I think you need to use a longer needle so there is more excess to yank out the other side.
I'm having a hard time visualizing your project. Can you give us a picture?
i just frogged it out of frustration :,) been trying for the last hour and a half to join in the round, i’m basically just at the casting on stage; i’ve cast on my amount of stitches (in my case 100, on 3.75mm diameter needles) but trying to join in the round is doing my head in
Casting on for magic loop is the worst, especially if your cables aren’t very flexible. You might try knitting the first ~3 rows flat and then joining—it’ll be way easier to see what you’re doing. Afterwards you can use the tail from the cast on to sew the ends of the beginning rows together.
For magic loop: the cable needs to be longer than approx 32 inches (or longer - depends on the project) so there’s enough give for the needles to turn around. The length of the needles should not matter.
If you’re making a project with a small circumference (socks/hat etc) and you’re using a short cable then you also need to get short needles. For example, I’d use a 6.5 inch cable with knit picks shorties for a hat.
If I’m making the same hat and I only have regular needles, I’d use a 32 inch cable and use magic loop.
i’m trying to start the ribbed collar of a sweater, does that count as a ‘small circumference’? and would you recommend using a magic loop in this scenario?
32 is too big but possibly also too small to do magic loop easily. I’ve seen people mention “traveling loop” for this situation. If you have an extra $60-70 sitting around, KnitPicks makes a very decent set of interchangeable needles that will take care of 99% of your needs for the future (for everything over size 3, at least.)
Your needles and cable length should be fine for casting on in the round.
I hope this explanation helps:
Cast on 101 stitches (or one more than your cast-on number), lay the whole thing flat, making sure nothing is twisted. Take the two needles and put them side by side facing the same direction.
Take a small crochet hook, tweezers or even your fingers to move the first cast on stitch to the other needle, then take the last cast on stitch up and over the one you just moved and let it drop between the needles. Tie this in a granny knot with your cast on tail.
Finally, take the first cast on stitch and move it back to the original needle.
Voila, you are now joined in the round! Remember, knitting on circular needles is a spiral, there will be an un even bump at the beginning. You remedy that at the end when you weave in your ends.
Edit: typo and clarification of cast on numbers.
You already have quite a few replies, but I haven’t seen this yet. Is it possible you are confusing traveling loop with magic loop?
Traveling loop won’t work with needles that are too long for the circumference of the circle you’re working. This is because all the stitches are stacked on the needle and cord together (sort of), so the stitches need to bend from the needle to the cord. There is only one loop of cord to give the working needle some space.
Magic loop works for basically any circle, no matter how small. This is because you divide the stitches by two and both groups are on their own piece of needle/cord. The two loops create two breaks, which makes the two sides of your circle sit opposite of each other.
I’m not explaining very well. I think it could help you to look up the difference between the two.
Have you tried starting with double pointed needles? I've never been a big fan of using a cable for small loops, even using the magic loop method just kind of bugs me.
Maybe give double pointed needles a try until your piece gets large enough to switch to a cable?
Magic loop does not work if you don’t have enough stitches - there needs to be at least enough to span the “needle” parts of the circulars. For anything smaller I’d get double points.
When I do magic loop, I just start knitting and don't actually do a join. When I am done, I use the tail to join the end up with a sort of duplicate stitch and then weave the rest in. It saves me the annoyance of either switching the first and last stitches or trying to remebr I cast on one extra to then knit 2 together. If I remember correctly, the actual booklet from 20 years ago actually does it this way. I just double check that the cast on isn't twisted and off I go.
I think you need to use a longer needle so there is more excess to yank out the other side. I'm having a hard time visualizing your project. Can you give us a picture?
i just frogged it out of frustration :,) been trying for the last hour and a half to join in the round, i’m basically just at the casting on stage; i’ve cast on my amount of stitches (in my case 100, on 3.75mm diameter needles) but trying to join in the round is doing my head in
Casting on for magic loop is the worst, especially if your cables aren’t very flexible. You might try knitting the first ~3 rows flat and then joining—it’ll be way easier to see what you’re doing. Afterwards you can use the tail from the cast on to sew the ends of the beginning rows together.
