travelling loop knitting video

tutorial: knitting in the round – travelling loop method

In earlier posts I already told you about choosing circular needles that fit your style . “Regular” knitting in the round has also been discussed in this post . In this post, I want to talk about knitting in the round using the travelling loop method.

Why is this actually called travelling loop?

That is because with this method you use a circular knitting needle with a cable that is way too long for the project. During knitting, the excess length of the cable forming a loop will move along from the right-hand needle all the way around to the left-hand needle. The loop “travels” as it were!

Knitting with the travelling loop method works very well if two prerequisites are met:

Firstly, it is of importance that you use a circular needle with a cable too large for your project. If your project has a circumference of 50 cm / 20 inches, then circs with a length of 80 cm / 32 inches or longer would work fine with this method. For this same project circs with a length of 60 cm / 16 inches would not work, because the excess length of cable is too small to form the loop.

Secondly, make sure that the diameter of your project is not too small! Socks and sleeves will usually be too small to use this method because the length of the needle itself will be a problem. A knitted in the round cowl or (children) sweater will be fine though most of the time.

Knitting travelling loop step by step

In this example, I’m using 4 mm / 80 cm circular needles as well as a stitch marker to indicate the start and end of rounds.

1. Cast on the number of stitches as required for your project. In this example I have cast on stitches by knitting them on , you can, of course, use your preferred method or the one specified in your pattern.

2. Move the cast on stitches over your needle in such a way that the first CO stitch is on your left-hand needle. You can recognize this stitch by the loose tail. Make sure not to twist your work, if that is what is desired for your pattern.

3. When you are about to close the work in the round, this is how everything looks: The needle with the beginning of your CO (with the yarn tail) at the side of the left-hand needle, the thread leading to your ball of wool coming from the last CO stitch at the back. The right-hand needle has a long length of the unused cable. Now it is also time to place your “end of round” stitch marker on the right-hand needle.

4. Insert your right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle and knit it. There will be tension on the yarn that connects the first and last stitch of the CO. Because of this, it can help to hold the cable close to the needle with your hand.

5. Once you have knitted part of the round, you will see the loop of excess cable travelling along.

6. At a certain point when knitting with a travelling loop, it will become possible to move all remaining stitches of the round up to the left-hand needle. Do this, to lessen the tension on the yarn that connects the first and last stitch of the CO.

7. At the end of the round, you will have a large piece of unused cable near the left-hand needle. Pull the circular needle through your work in such a way, that all stitches are ready to knit on the left-hand needle. The right-hand needle has the excess cable. Put the stitch marker over to the other needle and knit. You can tighten up the somewhat loose connection between the end and start of each round. To do so, pull the yarn tight with the second stitch of each new round. Don’t worry about the sloppy looking join, this will fix itself.

8. With each round making sure to pull the yarn tight with every second stitch of the round only. After knitting several rounds, it will look like this. As you can see everything has redistributed nicely and it does not look sloppy anymore!

Stay tuned for the next blog in the series of knitting in the round using circular needles!

Related Posts:

Explained: The Traveling Loop Method for Magic Loop

In this video tutorial today, Liat Gat of Knitting Superstar , demonstrated how to do the Traveling Loop method for the Magic Loop.

Sometimes, when you are working on a large-diameter Magic Loop project, your loops of cable can disappear. You just have too many stitches to fit them comfortably on a 40– or 47-inch needle. But you still want to use Magic Loop, and you certainly don’t want to buy a shorter needle!

Liat ran into this problem while making a basic Magic Loop hat for a friend of hers — his head is 23″around, which is just too big to maintain two loops of cable.

So, shes used a modified form of Magic Loop called the Traveling Loop, using just one large loop of cable!

This video tutorial above was created and is brought to you by Liat Gat, the web’s premier knitting instructor, who is also the creator of the most comprehensive video knitting course around: Become a Knitting Superstar .

To watch the entire video course and get more great tips to help you learn how to knit in the round using the magic loop technique click here: http://knitfreedom.com/classes/magic-loop-knitting .

You can also check out the entire video course here to discover how to knit two-at-a-time mittens.

Sarah is the founder and curator of KnittingWomen.com. With a deep passion for knitting, she established the platform as a premier destination for knitting enthusiasts seeking comprehensive resources and patterns. Drawing upon her extensive experience, Sarah meticulously curates content to assist and inspire fellow knitters on their crafting journey.

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Wow!!! Thanks!!! I’m going to try this with newborn hats. The smaller needles on a 12″ circular are too short for me….my fingers ache.

