Loom Knitting: Making a Flat Panel on a Round Loom

So far everything I have shown you how to make on a knitting loom have been made in the round, that is to say, tubular shaped items. So, now I think it about time I show you that you can use a round loom to make a flat panel. There are, of course, long looms you can purchase for making flat panels, but as I already have the round ones, and I don’t want to buy a long loom (at least not yet) I wanted to make them with the round one.

The one problem I found with making flat panels is the curling aspect. The edges of flat panels created with the loom often curl so they don’t really lay flat. This can ruin the look of a project, such as a baby blanket or a place mat which should be flat. I found that making an edging in garter stitch* makes it lay flat and gives the project a finished “hem” or edging which does not curl.

Let’s show you how it’s done.

What you need

any size round loom and hooking tool

worsted weight yarn, any type

Instructions:

1. Do a Chain Cast-on starting at the anchor peg for 12-15 pegs or the desired number. I went counter-clockwise when casting on, but you can go either way. You will have to go both ways regardless which way you start. Because this is done in rows back and forth every other row will be going in the opposite direction.

2. Row#1: Before starting this row, make sure the working yarn is between the last two chain cast on pegs. Going the opposite direction, skip the first loop and knit each stitch.

3. Row#2: Going the opposite direction as you did in the last row, skip the first loop and go back,  purl each stitch.

4. Row #3:  Knit all stitches. You’ve just made the *garter stitch edging, knit one row, purl the next row and knit the next one. Remember this for the edge at the end of the project.

5. Row #4: Purl the first three stitches, knit the rest of the stitches until you reach the last three. Purl the last three stitches. This will produce the garter stitch edging on either side of your project. For a proper edging, you can do as few as two and as many as you wish for a wider border.

6. Repeat row #3 and #4 until almost the desired length.

7. The last three rows should be done as you did the first three rows, in the garter stitch, knit one row, purl next row, knit last row.

8. Cast off (bind off). Remove from loom. Your flat panel is done.

You’ve now completed a flat panel on a round loom with a garter stitch edging all around to maintain that nice, flat appearance with no curling edges. What can you do with this new found knowledge? You can make blocks in all sorts of colors to sew together for pretty, multicolored afghans, rugs, placemats, cushion covers, baby blankets…gees, I could go on, but I think you can come up with a few of your own.

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Glory Lennon learned needle crafts like sewing, knitting and crocheting from her mother who used to spend countless hours making intricate doilies, clothing items and heirloom quality bedspreads. Visit Glory’s Garden on Craft Tuesday and see what she’s up to in the craft room.