With the turn of the weather sock knitters are busy. They’re whipping up socks with knitting needles for the season. And, it’s not just the cold weather but the giving time of Socktober and the upcoming holiday season. There’s a serious debate in the knitting world especially for making socks; whether to choose double-pointed needles or a magic loop with a circular knitting needle. Socks are small seamless projects that are quick to knit but take a lot of focus. And, the right tools make the experience smoother. To assist you in making the right choice, in this blog let us explore magic loop vs double pointed needles.
Guide on Knitting Socks
Socks can be knit with any knitting needle. If you are following a pattern it’s best that you work with the needle types and sizes instructed by the pattern designer. If you plan to switch needles or yarn, first work on a swatch and make your own calculations. To get started follow our guide on casting on for knitting in the round.
Knitting the Magic Loop with Circular Needles
Since the introduction of circular knitting needles knitters have taken them up for all kinds of projects including socks. The magic loop is one of the knitting techniques that is used to work small circumference projects with a single circular needle. Now for circular knitting needles, the options include both fixed and interchangeable and the choice depends on what you are comfortable with. The only requisite is a cord length that ranges from 32” (80cm) - 40” (100cm). Many knitters face the problem of dealing with the cord as you have to constantly tug the cord in and out to adjust the stitches. For a detailed guide explore our blog on how to knit the magic loop technique. Knitting back and forth with circular needles is also popular as the cord carries the project’s weight keeping the needles and hands free.
the challenges of knitting the magic loop with circular needles can be managed with high-quality tools. Smooth needle and cord joins are Interchangeable circular needles, especially knitting needle sets are a better choice as you also have options to switch to a smaller cord length. Lantern Moon sets come in different combinations of needle sizes, cord lengths and accessories of needle lengths of 4” and 5”. Having one handy set is ideal for all kinds of projects from socks to blankets and more.
Knitting with Double-Pointed Needles
Double-pointed needles aka DPNs have been around for centuries. In fact, they used to be the only way to knit in the round whether it was socks or any other circular project. Sock knitting needles are not just another name but the trusted option for most knitters. Here’s a quick guide on knitting socks on double pointed needles.
However, many modern knitters consider DPNs overwhelming as they require working with four or five needles at a time. Plus, sometimes needles fall out of the work completely! DPNs can also leave ladders, or loose stitches, between needles where one needle transitions to another. These are valid concerns.
However, with the right kind of needle, those issues can be alleviated, or at least lessened. Lantern Moon’s ebony wood double-pointed knitting needles are made with a “slip/grip” needle stalk that keeps your yarn—and your project—on your needles. This finish enables you to knit faster and easier without having a needle fall out as you’re moving from one needle to the next. Similarly, having better control of your needles also cuts down on those pesky ladders. You can be confident that your needles will stay in place when you give your yarn that extra little tug while moving from needle to needle.
Magic Loop Vs Double Pointed Needles
Both the needle types are perfectly fine to work with for knitting socks. Whether you choose the DPNs or the Magic Loop, you should learn about the tips to prevent ladders when knitting in the round. Many knitters opt for circular needles for heavier yarns, because they make it much easier on the hands and wrists, as the cord between the needle tips carries most of the project, hence the weight lies mostly on the lap. For specialty yarns or for colorwork many knitters prefer DPNs for their better control.
Ultimately knitting is your creative expression, so you need to be comfortable. Maybe you will enjoy knitting with DPNs, managing four or five needles at once or you would love going to knit and purl on the circulars and see the project take shape. Many knitters get overwhelmed with the many open ends of the double points, worrying about dropped stitches. There are also many knitters who find the cord a problem. If the project is small, stitches tend to be stretched while the magic loop has them dealing with too long cords.
So, whether you choose DPNs, fixed or interchangeable circular needles or the knitting needle sets assist, your knitted socks will reflect the quality and the idea behind the range. The Lantern Moon Collection has you covered no matter what your knitting preferences are!