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Knitting in the Round Using the Magic Loop Method

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There are so many ways to knit in the round. You can use double-pointed needles, a circular needle, two circular needles, or the magic loop method. In this video, Corrina Ferguson demonstrates how to knit in the round using the magic loop method. She focuses on working a sock, but this method can be used for any circular knitting project. It’s particularly useful for projects with a small circumference, making it the perfect way to knit socks and sleeves.

Corrina suggests using a long circular needle and a circular needle that is 40-inches in length is commonly used. You can, however, try to work the magic loop method with a shorter circular needle, but the stitches need to fit comfortably on the needle and should not be too stretched out. For some knitting projects, a 32-inch circular needle will also work for this form of knitting.

When working a project in magic loop, Corrina prefers to work the first couple of rows flat (back and forth in rows) and then join in the round. To join in the round for magic loop, divide your stitches in half. Gently fold the circular needle and begin to gently pull the cord out to make a loop. Arrange the needle so that the working yarn is to the back half of the stitches. Carefully push the front stitches up onto the needle. The back stitches will rest on the cord as the back needle is brought up to start knitting the stitches. As Corrina points out, the circular needle has made two loops, one on each side of the stitches being worked. The stitches are worked, and the needle is turned around and rearranged so the back stitches can be knit in the same manner.

One benefit to knitting socks using the magic loop method is that it is easy to work the steps of a sock that need to be worked back and forth in rows. The instep stitches can rest on the cord, while the stitches for the heel are worked in rows.

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Magic and Travelling Loop knitting

SunsetCitySue

Hi everyone. My name is Sue and I live in the Isle of Man, which is a tiny island between England and Ireland in the UK. I took up knitting again last year when I decided to knit something for my grandchildren. I’m not very good but I think I’m getting a bit better. I started using circular needles just out of curiosity (and because I got some cheap), and have become hooked. I love the fact that they seem to have taken away the shoulder ache I get with straights. Anyway, what I want to ask someone who knows is this: What exactly is the difference between Magic Loop knitting and Travelling Loop knitting with circulars? I have looked through a lot of forums and websites and there are some very good explanations, videos and pictures, but I still just cannot understand it. Is there any different at all? And if so, what on Earth is it? I could carry on looking it up, but decided to ask the experts.  

Thank you for asking Sue. Im looking at the answer to the same question. I have just learnt Magic loop and love it.  

susanmjackson

I believe they are the same. If not, I have been calling one of them by the wrong name, lol  

TheresaMary

I’m interested in this, too, though I also have looked it up. I do use ML after learning it in an emergency.  

Magic Loop has two loops, one on the right of your knitting and one loop on the left of your knitting. Traveling loop has one loop that follows your knitting as you go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyd0BkKC8tU  

They are not exactly the same. Traveling Loop uses a circular needle with a longer cable than the circumference of your project with enough length to comfortably work in the round, creating one extra loop of cable. Traveling loop can be used for hats, cowls, even sweaters. Magic loop cable length is long enough to allow for a loop on each end. Magic loop works well for socks, as it divides the sock in half, clearly defining the sole vs. the top of the sock. Great question! I had to look it up myself. Liat from KnitFreedom has a UTube video (lacking the techie skills to include a link). Oops, someone beat me to it and provided a link!  

My husband's family also came from the Isle of Man. I also would like the answer to your question.  

Jimmy'swife

Welcome to KP  

sockcrazy said: They are not exactly the same. Traveling Loop uses a circular needle with a longer cable than the circumference of your project with enough length to comfortably work in the round, creating one extra loop of cable. Traveling loop can be used for hats, cowls, even sweaters. Magic loop cable length is long enough to allow for a loop on each end. Magic loop works well for socks, as it divides the sock in half, clearly defining the sole vs. the top of the sock. Great question! I had to look it up myself. Liat from KnitFreedom has a UTube video (lacking the techie skills to include a link). Oops, someone beat me to it and provided a link! Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for posting an answer. I’ll look up the link, but I think I am getting a bit clearer on it. Sockcrazy's answer was very helpful. Eastender : ask your husband’s family if they know where ‘sunset city is’! The clue is in the first word. I’ll post back here when I have grasped the magic and travelling concept. I always think if you can explain something in words you understand yourself, you’ve grasped it properly!  

I believe that in Magic Loop there are two loops - one on either side of the actual knitting. In Travelling Loop, there is only one loop. Here is a video from Liat Gat explaining: Oops, I see that this was already answered above!  

alliecat55 said: I believe that in Magic Loop there are two loops - one on either side of the actual knitting. In Travelling Loop, there is only one loop. Here is a video from Liat Gat explaining: Click to expand...

Yes, that's the same video.  

I've done only ML, but from the video, traveling loop looks more convenient. (i.e., takes less attention-paying on my part). Thanks for posting those.  

