Everything You Need to Know about Working with Loop Yarn

Loop yarn is a relatively new product to the yarn aisle. It’s a super bulky yarn stitched into loops so you can make a knitlike fabric without needles or hooks. Here’s all you need to know about working with loop yarn.

What is Loop Yarn?

Loop yarn is typically a super bulky yarn of a type you could buy in straight form for knitting or crochet. The yarn is processed so that it is sewn together to form loops, and if you look closely you can see the little strand of thread running at the bottom of each loop.

There are several different brands on the market, including: 

• Red Heart Loop-It
  
• Lion Brand Off the Hook
• Bernat Alize Blanket E-Z
• Big Twist Loopity Loops
• Loops and Threads Loops

Working with Loop Yarn

Because the yarn is made of open loops, you work with it by pulling a loop through a loop on the previous row.

You don’t need knitting needles or a crochet hook, but you do need some finger dexterity in order to pinch and pull. I think little kids would be able to do it with some practice.

To start a project with loop yarn, decide how many stitches you need for the width of your project.

Pull the next loop on the strand through the last loop of your base row. If you consistently pull from back to front, you will get Stockinette Stitch.

If you consistently pull from front to back you’ll get Reverse Stockinette, and if you alternate you will get Garter Stitch.

This yarn is fun and easy to work with once you get the hang of it. I recommend starting your work on a table and checking the back of the work often to make sure you don’t have any skipped loops hanging off the back. Once you’re comfortable you can “knit” with this yarn in front of the TV or wherever you enjoy crafting.

To “bind off,” you start at the side of the work opposite from the working yarn. Loop the first loop through the second loop and so on across. Then just clip the thread holding the next couple of loops together so you have a straight piece of yarn and can weave in the end.

Check out all the details on how to work with loop yarn in my video:

Patterns Using Loop Yarn

Red Heart has a nice collection of tutorials and a few patterns for its Loop It Yarn. My favorite is the At Ease Pillow. I definitely had a pillow in mind when I first encountered this yarn!

If you’re looking for a bigger project, try this loop yarn blanket from Make and Do Crew. She intentionally twists her stitches for even more texture. Or keep it (mostly) simple Stockinette with this blanket pattern from TL Yarn Crafts. If my daughter didn’t already have a blanket in the non-loop version of this yarn that’s probably the pattern I would make.

I started with a simple scarf pattern, just 12 stitches wide and worked in Stockinette. Nicky’s Homemade Crafts had the same idea, but hers has a keyhole in it for a little added skill.

And let’s be honest, what I really want to knit next is the Namaste at Home coat from the Hook Nook Life. So cozy!

And when you’re ready for more of a challenge in working with loop yarn, check out the lovely Classically Cable Throw from Red Heart. It looks knit but it’s made with loop yarn!

Have you ever worked with loop yarn? I’d love to know what you thought of it and what you made with it!