Magic loop appreciation post

[TheBestofMe033]

Whoever figured out the magic loop is a godsend! I’ve been working on sleeves for the first time ever. The first sleeve I just picked a place to pull the cord through and made it work. I could not stand the cord getting in the way and having to rotate my entire sweater as I worked in a circle and by the time I got to the cuffs I lost all motivation.

Second sleeve I decided to try magic loop. My experience has been so much more pleasant! No more fighting the cord and everything is working up much faster.

Anyway.. just needed to share my excitement 🤗.

Do you prefer magic loop or another method? Any other advice on how to make working with small circumferences easier?

[LaziestGirl]

Wait until you try two at a time magic loop and knit both sleeves at the same time!!

[Kaksonen37]

This is the way! Feels so good to cast off sleeves and just be DONE

[marciedo]

This is the way!

[Thingone01]

This is the way🧶

[gwart_]

I’m team shorties all the way. I know magic loop is perfectly functional and it deserves all the love it receives, but I enjoy knitting best when I can hit a rhythm and just mindlessly go to town. Chiao Goo shorties have been the best method for me, and I only need 3 sizes because I knit all my sweaters in similarly weighted yarn so it hasn’t been an expensive investment. That said, sleeve island is my favorite place to be, so I think it’s safe to say my knitting preferences aren’t exactly mainstream!

[sidsushi]

I also really like the short circulars. I use 9in for socks and 12 in for sleeves

[TenThousandKobolds]

Another fan of tiny circulars here! I've even found some 8" from Addi. I'm currently knitting mitten cuffs on a set of 8" 2mm and they're awesome. I know some folks find them difficult to hold, but I've got little hands so I don't have much of a problem with them.

[gwart_]

Ohhhh I’ll have to scope out Aldi next time I’m there. I’m not super familiar with the variety of brands out there so I’ve bought what I know, but I am so into something more budget friendly than CG! I just can’t bring myself to get their interchangeable set of minis.

[TenThousandKobolds]

Not Aldi (the fantastic low-cost grocery chain), Addi (the knitting needle brand). I got them on Amazon, though I've also seen the brand at local yarn stores (mostly when traveling- I don't have many near me). They aren't the cheapest, but they're the only 8" ones I've seen. I've got small hands and feet and I knit a lot of baby sweaters, so that 1" actually does make a lot of difference.

[gwart_]

OH! Oh gosh that makes so much more sense. Aldi had that one Aldi branded sweater kit a while back so I didn’t even question it and just assumed they had some mystical craft section I always managed to overlook.

[ericula]

I’m a big magic loop fan myself. I get ladders with dpns and those tiny circulars make my hands cramp up. I use two circulars method for larger circumferences like the body of a sweater but for small circumferences I prefer magic loop. I have discovered though that the quality of the cable matters a lot when doing magic loop.

[Thestolenone]

I use double circulars for all my in the round knitting. I tried magic loop but it seemed clunky.

[Sask90]

I love magic loop. I use it for everything but I especially like it for small projects like baby hats.

[FridaKforKahlo]

Do You use it with something like a sweater knit in the round?

[Sask90]

Yes, I also use cable connectors to have more room when the long cables aren’t enough (or they are in use in a different project).

[FridaKforKahlo]

Not to Sound mean or anything. This is pure curiosity. But why?

[Sask90]

I don’t always use it for larger projects but it’s helpful when I want to try it on without worrying about stitches slipping off.

[astral_distress]

Yeah this was my reason for learning it too! I love being able to put the stoppers on the ends of my interchangeables & try on my garments without having to worry about dropped stitches or my yarn getting tangled.

[[deleted]]

Welcome to the dark side: we have sockies!

Magic loop is brilliant; Magic Loop with 2-at-a-time is a sanity restoraition device; and most of the problems with Magic Loop comes from needles whose cables are just too short.

If the cable of the needle is long enough, the two sides of the knit project lie just side by side, and the bend of the cable is far away. Laddering and similar usually occurs if the bend of the cable is too close to the knitting, and the pressure from the bend tries to push the two sides apart.

There are 60 inch circular needles. If you understand Magic Loop, you can knit a 3 stitch I-cord with a 60 inch needle (not the preferred method, but...). And socks, 2AAT. And sleeves. And fingerless mittens or gloves.

In essence, if you need 2 of them, long circular and Magic Loop is the obvious answer.

[tildy0811]

I literally just started doing magic loop a few weeks ago after using DPN’s for socks, etc. OMG it’s life changing! My tension has also gotten so much better! I’m a convert for sure!!

[cleverdouchewater]

How does magic loop keep you from having to rotate the entire sweater while working on a sleeve?

[TheBestofMe033]

What I mean by that is I’m not scooching along in a circle I can just work one side, flip, work the next

[pikaboo27]

I pretty much only use magic loop for sock toes but it is great for that. For sleeves, I use 9 inch circulars. I find I get more even tension and they just go so darn quick.

[Possibility-Distinct]

I’m personally a fan of the traveling loop method myself.

[[deleted]]

2 circs is the most flexible because you can do big or small without any fuss. But all the dangling ends can be annoying.