TheresaMary said: I've done only ML, but from the video, traveling loop looks more convenient. (i.e., takes less attention-paying on my part). Thanks for posting those. Click to expand...

krestiekrew

Had no idea there was a difference.  

Yes I use the traveling loop often as I use circular needles for everything, flat projects as well. The "traveling" is the loop being moved, it is made up of the extra slack in the circular that is not needed for the project. I had to laugh when you explained where the Isle of Man is, I assumed everyone knew, but I guess since you had to explain, I bet you get asked where it is a lot. I've a Manx cat. I do wonder sometimes if the cats are popular there. I was sent some gold coins bearing a Manx cat, from the Isle of Man but they were stolen.  

Jessica-Jean

tdorminey said: Traveling Loop is faster and easier because you're only dealing with one loop; you can use it on pretty much anything knit in the round. I use it for everything I am making one of. Magic Loop's two loops are needed when you are making two-at-a-time, socks, sleeves, mitts, etc. Click to expand...

Hmmm, I’ve been doing traveling loop for most of my knitting in the round. I didn’t know that!  

barbaralbb2119

Hello from Texas. I just saw a special on the Isle Of Man, on BBC America, a few months ago. It looked like a beautiful place! You are starting much as I did with knitting for grandchildren...., I started with hats to match jackets we’d gotten them. I was loving circulars, but unsure about Magic Loop. Wasn’t until I’d made several projects that I realized I was actually doing the Traveling Loop (TL @ one loop vs ML @ two loops). What you will find, from this forum of amazing crafters, is that there are so very many ways approach your knitting and, with very few exceptions, what works best for you is “the right way”. What’s is most important is love what you are doing!  

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Nine Tips for Successful Travel Knitting (Updated for 2024)

I recently returned from a road trip with my little family, and it was my first chance to get in a decent amount of travel knitting in a while. My husband and I traded off driving duties, but whenever I wasn’t driving, I was knitting in the passenger seat.

Knitters talk a lot about how to take our work with us when we travel and joke about how chaotic it can be, but there are some actual concrete steps you can take before you leave to make sure your travel knitting is a success.

Here are some ideas gleaned from 15 years of experience.

For travel knitting, I choose small projects with lots of stitches

Like many knitters, I struggle with figuring out how much yarn to pack on a trip.

She’s a 10, but she packed two months’ worth of knitting projects for a one week road trip. So she’s really a 12. (It me. I overpacked on yarn. Again. I am a real catch!) — Lauren (@BeesInTheBonnet) July 18, 2022

When I have limited luggage space, though, I know I can’t pack a big project like a sweater or a blanket. To maximize my storage and knitting time, I like to pack projects that use relatively fine yarn and small needles.

Things like socks and fingering-weight shawls are great vacation knitting projects because they only take up a little bit of space in your suitcase but will provide you hours of knitting entertainment.

I prefer projects with simple stitch patterns and easy construction when knitting on vacation

When I’m on vacation, my brain is in vacation mode, too. The last thing I need when I’m knitting on vacation is a complicated knitting pattern that I have to think about all the time.

That’s why, when I’m choosing a vacation knitting pattern, I look for patterns that have simple, easily memorized stitch patterns. While it doesn’t have to be entirely garter stitch or something similarly simple, a project with lots of stockinette stitch in between the more complicated sections is an ideal travel project for me.

With the exception of socks, whose construction I have memorized, I like to work on flat projects or projects that have almost no shaping involved. That way, I can still get my knitting time, but I’m not forcing my brain out of its relaxation zone.

Think about the weather where you’re headed: what sort of vacation knitting will work best?

When people think “summer vacation,” they often think of hot places. That’s sometimes true, but not always! On our trip, we went to the Mendocino Coast and the San Francisco area, both of which are notorious for being chilly during summer.

Which is exactly why I chose them.

But this means the kinds of projects I brought would be different from projects I might take to, say, a hot and humid beach destination. Give some thought to whether the fiber mix in your project will be comfortable to work with where you’re headed.

If you worry about dropping needles, try using circular needles while travel knitting

When I first started knitting, like many knitters, I started with two straight needles (Clover bamboo, size 19, thankyouverymuch). As I moved on to other projects, I got more needles, but I kept buying straights.

Until I flew home with my knitting one time, dropped a needle as I was working, and watched in horror as it rolled away under the seats in front of me. I was stuck.

So now I knit almost exclusively with circular needles, and when I know I’ll need to use double-pointed needles, I bring extras. If you’re like me and tend to drop things easily, give that some thought before you choose your needles for knitting on vacation.

