Well, not really, but it is called the Magic Loop! The ML is another way of using 1 circular needle to knit in the round. Unlike the first method we looked at though, using this technique removes the limit you have on the number of stitches you can knit. You can knit as few stitches as you need to in the round using this technique. The one catch to it though is that you need to have a cable needle with a really long cable. As a matter of fact, don’t even think about using a cable needle less than 29″ in length. While it is possible, it might drive you a little crazy, and you’d have to make sure the cable is uber flexible! The more flexible the cord, the better. I use a 40″ or longer circular for doing the magic loop.
If you’re scratching your head right about now, don’t worry, you read this right. I know in the last post I said that if you’re using 1 circular, you’d need enough stitches to go around your needle. Well, in this case, you don’t. If your cord is long and flexible enough, you’re going to create two needles in a way and knit from one at a time. Here we go.
I found a good tutorial at Knitpicks website and used some o their pictures fr this demo (I was too lazy to do them myself, and why re-invent the wheel?). You can check out their tutorial at this link …
Start by casting on the desired number of stitches. We’ll do 20 for now, just to get the technique down, but you’ll soon see that this would work with any number. Slide the 20 stitches fully onto the nylon cable part of your needle.
Locate the midway of your 20 stitches (between the 10th and 11th stitch. It doesn’t have to be midway, but close. If I’m breaking up a pattern repeat to be midway, I’ll go a stitch or two over midway (or less than). Carefully bend the nylon so that it protrudes through the gap between the two stitches. Now pull it out so that you have a large loop of nylon hanging out.
Slide the stitches you want to work with onto the needle tip closest to you (this is the holding tip). These should be your first 10 cast on stitches. Let the other 10 stitches rest on the nylon. Pull the needle tip farthest away from you (this is the working tip) to remove some of the slack and allow you enough range of motion to touch the tip of the holding needle.
Joining the first row requires that you knit the first stitch a little more snugly than the rest. Once it’s knit, the rest are pretty easy. Taking this into consideration, knit the first 10 stitches. They will be on the working tip.
Now pull on the nylon at the end of the working tip to allow a loop to form between the two sets of stitches. Now slide the 10 stitches that you haven’t worked yet onto the empty tip of the holding needle. Now slide the stitches on the working tip onto the nylon and you’re ready to knit the second set of 10 stitches. Knit these stitches and you have successfully knit your first round of stitches using the magic loop.
Repeat this process as many times as you need to in order to complete your project! Like I said, it’s not really magic, but it is pretty cool! Once you master this technique, you’ll realize that the only needle you really need is a long circular – the longer the better. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll have a few others just in case … or simply because!
Like before, if you prefer videos, here’s one showing the method (also from KnitPicks).
Hugzzz 😎