2 Socks at-a-Time, Magic Loop

After receiving many requests, here you go! This tutorial demonstrates how to knit two socks at-a-time, using magic loop – or one long circular needle to knit both socks.

This pattern is packed full. In the download, you will receive:
1. Two patterns – one uses worsted-weight yarn, the other uses sock-weight yarn.
2. Two sizes – each pattern has sizes for both men and women.
3. Both charted and written instructions for the heel, so you can choose your favorite.
4. Links to a five-part instructional video (video is viewable at the bottom of this post).

Once you learn the techniques I demonstrate here, you can easily use your new skills to work any sock pattern this way. Additionally, I believe I have invented a new way to work a heel – and once you learn this heel, you can easily substitute it in other patterns. (If you have seen this heel elsewhere, let me know. I haven’t!)

For the worsted-weight version:
Size: Medium (to fit any size woman’s foot, average width), Large (to fit any size man’s foot, average width)
Needles: Size 6 US (4mm) circular needles, at least 24” in length (longer is better); you will also need two additional needles in the same size or close to it for the cast-on (I like to use two double-pointed needles)
Yarn: at least 200 yards of worsted-weight yarn, wound into two equally-sized balls. (For a longer sock, especially in the men’s size, you may want more than 200 yards of yarn.)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette, unstretched

For the sock-weight version:
Size: Medium (to fit any size woman’s foot, average width), Large (to fit any size man’s foot, average width)
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm) circular needles, at least 24” in length (longer is better); you will also need two additional needles in the same size or close to it for the cast-on (I like to use two double-pointed needles)
Yarn: at least 400 yards of sock-weight yarn, wound into two equally-sized balls (I used Hazel Knits Piquant Lite in color “Arroyo”)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 8 stitches per inch in stockinette, unstretched

Pattern + links to 5-part instructional videos $10 US via PayPal

Links to things you’ll see in this video:

Beautiful green circular needles (size 6 US, 32″) are by Signature Needle Arts.

The yarn I use in the sock-weight socks is Hazel Knits Piquant Lite in color “Arroyo”.

The Spiral Scarf on the mannequin is a free pattern and video tutorial.

The worsted weight yarn I use for demonstrating is Ella Rae Classic, color “Plum”.

135 comments on “2 Socks at-a-Time, Magic Loop

  1. Oh StacI this is just too cool! I will be purchasing this as soon as I get home. Yea, can’t wait to knit some socks up

  2. This is my favourite way to knit socks.. So glad I’ve now got an instruction video from you on this! Yippee x

  3. Great Staci! I think you should call the heel “Staci’s Tidy Heel”.
    Can’t wait to try it. I have been doing Cat Bordhi’s heel but it is hard to remember and I often get confused “Putting Ma back on the horse”. lol.

  4. I was hoping for magic loop instructions but the intro here seems to refer to 24″ circulars, not long enough for Magic Loop I don’t believe. Please let me know so I know whether to buy the pattern and video.

    Thank you
    Carol

  5. Carol – yes, this pattern is for magic loop socks, two at-a-time. A 24″ circular is the shortest possible you can use, I recommend longer. In the video, I demonstrate with 32″ circulars.

    S t a c i

  6. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this two at a time video with the new “easy tidy heel”. I love knitting 2 at a time magic loop socks. Can’t wait to try your new heel pattern. Your videos were the catalist I needed to get me back to knitting again after a 40 year hiatus. So thank you again for all your hard work.

  7. Hi Laurie – these socks are cuff-down. I have a tutorial for toe-up, magic loop – but that tutorial demonstrates one sock at-a-time.

    S t a c i

  8. Thanks Staci! I am working on the toe up version. I am stuck at the heal. I have your one sock method and so I am going to sit down and figure that out on my two at a time! Hope you do one for toe up for those of us who are sock challenged. :0)

  9. I haven’t tried the two-at-a-time yet but I saw your tutorial with the Tidy Heel just when I was about to get to the heel part of a pattern I was working on. It called for wraps which I hate and can’t do well so I thought I would try your heel and it was so easy and it looks great. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now to try the two at a time.

  10. Well, Staci, I am afraid I have to tell you, I have seen this heel before… The first pair of socks I ever knitted was a Red Heart pattern and used this technique. I prefer the short row technique because it looks neater when I do it. (Ladders are a big problem for me with circular knitting!) I made a sock monkey (that sent my cousin’s little girl into fits of delight) using the short row method; the end product being satisfying to me as well (I am my own worst critic) Thanks so much for the videos! I have learned SO MUCH from you!

  11. I too have seen this heel before, but in a more finicky version in the Sock Madness pattern ‘Supporter’s Socks’. There, the heel is acknowledged as a variation on “Mock Short-Row Heel” from “The Sock Knitter’s Workshop”.

    So while you cannot exactly take credit for inventing it, you did, as Elizabeth Zimmerman used to say “unvent” it, that is, you came up with it on your own. I like your version better than the variant I had to do on the Supporter’s Socks as well. I don’t enjoy picking up stitches in purl nubs.

  12. Why not call it “Staci’s Pick one up later Heel”. Sounds like the earlier heels done this way may very well be variations of this – but why not name the name you came up with anyway?

