Last week I mentioned the "magic loop" method of knitting, which is worthy of a post in and of itself. I know a lot of people who never took to knitting tubes on double-pointed needles, and I completely understand this. DPNs (as they are called) can be a horrifying, panicky struggle at first.
The Magic Loop method, on the other hand, presents you with something you are already familiar with: knitting the stitches from one needle onto the other needle. With a few strange bits thrown in, it is more or less the same as knitting anything else you have worked with already.
A word: one reason people hate DPNs is because they get ladders. The best solution for ladders - and I'm 100% serious - is to ignore them. They will work themselves out of your finished piece once you have worn it, and your hands will learn how not to create them, all on their own. Doing anything to tighten the stitch is only going to make it worse. Trust me.
Back to the Magic Loop. What you will need is a circular needle with a really long leash. The longer the better, really. Once you get used to using the Magic Loop you can use it for any circular project, so the longer the circs you buy, the more sizes of project you will be able to work on them.
The best way to learn the Magic Loop is by watching a YouTube video. It can be a little complicated to work out at first, but as soon as you have done it a few times, you will quickly get the hang of it.
If you end up not liking the Magic Loop, don't sweat it. I personally am not a huge fan of it, I prefer DPNs. But I know that a lot of people love it. I think it's something every knitter should try, just to see how they like it.
Image courtesy Flickr/Jaydot
0 comments