The picks
Best Weaving Looms for Kids
The only test that matters is whether something comes off the loom that day.
By Sawyer V. · Published November 7, 2026
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The short answer
Buy the Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Kit. It is a metal frame with cotton loops that makes two functional 6in x 6in potholders, it is made in the USA, and crucially the finished object is something a grown-up will actually use in a kitchen - which is what makes a child want to weave a second one. If you know the child will want more than two, the Plus version of the same kit has enough loops for six. For a child around eight and up, the 10in PRO loom makes an 8in potholder, which is the size that covers a real dish. And for a child ready to move past hooking loops onto pegs, the LapLoom A is warped with string and woven with a shuttle - actual weaving, at 12 x 16in.
| # | Product | Best for | Loom | Makes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom KitThe metal 7in potholder loom, with enough cotton loops for two finished 6in potholders. Made in USA. | A first loom, roughly ages six and up | 7in metal | 2 potholders, 6 x 6in | $21.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 2 |  Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Plus KitThe same 7in loom with three times the loops - six potholders instead of two. | A child who will definitely want to make more than two | 7in metal | 6 potholders, 6 x 6in | $32.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 3 |  Friendly Loom 10in Large Potholder PRO Loom KitThe 10in loom, making an 8in potholder - the size that covers a real dish. | An older child, or a potholder an adult will actually reach for | 10in metal | 2 potholders, 8 x 8in | $32.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 4 |  Friendly Loom LapLoom A Wooden Tapestry Loom KitA 12 x 16in wooden frame with warp string, wool weft and a stick shuttle - actual weaving. | A child ready to move past hooking loops | 12 x 16in wood | Woven panels | $53.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 5 |  National Geographic Wooden Loom Weaving Kit for KidsA wooden frame loom with yarn and three step-by-step projects in the box. | A child who will be doing this without an adult sitting beside them | Wooden frame | 3 guided projects | $24.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 6 |  Made By Me Weaving Loom Kit, Ultimate Set378 stretch loops and a hook-and-loop loom - no sewing, no warping, no adult required. | A stocking, a party bag, or testing whether the interest is real | Hook-and-loop | 378 loops of squares | $13.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
| 7 |  Beka SG Rigid Heddle Loom (20in)A 20in rigid heddle loom - a real loom that weaves cloth, and far too much for a first gift. | A teenager who has stayed with it, not a child starting out | 20in rigid heddle | Cloth by the yard | $169.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of November 10, 2026 |
Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Kit
Friendly Loom (Harrisville Designs) · Best for a first loom, roughly ages six and up
The metal potholder loom American children have learned on for decades, with enough cotton loops in the box for two finished potholders.
- Loom
- 7in metal frame
- Finished size
- 6in x 6in potholder
- Kit makes
- 2 functional potholders
- Loop fiber
- Cotton
- Made in
- USA
Who it suits
Any child meeting weaving for the first time, and any adult who wants the thing they remember from childhood.
Why it is here
A 7in metal frame loom with cotton loops, enough in the kit to weave two functional 6in x 6in potholders, made in USA. Two published facts make this the right first loom. The finished object is a potholder, which is useful in a kitchen rather than decorative - a child who makes something a grown-up then uses will make another. And the loops are cotton, so the potholder can actually go near a hot pan and go in the wash.
What you give up
Only two potholders in the box, and a child who enjoys it will finish both in an afternoon. Buy refill loops at the same time, or buy the Plus kit below.
Specifications from Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Kit - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Plus Kit
Friendly Loom (Harrisville Designs) · Best for a child who will definitely want to make more than two
The same 7in metal loom with three times the loops - six potholders rather than two, which is the difference between an afternoon and a habit.
- Loom
- 7in metal frame
- Finished size
- 6in x 6in potholder
- Kit makes
- 6 functional potholders
- Loop fiber
- Cotton
- Made in
- USA
Who it suits
Anyone buying for a child who already likes making things, and anyone buying one gift to cover a whole holiday.
