How to Knit with the Magic Loop

I belong to a Facebook group that’s for beginning knitters because I like to see some of the questions that they have, and I feel like a lot of knitters report not liking or being intimidated to try circular knitting.

Some people don’t even want to knit flat on circular needles, which is weird to me. It’s just a longer needle that makes it easier to work a wider project.

I think some of the worry when it comes to circular knitting is thinking about double-pointed needles or worrying that the circular needle you have isn’t going to be the right length for the project you’re working on.

And one great way to deal with both of those problems is to learn how to use the magic loop method of knitting.

Magic loop involves a long circular needle that’s pinched and pulled out so that you can work with the needle tips even as there is extra cable hanging out around your project.

Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to do, and less of a hassle than working with double pointed needles. You also don’t have to worry that your cable is the right length for your project (indeed longer ones are easier to work with in this method).

If you don’t have a circular needle that’s long enough to do magic loop for the project you’re working but it’s still too long to comfortably hold all the stitches, you can do a modified magic loop (which you can see in action here; give me a follow if you like!) with only one “ear” or loop instead of two.

Check out this post on Knit Darling that includes a handy chart showing all the steps for working magic loop style (only a portion of which is shown above).

Do you use the magic loop method or do you have another way you prefer to work in the round? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Knit Darling]

How to Cable without a Cable Needle

How to Fix a Dropped Cast On Stitch

How to Fade Yarn in a Knitting Project

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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