Magic Loop Socks

The Magic Loop sock pattern is an innovative technique for knitting socks with only one circular needle. It’s a good choice for those who constantly find themselves frustrated by the occasional loss of an odd double pointed needle. It’s easy enough to learn how to knit socks like this with a kit, and there are even instructions for knitting 2 socks at a time. The way it works is that you pick up both ends of the circular needle, which is usually a lot smaller than a standard-sized needle, and you loop the yarn around itself.

Because the loop is small, the yarn doesn’t come off the needle as you pull it through the loop. Instead, you keep both of the needle’s thinnest strands looped on the needle, which causes the entire loop to come off when you draw the yarn back through the loop. So knitting socks using magic loops doesn’t require two needles, and can be worn tighter, making it ideal for a project where tightness is not crucial. The only caution is that because the loop is so small, each loop can only hold about three inches of yarn. If you need to make large socks, you will need to use two sets of the tiny loops.

If you want to try your hand at knitting a pair of magic loop socks, it is a good idea to have some spare fabric (or yarn) to test out your new technique. A magic loop sock is not particularly difficult to make; it requires working in the round, rather than straight across. As long as you follow the instructions to the letter, you should have no trouble putting a sock together. It’s very similar to making a sweater, except instead of working from the cuff, you work from the wrist. It can be a fun project to try – and they really do make great socks!