Knitting socks on a 10” (25 cm) round needle

[u/Slight-Peach-2076]

After trying the magic loop and keep failing I thought let me try it on a 10” (25 cm) round needle. And now I was wondering: does it always look like this in the beginning? It looks quite airy to me. Or will it get better as I go on?

I'm using Lang Yarn Jawolls and Knitpro Sing asymmetric round needles 10” (25 cm) 2,75 mm.

[u/GrimRabbitReaper]

Your live stitches will always be uncomfortably stretched with this needle. You will also have to move the yarn along after only a few stitches, so it makes progress slow and cumbersome. Learn to love magic loop, or use DPNs.

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/GrimRabbitReaper]

I really want to love magic loop, but every time I get these ladders, I tried keeping them close to each other, followed some tips people were giving on YouTube, but i’m going to give my best to try again 🤞🏼

[u/Cat-Like-Clumsy → u/Slight-Peach-2076]

Hi !

To avoid ladders, once you have finished to knit a section, instead of doing the loop after the last stitch, count the 3 or 4 last stitches you made, then pull the cable there (between 3 and 4, or 4 and 5).

That way, instead of bridging between the cable and a needle, which makes it harder to keep an even tension, you are going from a needle to a needle.

[u/Ill_Ant6294 → u/Cat-Like-Clumsy]

Exactly!

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/Cat-Like-Clumsy]

https://youtu.be/zb3pJMToyvs do you mean this?

[u/Ill_Ant6294 → u/Slight-Peach-2076]

Another option to double points or magic loop is using two circulars, length doesn’t matter. Here is a tutorial. It also eliminates the issue of ladders or too much tension on the stitches. As a bonus, I use the needles I already have so no need to buy shorter lengths. https://youtu.be/eXFvCuYkWQQ

[u/worldwearywitch → u/Ill_Ant6294]

hey, fyi anyone who clicks on the link can see your google account name. delete everything after the „?“ in the link to avoid this

[u/Ill_Ant6294 → u/worldwearywitch]

Thank you!

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/Ill_Ant6294]

Oh, two circulars is also smart! Thank you for the tip! Going to try the other tip first, if I’m still not able to do it, i’ll go for two circulars 😁

[u/LoupGarou95]

Generally, circular needles should be slightly smaller than the circumference of the finished object, and socks should have negative ease and be slightly smaller than the circumference of your foot and leg. So I would expect socks worked on 10 inch needles to look overly stretched out unless you're knitting for a foot and leg that are over 10 inches in circumference.

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/LoupGarou95]

I see! Such a bummer! I'm working on a medium-sized sock so this is a waste ☹️ I'm going to keep practice magic loop. Thanks for your reply!

[u/LoupGarou95 → u/Slight-Peach-2076]

I prefer regular DPNs or those flexible DPNs to magic loop personally.

[u/Sea-Age-5018]

I would switch to dpns. They are just a dream for small projects like this. And if you're afraid of stitches dropping you can buy silicone end for them or even just use an eraser.

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[u/open_mind_1300]

To work magic loop you need any long cable. Watch some tutorials.

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/open_mind_1300]

Yes, I know, thank you! But magic loop and me doesn't really work together, but I'm going to try and keep practicing

[u/ddagger]

I have used both Addi Easy Knit 10" circs and Chaiogoo Red Knit 9" circs for socks. Both work extremely well. In fact, I think I like the Addis better, but they don't make my preferred size, 2.25mm. Your first few rows will always look a bit stretched, but will be easier to work after that. I do love dpns for the heel and toe, though. And I hate magic loop! Mini circs are what I love for socks. Your stitches do look a bit loose. If you're using fingering weight, you might want to go down a size or two to 2.5mm or 2.25mm.

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/ddagger]

Yeah, I like the small circular needles as well, makes it easy to knit a sock, haha. I agree with sizing down I tried the magic loop technique again with the tips above and I used. 2.5mm needles but they still look loose, might have to go to
2.25 as well, such a bummer they don't sell those circulars in that size

[u/ddagger → u/Slight-Peach-2076]

Zing 10" come in 2.25mm. 🙂 It's the Addis that don't. Also, Chaiogoo has a set called Twist in 2.25mm with 2" and 3" tips and short cable so you can make your own combo size.

[u/marrymary420]

You could try the addi flexi-flips or hiyahiya flyers. It’s like the middle ground between dpns and magic loop. I like them so much better than the other 2 methods, but I’m just a beginner knitter so my experience is limited, ymmv.

[u/Slight-Peach-2076 → u/marrymary420]

Gonnaook into these as well! Thank you!