Why it is here
The same 7in metal frame and the same 6in x 6in finished size, with enough cotton loops in the kit for six functional potholders, made in USA. The loom is the durable part and the loops are the consumable, so the difference between this and the standard kit is entirely a question of how long the gift lasts before it needs a refill. Six potholders is enough for a child to give some away, which is what usually keeps them going.
What you give up
More loops in the box, same loom - if the child turns out not to enjoy it you have bought four potholders' worth of cotton nobody will use.
Specifications from Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Plus Weaving Kit - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Friendly Loom 10in Large Potholder PRO Loom Kit
Friendly Loom (Harrisville Designs) · Best for an older child, or a potholder an adult will actually reach for
The grown-up size of the same loom: a 10in frame that weaves an 8in potholder, which is the size that actually covers a hot dish.
- Loom
- 10in metal frame
- Finished size
- 8in x 8in potholder
- Kit makes
- 2 functional potholders
- Loop fiber
- Cotton
- Made in
- USA
Who it suits
Children around eight and up, and anyone who has made the 6in version and found it small in the hand.
Why it is here
A 10in metal frame loom with cotton loops, weaving two functional 8in x 8in potholders, made in USA. The size difference is more significant than the numbers suggest: an 8in square folded in half is a usable pot grab, where a 6in one is really a trivet. The larger frame also has more pegs and longer rows, which suits a child with the patience for it and frustrates one without.
What you give up
10in loops are not interchangeable with 7in loops - the two sizes are separate consumables, so a household with both looms needs both kinds.
Specifications from Friendly Loom 10in Large Potholder PRO Loom Kit - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Friendly Loom LapLoom A Wooden Tapestry Loom Kit
Friendly Loom (Harrisville Designs) · Best for a child ready to move past hooking loops
A 12 x 16in wooden frame loom sold with cotton warp string, wool weft and a stick shuttle - real weaving rather than loop-hooking.
- Loom
- 12in x 16in wooden frame
- Warp
- Cotton warp string included
- Weft
- Rainbow wool weft yarn included
- Tool
- Wooden stick shuttle included
- Made in
- USA
Who it suits
A child who has outgrown potholder looms, and any teenager or adult interested in tapestry weaving.
Why it is here
A 12in x 16in wooden tapestry loom supplied with cotton warp string, rainbow wool weft yarn and a wooden stick shuttle, made in USA. The step up is real: a potholder loom hooks pre-made loops onto pegs, where this one is warped with string and woven with a shuttle, which is the same process a full-size loom uses at a smaller scale. That makes it the first loom on this page where the child learns weaving rather than a weaving-shaped activity.
What you give up
Warping takes an adult the first few times and it is the step children abandon. Budget half an hour and expect to do it with them, not for them.
Specifications from Friendly Loom LapLoom A Wooden Tapestry Loom Weaving Kit - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
National Geographic Wooden Loom Weaving Kit for Kids
National Geographic · Best for a child who will be doing this without an adult sitting beside them
A wooden frame loom sold with yarn and three step-by-step projects, so a child who has never woven has something to follow.
- Loom
- Wooden frame loom
- Included
- Colorful yarn
- Projects
- 3 step-by-step designs
- Sold as
- Complete kit
Who it suits
Anyone buying for a child who likes to follow instructions themselves, and anyone who will not be available to teach it.
Why it is here
A wooden frame loom sold as a complete kit with colorful yarn and three step-by-step designs. The published distinction from the LapLoom is the instruction: this comes with three projects laid out in order rather than a loom plus materials, which is what a child working alone needs. A frame loom with no project to follow is a blank page.
What you give up
Three designs is three. After those, the child needs ideas from elsewhere - and the kit does not say how much yarn is supplied.
Specifications from National Geographic Wooden Loom Weaving Arts and Crafts Kit for Kids - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Made By Me Weaving Loom Kit, Ultimate Set
Made By Me (Horizon Group USA) · Best for a stocking, a party bag, or testing whether the interest is real
A hook-and-loop loom with 378 stretch loops in the box - the cheapest route to a child making a potholder they can actually use.
