2 Socks on 1 Long Circular - Introduction

I am going to attempt to lay out some instructions on how to knit 2 socks (cuff down) at the same time on 1 long circular needle.

I am hoping that the instructions will be generic enough for you to apply to any sock pattern you choose to knit.

The basic technique behind all of this is being able to knit a small circular object with just one long circular needle – better known as the Magic Loop. I will assume that you all already know how to do this.

Knitting 2 socks at the same time is not much different. The picture below shows the profile of both socks on the long circular needle in what they call the “home position”. Both needle ends are parallel to each other and both yarn tails are on the back needle. The socks are labeled Sock A and Sock B and the big loop is why they call this technique the Magic Loop.

Most sock patterns are written with instructions to use double pointed needles (dpns). It would be helpful to correlate the magic loop profile with the dpn profile for each sock. Here is a picture of the magic loop profile with respect to double pointed needles.

The needles are shown in the home position. If you were to use dpn, the stitches are marked with the respective dpns you would use. This way, when the pattern says to do something with needle 1, you know which quadrant is needle 1.

So, to start knitting:

• pull out the back needle
• pick up Sock A yarn and start knitting the stitches marked dpn 1 & 2 in pattern
• drop the yarn of Sock A
• pick up the yarn for Sock B and do the same
• turn your work and return to home position
• pull out back needle
• pick up yarn for Sock B and work stitches marked dpn 3 & 4 for both socks.
• pick up yarn for Sock A and do the same