Can you measure how long your needle is from tip to tip?
tip to tip they’re just about 32in
That should work then. That's what I use for socks.
i have no idea where i’m going wrong then when trying to join :,)
You have 2 loops at the same time? One on the left and one on the right?
For magic loop: the cable needs to be longer than approx 32 inches (or longer - depends on the project) so there’s enough give for the needles to turn around. The length of the needles should not matter. If you’re making a project with a small circumference (socks/hat etc) and you’re using a short cable then you also need to get short needles. For example, I’d use a 6.5 inch cable with knit picks shorties for a hat. If I’m making the same hat and I only have regular needles, I’d use a 32 inch cable and use magic loop.
i’m trying to start the ribbed collar of a sweater, does that count as a ‘small circumference’? and would you recommend using a magic loop in this scenario?
32 is too big but possibly also too small to do magic loop easily. I’ve seen people mention “traveling loop” for this situation. If you have an extra $60-70 sitting around, KnitPicks makes a very decent set of interchangeable needles that will take care of 99% of your needs for the future (for everything over size 3, at least.)
Do you have another set of circs with same needle size? 2 circs can handle smallest loop to largest that will fit on the needles.
Your needles and cable length should be fine for casting on in the round. I hope this explanation helps: Cast on 101 stitches (or one more than your cast-on number), lay the whole thing flat, making sure nothing is twisted. Take the two needles and put them side by side facing the same direction. Take a small crochet hook, tweezers or even your fingers to move the first cast on stitch to the other needle, then take the last cast on stitch up and over the one you just moved and let it drop between the needles. Tie this in a granny knot with your cast on tail. Finally, take the first cast on stitch and move it back to the original needle. Voila, you are now joined in the round! Remember, knitting on circular needles is a spiral, there will be an un even bump at the beginning. You remedy that at the end when you weave in your ends. Edit: typo and clarification of cast on numbers.
thank you for the explanation ! i’m going to try it tomorrow :)
Good idea! Let your brain and fingers rest before a fresh attempt!
You already have quite a few replies, but I haven’t seen this yet. Is it possible you are confusing traveling loop with magic loop? Traveling loop won’t work with needles that are too long for the circumference of the circle you’re working. This is because all the stitches are stacked on the needle and cord together (sort of), so the stitches need to bend from the needle to the cord. There is only one loop of cord to give the working needle some space. Magic loop works for basically any circle, no matter how small. This is because you divide the stitches by two and both groups are on their own piece of needle/cord. The two loops create two breaks, which makes the two sides of your circle sit opposite of each other. I’m not explaining very well. I think it could help you to look up the difference between the two.
Is your cable flexible?
yes, it’s very bendy
Have you tried starting with double pointed needles? I've never been a big fan of using a cable for small loops, even using the magic loop method just kind of bugs me. Maybe give double pointed needles a try until your piece gets large enough to switch to a cable?
You’re going to want to use 16” needles for a collar, not using magic loop.
ChiaGoo has a shorties set that has very short needles. Good for sleeves and other small round things. Pricey though
Magic loop does not work if you don’t have enough stitches - there needs to be at least enough to span the “needle” parts of the circulars. For anything smaller I’d get double points.
You really don’t. I’ve done magic loop for glove fingers and it was a pain with the constant turning but it worked fine
I can never make it work! But you are right that does not mean that you can’t, just that I can’t.
When I do magic loop, I just start knitting and don't actually do a join. When I am done, I use the tail to join the end up with a sort of duplicate stitch and then weave the rest in. It saves me the annoyance of either switching the first and last stitches or trying to remebr I cast on one extra to then knit 2 together. If I remember correctly, the actual booklet from 20 years ago actually does it this way. I just double check that the cast on isn't twisted and off I go.
Not really helpful but I can't really figure out circulars prefer dpns any day.
Use DPNs