• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Upcoming Release Gallery Photos
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Learn from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2021-2022 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Inside Scoop Subscribe & Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

November 22, 2016 Leave a Comment

Magic Loop Knitting Pros and Cons

I’ve been doing magic loop knitting on projects that I might normally use a 16″ circular needle or dpns for lately.  Why?  I’m still trying to heal from the stress to my hands and wrists from packing and unpacking from our move in July.

There are things I really like about it. And things I don’t like so much. But it is a truly viable option. I’m a person who always wants the bad news first, so here are the things I don’t like.

Magic Loop: Half-size sleeve on 48" circulars!Things I Don’t Care for About Magic Loop Knitting

  1. I often don’t have a needle that is the proper length to make this technique easy;
  2. The really long needles that make it easy are a pain because they are long; and
  3. It really slows me down.

When just knitting, I like to use a 24″ needle.  It means I have less extra needle so it feels really efficient.  Until recently I didn’t have very many needles that were long enough for the magic loop.  I bought several really long needles (Addi turbos) because I wanted them for moebius knitting.

One of the joys of knitting (even in pattern) for me is knitting without having to pay too much attention to the physicality of the work. I like to watch TV or read while I’m knitting. Anything that requires me to pay attention to the needles or the stitches makes it a little less pleasurable. If I have to pay attention, or for the magic loop, stop and reposition my needles, this will slow down my knitting.  I’m not sure how significantly, probably not by half, but enough.  Practice is making it a bit smoother.

Things I Do Like About Magic Loop Knitting

  1. It is so much kinder to my hands, wrists, and thumbs;
  2. I can use the same needle I’m going to use in a larger project so I know the gauge will be the same;
  3. My hands are fairly large so I really am much more comfortable with a full-size tip to hold onto and have always found 16″ circulars hard on my thumbs; and
  4. Although I have to fuss with repositioning the needles, it is no more annoying than dealing with dpns.

Magic Loop: Half-size body on 48" circulars!I like the rhythm of dpns, and I like the speed of working around on 16″ circulars. Even before the move I’ve been noticing the stress both cause my thumbs. I have kind of a hinky joint on my right thumb, which I think is an over-extension injury from mouse-use and  knitting.  So I’m enjoying not having that constant pain. Mitch is 6’2″ tall, and he is starting to really notice the effects of a life of always being a little too large for everything.  My hands are in the same boat.

Magic Loop and Gauge

Knowing that when I’m making a small item to be a gauge swatch I am using the same needle I will use in the larger project gives me gauge confidence. I might use a different cable length, but I’m going to pick up Addi turbos!  An added bonus, because the transition from front needle to back needle is done with the stitches just worked on the cable, not the needle, I have absolutely no laddering.

It is really about the needle (I’m enjoying the flexibility of the cables of the Addi needles). I would not use interchangeables for this because I think there is too much risk of there being excess rubbing on the knitting at the joins and too much pressure on the needles which might injure or break the joins in the long haul. You may prefer a different type of needle.  Look for a nicely flexible cable and good joins. Then give this a try.

Related Posts

  • Knitting Traditions Thoughts
    Knitting Traditions Thoughts
  • Point Roberts Cornered
    Point Roberts Cornered
  • Esperance Cowl Roundup
    Esperance Cowl Roundup

Filed Under: Blog, Technique Talk Tagged With: knitting, loop, magic, needle, needles

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Blog Archive

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

Button Links

Button Links

most of the shelves on the yarn wall

Color Play in Yarn

Steam Block

Popular in the Shop

  • Half-size dress form wearing dk version in pink and purple from Oink Pigments Clapham Trio: Junction, Road, & Common $20.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Full: Gou Pei Dress ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Full $100.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Payment: Gou Pei Dress with wings ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Payments $100.00 / 7 days
  • Guild Merino Silk from Oink Pigments ASOG 2022 FS Flat Fee $900.00
  • illustrator sketch of three bust types, side view ASOG A La Carte $50.00

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2023 Jill Wolcott Knits