With the Magic Loop method of knitting in the round, you can knit anything, from the small circumference of a glove pinky to an Incredible Hulk sized sweater, on the same circular needle.
And if you need fewer needles, you’ll have more money to spend on yarn!
How to Knit Anything in the Round with the Magic Loop Method
To knit the Magic Loop method, you’ll need a circular needle that is at least 24” long. Thirty-two inch or longer is best. Watch this video to learn how to knit in the round with the magic loop.
Written Directions
These directions will make more sense after you watch the video.
- To begin the magic loop method of knitting in the round, cast on as you normally would. You can use this method with any cast on.
- Slide the cast on stitches down onto the cord and find the halfway point. You don’t need to have the stitches divided evenly. Sometimes a pattern will require that you have more stitches on one half than on the other. That’s OK!
- Pull a loop of cord out between the stitches.
- Push the stitches back up onto the needles.
- Straighten the stitches so the cast on is not twisted.
- Holding the needle with the working yarn in your right hand, pull that needle so the stitches move down onto the cord and you have slack to use that needle for knitting.
- Knit (or purl) your first stitch.
- Work across the first half of your stitches.
- Slide the stitches that are on the cord onto the empty needle
- Pull the needle so that the stitches you just knit move down to the cord and you have slack to use that needle for knitting
- Work across the 2nd half of your stitches. (At this point, it is a good idea to pin a BOR marker to your fabric. You can also use the tail to “mark” the beginning of your round.)
- Slide the stitches that are on the cord onto the empty needle.
- Pull the needle so that the stitches you just knit move down to the cord and you have slack to use that needle for knitting.
- Repeat steps 8-13.
Be sure to pull the first stitch of each half snug. If you don’t, ladders will form in your knitting where you switched needles. I filmed the video below to explain this better.
Common Mistakes Made while Knitting Magic Loop
There are 2 common mistakes made when knitting the magic loop: knitting in the wrong direction and ladders forming in your work where you change needles.
The first mistake – knitting in the wrong direction – can be avoided if you make sure the working yarn is coming off the last stitch of the needle you are holding in your RIGHT hand.
The 2nd mistake – ladders forming in your work where you change needles – can be prevented by the methods I outline in this video:
Want to Practice the Magic Loop Method?
This blog post is just a small sample of what you will find in the lessons of the Goat Whisperers Cabled Fingerless Mitts KAL in the Knit Along Club. Check it out at http://www.knitalongclub.com to learn how we can help you become a better, more confident knitter.