What Is Magic Loop In Knitting?

If you’re a knitter, chances are you’ve heard of the Magic Loop method. But what is it, exactly? And why would you want to use it?

The Magic Loop is a way of knitting small circumferences (like sleeves or the top of a hat) on a long circular needle. It’s called “magic” because it’s essentially like having two needles in one – which means you can knit just about anything on it! There are lots of reasons to love Magic Loop knitting.

First, it’s great for beginners who are still getting used to working with circular needles. Second, it’s perfect for travel since you only need to bring one needle with you. And third, it allows you to try out different stitch patterns and sizes without having to invest in multiple sets of needles.

Knitting Help – Simple Magic Loop

In knitting, the magic loop is a method of creating a small circumference tube on circular needles. It is also commonly used to knit sleeves or the legs of socks that are too small to be knit on double-pointed needles. The magic loop is worked by first casting on the required number of stitches onto one long circular needle.

The needle is then slid through the stitches until half of them are on each side of the needle. The working yarn is pulled tight, and then a second circular needle is inserted through the loops to begin knitting in the round. When working with large circumferences, such as afghan squares or blanket edgings, it can be difficult to manage all of the stitches on one long circular needle.

The magic loop allows you to knit with only half of the stitches at a time, making it much easier to handle.

Is Magic Loop the Same As Circular Needles

There’s a lot of confusion out there about whether Magic Loop and Circular Needles are the same thing. The answer is: sort of. Here’s the deal: Magic Loop is a specific method of using circular needles.

So, all Magic Loop is circular, but not all circular is Magic Loop. Confused yet? Let’s break it down further.

Circular needles are, simply put, needles that are joined by a cord in a circle. They can be used for any type of knitting, from small projects like hats to large projects like afghans. The main advantage of using circulars over straight needles is that you can knit in the round – meaning, you can knit continuous rounds without having to join each new row (as you would with straights).

This is especially helpful for projects like sweaters where you want a nice, seamless finish. Additionally, because the cord connecting the two needle tips is flexible, you can easily adjust the circumference of your project as you knit – making it perfect for things like cuffs and sleeves where you need to make gradual adjustments. Finally, because they’re not attached at one end like straights are, circulars are much easier to transport – no more poking yourself in the eye or getting your yarn tangled!

So what exactly is Magic Loop? It’s a specific technique that allows you to use circular needles to knit small circumferences in the round – think sleeves, hat crowns, sock cuffs… basically anything that would normally require DPNs (double-pointed needles). It gets its name from the fact that once you get the hang of it, it really does seem like magic!

Here’s how it works: instead of using one long circ needle as usual, you use two shorter circs – one for each side of your work. You start by knitting a few stitches onto one needle tip… then slip those same stitches over onto the other needle tip (leaving them unworked). Now comes the tricky part: holding both needle tips together in your left hand (with the right-hand needle behind), insert your left-hand needle into the first stitch on BOTH needles and knit as usual; then slide both stitches off onto just the right-hand needle tip.

What Is Magic Loop In Knitting?

Credit: www.interweave.com

How Do You Do the Magic Loop in Knitting?

If you’re a knitter, chances are you’ve heard of the magic loop method. It’s a great way to knit small circumferences (like the top of a hat) without using double-pointed needles. And once you get the hang of it, it’s really not that magical!

Here’s how to do the magic loop in knitting: 1. Start by casting on the desired number of stitches onto one long circular needle. For this example, we’ll cast on 32 stitches.

2. Next, slide half of the stitches (16 in this case) onto the cable of the needle so that they’re at the other end of the needle from where your working yarn is attached. In other words, you should now have 16 stitches on each side of the needle. 3. Now take hold of both ends of your circular needle and pull until there’s a good amount of slack in your work – about 6 inches or so.

This will create what’s called a “loop.” 4. Insert your right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand side of your work, as if you were going to knit it. But instead of knitting this stitch, simply slip it offthe left hand needle and let it drop down into the loop – this creates an extra stitch!

Continue slipping allofthe left hand stitches offthe needles and letting them drop into the loop until you’ve reachedthe last stitch on that side – again, don’tknitit! You should now have 17 stitches total on your right hand needle (one more than when you started).

What is the Difference between Magic Loop And Circular Needles?

Circular needles are a type of needle that is often used in knitting in the round. They typically come in two pieces – a long, thin shaft with a pointed tip on one end and a small, circular cable on the other end that can be attached to the shaft. The cable is what allows the needle to be worked in the round.

Magic loop is a technique that can be used with circular needles (or double-pointed needles) to knit small circumferences such as sleeves or the top of a hat. It involves working with just one needle and looping the yarn around it to create additional stitches.

What is the Purpose of Magic Loop Knitting?

The purpose of magic loop knitting is to allow the knitter to create a small circumference tube without the use of double-pointed needles. This is especially useful for projects such as socks, where the number of stitches on each needle is too small to comfortably work with double-pointed needles. Magic loop knitting can also be used to knit two pieces simultaneously, such as when working on a pair of gloves.

Is Magic Loop Same As Knitting in the Round?

There are a couple of different ways to knit in the round, and Magic Loop is one of them. Magic Loop is a method of knitting in the round that uses a long circular needle instead of multiple shorter needles. It’s called “Magic Loop” because it can be used to knit small circumferences (like sleeves) that would normally require DPNs (double-pointed needles).

So, to answer your question: no, Magic Loop is not the same as knitting in the round. However, it is a valid way to knit in the round, and many knitters find it easier than using DPNs.

Conclusion

Magic loop is a term used in knitting to describe a method of circular knitting using one long needle instead of the usual set of four or five double-pointed needles. It is also sometimes called the infinite loop method. The magic loop technique is often used for projects such as socks, hats, and sleeves that are knit in the round on circular needles.

To use the magic loop method, you start by casting on the required number of stitches onto one long circular needle. The working yarn is then pulled tight so that there are no gaps between the stitches, and the needle is inserted through all of the stitches as if you were going to knit them all together. Once the needle is inserted, you slide all of the stitches down to sit close to the tip of the needle and then pull out enough slack so that there are only a few inches (or less) of yarn between the two ends of the needle.

You then hold on to both ends of the needle and use your other hand to knit or purl each stitch as normal. When you get to the end of a row, simply turn your work around and start knitting back in the other direction – there’s no need to join new yarn or make any other special preparations. Just keep knitting until your project reaches its desired length!

Jane
Jane

Hi,
I’m Jane and I’m the editor of janesknittingkits.com! I am a long-time craft and clothing design fan who has been writing about these interests for years.

I have spent many hours studying knitting, weaving, sewing, embroidery, and quilting as well as learning about various brands and models of sewing gear and machines. In addition to this research, my work involves publishing information related to these topics in ways that will be informative for both amateur crafters like me and more experienced sewers!