- Loops
- 378 craft loops
- Method
- Hook and loop, no sewing
- Makes
- Potholders and more
- Sold as
- Complete kit
Who it suits
Younger children, and anyone buying several at once for a group.
Why it is here
A hook-and-loop weaving kit with 378 craft loops, no sewing needed, making potholders and similar squares. The loop count is the specification doing the work: 378 loops is a lot of squares, and at this price it is the lowest-risk way to find out whether a child takes to weaving before buying a metal loom and cotton loops.
What you give up
Stretch loops are not cotton, so the finished squares are craft objects rather than things that go near a pan. The loom is plastic and will not outlast a metal one.
Specifications from Made By Me Weaving Loom Arts and Crafts Kit, Ultimate Set - retail listing. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Beka SG Rigid Heddle Loom (20in)
Beka · Best for a teenager who has stayed with it, not a child starting out
A solid cherry lap loom made in the United States, with rotating beams that take a project five yards long.
- Weaving width
- 20in; also made in 24in
- Material
- Solid cherry, finished with Danish oil
- Heddle supplied
- 10 dent; 8 and 12 dent sold separately
- Also included
- Pick-up stick, two shuttles, pair of heddle blocks, no. 8 steel threading hook
- Warp length
- Rotating beams accommodate projects up to five yards
- Tensioning
- Ratchet and pawl
Who it suits
Nobody buying a child's first loom. It is here as the honest answer to what comes next, and to stop anyone buying it as a starter.
Why it is here
The Beka SG-20 rigid heddle loom, 20in weaving width. A rigid heddle is the smallest loom that weaves genuine cloth by the yard - scarves, towels, fabric - rather than individual panels. It is also a substantial piece of equipment that has to be warped across its full width before a single row is woven, which is an hour's work and the reason it is wrong for a beginner under about twelve.
What you give up
If the child has genuinely stayed with weaving, this is the correct next purchase and [best weaving loom for beginners](/kits/best-weaving-loom-for-beginners) compares it against the alternatives properly. As a first loom it is the fastest way to end the interest.
Specifications from Beka SG-series rigid heddle loom specification. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Two different crafts share the word loom
Almost every disappointing kids' weaving gift comes from buying one of these expecting the other, so it is worth being blunt about the difference.
- A potholder loom has pegs around a square frame. You stretch pre-made loops across one way, then hook loops over and under them the other way. There is no warping, no shuttle and no knots, a child can do it unsupervised within ten minutes, and the result is a square.
- A frame or tapestry loom is warped with string and woven with yarn on a shuttle. It is the real process in miniature. It takes an adult to set up the first few times and it produces a woven panel rather than a square.
- A rigid heddle loom weaves cloth by the yard. It is a serious piece of equipment and it is not a child's first loom.
What each kit makes, and how big
| Kit | Loom | Finished size | Kit makes | Loop fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly Loom 7in Traditional | 7in metal | 6 x 6in | 2 potholders | Cotton |
| Friendly Loom 7in Plus | 7in metal | 6 x 6in | 6 potholders | Cotton |
| Friendly Loom 10in PRO | 10in metal | 8 x 8in | 2 potholders | Cotton |
| Friendly Loom LapLoom A | 12 x 16in wood | Woven panels | Warp, weft and shuttle included | Wool weft, cotton warp |
| National Geographic wooden loom | Wooden frame | Not stated | 3 guided designs | Yarn included |
| Made By Me Ultimate Set | Hook-and-loop | Not stated | 378 loops' worth | Not stated |
Where a cell says "not stated", the listing does not state it. We have not filled those in with an estimate.
Which age suits which loom
- Around five to seven: a hook-and-loop kit or the 7in potholder loom. No warping, no sharp tools, a finished square in one sitting.
