Uploaded February 2009 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
knitfreedom.com/magic-loop
If this video saved you some stress feel free to support my channel and buy me a coffee:
buymeacoffee.com/knitfreedom
Here's how to do Magic Loop for knitting hats, socks, and sweaters in the round.
What is Magic Loop?
Magic Loop, invented by Sarah Hauschka and first published by Beverly Galeskas, is the amazing technique of using one very long circular needle to knit anything you want, of any size, in the round.
Instead of using a circular needle that is just the exact circumference of your knitted project, you use one that is very long, letting a loop of cable come out between the stitches.
Magic Loop knitting uses one long circular needle to knit anything in the round, of any size.
Why Magic Loop?
Magic Loop solves all the problems inherent in other forms of round knitting, plus, it's easier, faster, and more fun!
In all my experience knitting and teaching, Magic Loop is the best and easiest way to learn to knit in the round.
Try on as you go
With Magic Loop, you can try on anything you knit as you go, whether it be socks or gloves, and never worry about losing stitches off the ends of your DPNs, or being stabbed by the ninja star of death.
Being able to try on your knitting is a big time-saver: discovering that what you are making is too small or too big before your are done is one easy way to save yourself hours and hours of re- knitting.
No laddering
With Magic Loop, the frustrating problem of laddering disappears. Even beginners just trying the method notice after their first few rounds that their tube is seamless and even, all the way around. Hooray!
Cost-efective
This is a boring but succinct way to say you don't have to spend so much money on needles!
You just have to buy one length of needle, in whatever size your project (or gauge swatch) calls for, and that's it! Knit the biggest sweater to the tiniest novelty toy on one length of needle. You also won't have to carry so many diferent needles with you when you travel.
Never use DPNs again!
I almost forgot this one. This is a main selling point of Magic Loop to some of my students, who have become so frustrated with using DPNs that they give up knitting in the round until they discover the joy of Magic Loop.
Now, you don't have to hate DPNs, or give them up, to appreciate what Magic Loop can do in your life.
Make two-at-a-time
One huge advantage to using Magic Loop is that is opens the door to knitting things two-at-a-time.
We'll explore the wonders of knitting two-at-a-time in Learn To Knit Toe-Up Socks, in which I trick you into learning the two-at-a-time method without even trying. But for now, let me just say the words, "No more Second Sock Syndrome."
Learn Magic Loop
In this video, we'll make a sample tube just to get the hang of Magic Loop.
In order to help you practice reading a pattern, here is what we are doing in the video, but written in pattern-speak:
Materials
• Needles: 40-47-inch circular needle, US size 7 or 8
• Yarn: 50 yds worsted-weight scrap yarn (preferably a light color, so you can see what you are doing).
Pattern Instructions
CO 20 sts. Join in the round using Magic Loop. Rnds 1-10: K.
youtube.com/watch?v=cB1sSOr0fG0
knitfreedom.com/magic-loop
If this video saved you some stress feel free to support my channel and buy me a coffee:
buymeacoffee.com/knitfreedom
Here's how to do Magic Loop for knitting hats, socks, and sweaters in the round.
What is Magic Loop?
Magic Loop, invented by Sarah Hauschka and first published by Beverly Galeskas, is the amazing technique of using one very long circular needle to knit anything you want, of any size, in the round.
Instead of using a circular needle that is just the exact circumference of your knitted project, you use one that is very long, letting a loop of cable come out between the stitches.
Magic Loop knitting uses one long circular needle to knit anything in the round, of any size.
Why Magic Loop?
Magic Loop solves all the problems inherent in other forms of round knitting, plus, it's easier, faster, and more fun!
In all my experience knitting and teaching, Magic Loop is the best and easiest way to learn to knit in the round.
Try on as you go
With Magic Loop, you can try on anything you knit as you go, whether it be socks or gloves, and never worry about losing stitches off the ends of your DPNs, or being stabbed by the ninja star of death.
Being able to try on your knitting is a big time-saver: discovering that what you are making is too small or too big before your are done is one easy way to save yourself hours and hours of re- knitting.
No laddering
With Magic Loop, the frustrating problem of laddering disappears. Even beginners just trying the method notice after their first few rounds that their tube is seamless and even, all the way around. Hooray!
Cost-efective
This is a boring but succinct way to say you don't have to spend so much money on needles!
You just have to buy one length of needle, in whatever size your project (or gauge swatch) calls for, and that's it! Knit the biggest sweater to the tiniest novelty toy on one length of needle. You also won't have to carry so many diferent needles with you when you travel.
Never use DPNs again!
I almost forgot this one. This is a main selling point of Magic Loop to some of my students, who have become so frustrated with using DPNs that they give up knitting in the round until they discover the joy of Magic Loop.
Now, you don't have to hate DPNs, or give them up, to appreciate what Magic Loop can do in your life.
Make two-at-a-time
One huge advantage to using Magic Loop is that is opens the door to knitting things two-at-a-time.
We'll explore the wonders of knitting two-at-a-time in Learn To Knit Toe-Up Socks, in which I trick you into learning the two-at-a-time method without even trying. But for now, let me just say the words, "No more Second Sock Syndrome."
Learn Magic Loop
In this video, we'll make a sample tube just to get the hang of Magic Loop.
In order to help you practice reading a pattern, here is what we are doing in the video, but written in pattern-speak:
Materials
• Needles: 40-47-inch circular needle, US size 7 or 8
• Yarn: 50 yds worsted-weight scrap yarn (preferably a light color, so you can see what you are doing).
Pattern Instructions
CO 20 sts. Join in the round using Magic Loop. Rnds 1-10: K.
youtube.com/watch?v=cB1sSOr0fG0
![[KnitFreedom] - How To Do A Knitted Cast-On](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f85PYy894dM/mqdefault.jpg "[KnitFreedom] - How To Do A Knitted Cast-On
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/knitted-cast-on-2/
Read more about how to do the knitted cast-on at the KnitFreedom blog: https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/knitted-cast-on/
The knitted cast-on requires just one strand of yarn, making it perfect for adding stitches to your cast-on when you run out of tail, or adding more than 2 or 3 stitches to the width of your project in any given row.
In the knitted cast on technique, you simply knit a stitch and then pass it back to your left-hand needle.
This is similar to a cable cast-on, where you insert your needle between the first and second stitches to form the stitch.
I think this way is much easier, and if you twist the stitch as you place it on the left-hand needle, you are already set up to cast on the next stitch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=f85PYy894dM")
