Learn Magic Loop: How to Knit in the Round with Just One Needle

With the Magic Loop, you can knit just about any project using only a long (32" or longer) circular needle.

Maybe you’ve never been comfortable knitting with double-pointed needles. Perhaps you’re away from home with a hat as your travel-knitting project and you forgot to pack double-pointed needles to shape the crown. Or you might prefer to limit the amount of money and/or storage space dedicated to your knitting tools. With a single 40" long circular needle, it is possible to knit an entire seamless sweater (no matter the size) in the round.

In the 1980s, knitter Sarah Hauschka developed the Magic Loop for knitting small-circumference tubes—think socks, gloves, or sleeve cuffs—in the round using a long circular needle. The method was popularized in a small booklet called The Magic Loop published by Fiber Trends in 2002.

Which Needles Work Best for the Magic Loop?

The cord connecting the needle tips is the key to a good experience with Magic Loop. A stiff cord will resist the bends that create the loops. A floppy cord will prevent the stitches from flowing smoothly from the cord onto the needle tip.

Look for a cord that is supple but not limp. For the photos, I used a 32" long Addi Ewenicorn Turbo needle. The cord has just the right degree of pliability for Magic Loop.

As to length, most devotees of the Magic Loop recommend 32" or 40". You need ample cord between the two needle tips.

How to Cast On for Magic Loop

To work the Magic Loop, cast on all of the stitches of the first round, then arrange them on the needles with the help of a removable stitch marker.

Click any image in the gallery below to open it in full-screen mode and follow the instructions.