- Around eight to eleven: the 10in PRO loom for a bigger finished object, or the National Geographic frame loom if they like following instructions.
- Around eleven and up: the LapLoom A, where they learn warping and shuttle weaving properly.
- Teenage and genuinely committed: a rigid heddle loom - see best weaving loom for beginners, which compares rigid heddle against frame looms for an adult buyer.
Those bands are about patience and fine motor control rather than a manufacturer's age rating, and only one of these kits publishes an age range at all. Judge the child, not the box.
What to weave with
The potholder looms come with their own cotton loops and need nothing else. A frame loom takes ordinary yarn, and for a child the right choice is a smooth, pale, worsted-weight yarn that does not split - the same properties a first knitting yarn needs. Best yarn for beginners covers why, and best yarn for weaving covers warp and weft specifically.
If the child in question turns out to prefer knitting or crochet, best yarn craft kits for kids is the page for that, and best crochet hooks for kids and best knitting needles for kids cover the tools.
What we would buy
- One gift, first loom: the Friendly Loom 7in Traditional kit.
- They will want more than two: the Plus kit, six potholders' worth.
- Eight and up: the 10in PRO loom for an 8in finished square.
- Ready for real weaving: the LapLoom A.
- Cheap, or several at once: the Made By Me Ultimate Set.
How we picked
Ranked on what comes off the loom and how soon - finished size, how many objects are in the box, and whether an adult has to set it up. Every specification above is from the kit's retail listing, which is cited below: friendlyloom.com and harrisville.com both refused requests from this machine, and neither the National Geographic toy brand nor Horizon Group publishes a page for these kits, so the listing is the only publisher available. Nothing has been estimated, and cells marked not stated are genuinely not stated. We have not tested these looms. Prices come from the live price layer with the date they were checked.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best weaving loom for a child?
The Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Kit. It is a metal frame with cotton loops making two functional 6in x 6in potholders, it needs no warping and no adult supervision after the first row, and the finished object is useful in a kitchen - which is what makes a child want to make a second.
What age is a weaving loom suitable for?
A potholder or hook-and-loop loom suits roughly five and up, because there is no warping and no sharp tool. A warped frame loom like the LapLoom A suits around eleven and up, or younger with an adult doing the warping. A rigid heddle loom is not a child's loom at all.
What is the difference between a potholder loom and a frame loom?
A potholder loom uses pre-made stretch or cotton loops hooked over pegs - no string, no shuttle, no knots. A frame loom is warped with cotton string and woven with yarn on a shuttle, which is the real weaving process at a small scale. The first is an activity, the second is a craft.
Do you need special loops for a potholder loom?
Yes, and the sizes are not interchangeable. A 7in loom takes 7in loops and a 10in loom takes the longer ones, so a household with both needs both. Buy a refill pack with the loom - running out on the first afternoon is how the interest ends.
Are potholders made on a kids' loom actually usable?
If the loops are cotton, yes - that is the point of them. The Friendly Loom kits use cotton loops and make 6in or 8in squares that go near a pan and into the wash. Stretch-loop kits make craft squares rather than kitchen items.
What loom should they get next?
A rigid heddle loom, once they have stayed with weaving and are old enough for the warping. It is the smallest loom that weaves cloth by the yard rather than individual panels - our best weaving loom for beginners page compares the options for an adult or teenage buyer.
Sources
- Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Kit - retail listing
- Friendly Loom 7in Traditional Potholder Loom Plus Weaving Kit - retail listing
- Friendly Loom 10in Large Potholder PRO Loom Kit - retail listing
- Friendly Loom LapLoom A Wooden Tapestry Loom Weaving Kit - retail listing
- National Geographic Wooden Loom Weaving Arts and Crafts Kit for Kids - retail listing
- Made By Me Weaving Loom Arts and Crafts Kit, Ultimate Set - retail listing
- Made By Me Weaving Loom Arts and Crafts Kit, Basic Set - retail listing
- Beka SG-20 rigid heddle loom - retail listing