Don’t forget to check airline rules re needles (and maybe fly with needles you don’t care about)

We did mainly road trips during the early years of the pandemic, but recently, we’ve gone back to flying when needed, too. Our flights have all been within the United States, so I don’t have relevant experience with international travel or travel within other countries in recent years.

In the past, when I have flown with needles, I check the regulations for my departing locations to make sure it’s okay to fly with my needles. I’ve never had any trouble flying domestically in the US with my knitting needles, but I have heard stories from friends elsewhere who have had needles confiscated.

If you are feeling particularly cautious, you can bring a less expensive set of needles with you along with a darning needle and some waste yarn. That way, if airport security insists that you ditch your needles, you don’t have to unravel your entire project, too.

But here’s a helpful data point: I flew to the H+H Americas conference last June with a full set of interchangeable needles, three full sets of double pointed needles, and several circulars in my rollaboard suitcase. TSA didn’t bat an eye.

I did get searched, but it turns out they were only concerned about the large bricks of fudge I was bringing home.

Bring a small bag of notions in case you need to make a repair

When you’re knitting on the road, things can sometimes go awry! It’s easier to drop stitches when you’re knitting in the car or distracted by fun things happening around you. Sometimes a project slips off the needles in your bag. Sometimes you just make a mistake and have to go back to fix it.

And when that happens, it helps to have all the tools you need to fix things on the go.

Here are the essential knitting tools I always carry. They’ve definitely saved my behind a time or two when I was vacation knitting.

Put Your Travel Knitting in a Small, Separate Bag

When you travel, you’re often carrying a lot of things all at once. If you’re like me, that means your purse or backpack is more full than it usually is. That, in turn, means there are more things to snag and spill on your knitting.

Which is why you don’t want to just dump your WIP into that purse or backpack.

Instead, try to put your project into some sort of project bag. It doesn’t have to be an actual project bag. One of my favorites is a waterproof pouch I got from The Honest Company 7 years ago when I ordered a bunch of diapers (we can talk another day about how I feel about marketing to first-time moms and how often it plays on their fear and sense of guilt). I also love Ziplog gallon bags for small projects like socks and hats.

Whatever you choose for your knitting bag, the goal is just to have a smaller bag that can be tossed into your larger bag. That way, you can protect your knitting while you adventure.

Check for a Yarn Shop at Your Destination

When I travel, I love to buy a souvenir skein or two. That’s when it helps to know where your nearest yarn shop will be while you’re on vacation. This can also be handy if you somehow run out of yarn while traveling (never say never!).

I like to take the address of wherever we’re staying, punch it into Google Maps, and then search that same area for a yarn shop. Then I can use the results to figure out whether a shop is nearby and, if so, how I can get there via car or public transit. It’s good to have options.

The neat thing about visiting yarn shops while you’re traveling is that you can often get yarn that isn’t available where you live. I love buying special yarn that is local to where I’ve been traveling. It’s a neat way to remember my adventures.

Related: if you know you’re going to buy some souvenir yarn, make sure to leave a little extra suitcase space when you’re packing.

Choose a Digital or Printable Pattern

When you’re traveling, every bit of space and weight in your luggage matters, so you don’t want to be hauling around physical books. Instead, go with a pattern that’s entirely digital and accessible on your phone/tablet, or print out a single pattern that you can carry with you. These will be more portable and will leave room in your luggage for more souvenir yarn.

And room for more souvenir yarn is always a good thing.

If you have more tips and tricks for travel knitting, I’d love to hear from you! How do you make sure your knitting on vacation adventures go smoothly? Drop me a line in the comment box.

Thursday 4th of August 2022

I modified Noodlehead's Road Trip Case to accommodate knitting gear specifically for when I'm traveling. In addition to the essentials you linked to, I pack highlighter tape, couple of mechanical pencils, and a notebook to keep track of where I am on a project. I can't stare at a screen all day without my eyes begging for mercy!

Monday 8th of August 2022

@Lauren Rad, I see a sewing machine in your future...

I've never seen the Noodlehead case until now and holy moly, that is both brilliant and adorable. I'm going to have to learn to sew, aren't I?

Dawn Burdick

Wednesday 3rd of August 2022

I also love to knit on vacation. My best new thing is a clear vinyl bag with a zipper that came from the packaging for some curtains I bought! I keep all my crochet hooks for dropped stitches, measuring tape, scissors, tapestry needle, DPNs, the works! And it’s clear so I can find what I need, super sturdy so nothing pokes through, and it was free! I keep it in my knitting tote. Ready to go anytime!

I love this! I've been a big fan of the gallon Ziploc, but something sturdier would be even better. What a great idea.

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