Magic Loop Knitting | Step By Step
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.In this post, you will see how to knit in the round using the magic loop knitting technique.
This technique is often used for smaller projects.
There is a step-by-step photo tutorial below and a video tutorial for you to watch.
The Magic Loop Method
If you have already been knitting in the round on large projects like scarves or sweaters, you know how easy the magic loop method can be.
But when you want to make something smaller, with a small diameter like sweater sleeves, mittens, or closing the top of hats, or socks, you may have to use this method.
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What Is The Magic Loop?
Using the magic loop technique in your knitting is easy and will help you to create smaller items in the round.
This can be done by using any cable length from 9 inches, 16 inches to 32 inches or more.
You will need to know this method in order to make some of my knitting patterns including:
The Easy Mittens Pattern
If you want to make the easy mittens – you will cast on 18 sts and work K1, P1 rib for 2 inches.
I made the mittens using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn in fisherman (yarn weight – super bulky 06).
I knit them on 10 mm (US 15) 16″ circular needles using the magic loop technique, so there was no seaming involved, just a few loose ends to sew in at the end.
Magic Loop Knitting Tutorial
How To Knit In The Round With The Magic Loop Technique
- Casting On
Begin by casting on the required number of stitches.
(For this tutorial I cast on 18 stitches)
- Dividing The Stitches
Divide the stitches (half of the stitches on one needle and half on the other), then pull the center of the cable up, so the loop of cable will be sticking out as you see in the image below.
- Pull The Stitches Onto The Needles
Pull the stitches onto the needles, so they are no longer on the cable.
You can place a stitch marker on the first stitch to denote the beginning of the round if you wish. - Arrange Your Yarn
Turn the needles so that the first stitch cast on, is on the needle closest to you.
You can then move the yarn tail to one side and get the working yarn ready by hanging it over the back needle.
This is done if you are going to knit into your first stitch.
If you are going to purl that first stitch, you will allow the working yarn to hang down between the needles. - Knit The First Stitch
Pull the back needle out from the stitches, so the back stitches are on the cable now.
Keep the working yarn toward the back.
Then bring the right-hand needle into the first stitch to knit. - Continue To Knit The Stitches On The Left-Hand Needle
Then you can knit across all the stitches on the front needle, to the end of the needle (this is the left-hand needle).
- Turning The Work
Once you have knit across the first row of stitches on the left needle, you can then turn your work.
Now the unworked stitches are facing you that were on the right needle.
Pull the back needle – the one you just worked, so the just worked stitches are resting on the loop of cord.
Then slide the unworked stitches onto the front needle.
Keep working the yarn toward the back when you knit, to the end of the next set of stitches. - Knit Across The Stitches
Bring the back needle around and knit the first stitch on the front needle.
Knit across all of the stitches on the front needle.
When you have completed these next stitches, you have just worked one round.
For the new round, you will continue to move the stitches, to begin again. - Continue To Knit
You can continue to work this way until you have knit as many rounds as you need.
Repeating this process is using the magic loop!
Video Tutorial
There is a video tutorial to help you.
You can view this on my YouTube channel here.
That’s it!
So now you know how easy it is, you can try it out on a mitten or hat pattern.
Happy Knitting! xoxo
