. Thanks
Thank you so much for your kind words – VERY much appreciated.
denise
Hey there Denise, I am just finishing a slouchy hat that I made on a round loom using your tutorial, and I just wanted to say thank you. You do a great job of explaining, AND it is actually very peaceful to listen to you explain it. It may sound weird, but I appreciate your calm way of showing us how to do this. Now I am looking to do matching fingerless gloves on the small loom to match the hat. Thank you, Michelle
Hi Michelle, I have two projects I’m working on and then I hope to start a video on finger-less gloves – they are actually really easy to make with the smallest loom in your set or with a sock loom.
Thanks for all the kind words,
denise
Hello!
I have a question. So when I loom when I start the “simple loop” there is a gap. There is two pegs that don’t connect which shows in the hat. Its just one row in the hat that is a loose knit than the others.
How do I make the two pegs connect and stop this loose row in my hat?
Thank You
Holly, I’m having some dificulty understanding – are you knitting on a round loom? — You say the “pegs don’t connect” ???
Here is a video I think will help you best Click HERE
I really Love this Web site , I Love making
Hats of all sizes. .From Newborn to Adult, but I Love different types as well like animal hat , holiday hats!! Thank you from all us just starting looming your site really hels alot!!! THANK YOU! !♡
That’s it’s helpful. I only have my cellphone right now and I understood everything that was said. From reading different sources this is the easiest. I will be on this blog often. TIA
Thanks for sharing. Very informative and clear. I am new to loom knitting but am hooked! So fun & fast. Thanks again.
First time. I finished the hat. Took off the yarn with needle but can’t get it closed. How do I fix it? I pulled it but it seems like it is stuck somewhere. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
Pat
Hi Pat, most yarn is 3-4 ply – which means its like strands of thin strands of yarn rolled together to make a thicker one. If your needle got caught in between those strands then its like its held hostage – it can’t move. You need to thread a separate needle with yarn – find your loops and thread that new needle through the loops – be careful in stay in the middle (open part) of the loops.
Hope that helps 🙂 – if not send me pictures to denise@loomahat.com
Hugs,
denise
Hi! I think I messed up and made the beanie too small and I already patched it up. Can I add onto it or something to make it bigger? Thanks.
Hi Sam, sorry for the delay in responding I’ve been ill for a bit. Just trying to catch up.
Bigger has two meanings here – longer and wider.. Yes you can mount the loops back on the pegs and make the hat longer which in loom knitting that also makes the hat a bit wider. But if you used say a 24 or 31-peg loom – that hat will never fit an adult no matter how much longer you make the knitting so in this case you can not add-on.
Here is a link to a size chart: Click Here
Hope that helps,
denise
I was making a small cowl neck scarf. This is my first loom project. I guess I did the wrong stitch an it came out more like beanie hat. Is there a way to close the small opening on top once it’s off the loom? It will make a cute hat lol. Thank you.
Hi Chantel. Turn the hat inside out and With a yarn needle pull the same color yarn through the top loops. When done take the needle off the yarn and with the two ends of the yarn – pull the hat close.
Hope that helps,
denise
Hey! Thanks for the great work you do! You’re my first stop whenever I have questions or need tips 🙂
I was wondering besides this method of closing the hat is there another? I’m making a reversible slouchy hat and was just curious if there was a different way?
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks so much for your kind words. Highly appreciated. Have you tried the Flat Drawstring Bind-off by Jeannie Phillips? If not Click Here
[…] Close the Hat […]
Thank you so much for your video! I have taken this hat apart 3 times because I couldn’t finish it. Thanks to you I finished and it looks great! I can’t wait to make more
Glad I could help Twila ! 🙂
Thank you so much for these instructions. They were very easy to follow. I made my first hat with no problem at all! I can’t wait to make a bunch more. Thank you!
Miranda Thank YOU for your kind feedback. Much appreciated!
denise
Hi Denise! Thanks for the video and written instruction for looming a baby hat! I did my first hat with no problem! Well, 1 small one I think. The weave is very loose where the last 2 pegs were, leaving good size gaps. What did I do wrong, and how can I fix it? Thanks..Shiloh
Hi Shiloh, first of all What a BEAUTIFUL name. Now back to your hat… I believe you might have streched the loops out to much when you knitted those last two pegs. Without a picture to guide me the only suggestion I can make is to sew the little holes with the same yarn you used for the hat and your yarn needle.
I hope that helped.
denise