  13. I don’t seem to be able to master the German cast on for the second sock,is it okay if I do a long tail,I so want to get started on two socks at a time,have been looking for a tutorial for about two weeks now,thanks so much,and I understand everything you are talking about.

  14. Thank you very much for this excellent course. You are a very good? educator. I have never followed patterns in English, but I had no problem at all to understand how to do this. I love this because I suffer terribly of “second sock syndrome” . I also love the heel and the toe assembly. Very nice!

  15. hi staci , is the heel on this pattern the same as magic loop ladies socks. txs in advance . julie

  16. Staci, take away the question mark in my comment above. It waswn’t ment to be there /Maya

  17. Thanks for pointing me to this pattern which explains a new way to turn the heel; it’s so easy!

  18. Staci,
    With this pattern, can I shorten up the cuff??
    Some people like the longer cuff and others like a shorter cuff.
    Thanks.

  19. Hi Jan – yes, you can make the cuff any length you like, longer or shorter. It will not change the rest of the pattern.

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  20. Hello Staci,
    I took this idea and tried it on baby tube socks.
    I can’t say how much I just LOVE this.
    I do have second sock syndrome, so this is perfect.

    I also really enjoy watching ALL your videos.
    Thanks for very much for doing this for all us knitters.

  21. I purchased this pattern and have a question regarding the cuff. I am going to make these in more of a PomPom Ped style and was curious about the picture…

    The picture shows a bit of ribbing on the heel, this would not work well for the peds since the cuff is only about an inch high. Should I knit and purl a few rows, on the back only, before I start the cuff? I can already feel me constantly pulling the sock up in the back, lol.

    Thanks,
    Donna

  22. Hi Staci, I made the socks over the weekend, but I had bumps and holes on the heal it did not look like yours.
    What do u think I’m doing wrong?

  23. Rosa – it may be that you’re picking up too much when you’re picking up stitches for the heel. Remember, you just want to pick up a single V – nothing more, nothing less. Also, your socks may benefit from washing and blocking – sometimes things look lumpy until you wash them, then everything magically smooths out.
    🙂
    S t a c i

  24. I really want to that you for this video… I alwayswanted to to make a pair of socks. But all the other give for tiny yarn and needles… And to make two at the same time… This should be very interestin. Going to cross my fingers and lets see…will keep you informed. Once again thank you…

  25. I love your tutorials. Ive bought many of your patterns. I am still working on the socks. I had to use another heel cuz I couldn’t see how u did the PU due to the dark purple yarn. I didn realize until I used another heel that the PU is the entire V of the stitch. I’m sort of new to knitting & these were my first socks so it wasn’t obvious until later.

    Of all the knitters who do tutorials I love your setup best because I can see what you do clearly. Your videos have helped me teach myself to knit on many flights around the country. Thanks so much. X

  26. How about this for the name of your new heel?

    Hie Heel Hie, because it’s so much faster, and it’s a word play on
    High Heel.

    And thanks so much for your videos. I could never have taught myself from printed instructions.

  27. I recently purchased this pattern and can’t wait to start these socks….so looking forwarding to doing this new heel…..I never had much luck with wraps and turns so this new heel is exciting…..the ordering process was easy and very well executed regarding receipts etc……I have watched your videos on your wonderful website and I think you are a fabulous teacher……the written instructions for these socks couldn’t be better! Very well thought out and explained…..I love all the links you give for so many things! Thank you so much for a job well done! Did I mention that I LOVE your website?

  28. Thank you Staci. This will be my first attempt at knitting socks. I was especially attracted to the heel. Can’t wait to start.

  29. Hej Staci,

    Do you also have a video where you show how you hold the yarn in your right hand and how you use your right hand?
    Thanks in advance! 😉

  30. Hej Staci,

    Just bought your patern but I have some questions.
    *Can you please tell me the difference between worsted-weight yarn and sock-weight yarn (I am not English so I am not familiar with these terms ..).
    *And I have european needles size 3.5 (US 4) with matching Nordic sockyarn, you use 6 in this pattern: how do I (re)calculate how many stitches I need for this pattern with what I use?
    Can you please help me out?
    Thank you so much in advance!

  31. Hi Wendy – yes, different parts of the world use different terms for yarn weights. I have this answered on my FAQ page. You can find a yarn weight conversion chart here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_weight
    and a needle size conversion chart here.
    http://www.yarnfwd.com/main/needleconv.html
    Regarding modifying the pattern to use a different weight of yarn, that is also answered on my FAQ page:

    Q: I’d like to knit one of your sock tutorials, but I want to use sock yarn and smaller needles. Can I alter the pattern for this?
    A: My sock tutorials use worsted-weight yarn and bigger needles so that you can quickly and easily learn the techniques involved. I recommend you knit the pattern as written first, then you’ll have the skills you need to move on to all kinds of sock patterns that use sock yarn and smaller needles. Not only will you find that my sock tutorials knit up very quickly, but knitters have a much better success rate with their first socks if they’re knit with worsted yarn and bigger needles. Trust me – I’ve taught thousands of people to knit socks this way, and I want you to have a successful experience, too!

    Here is my FAQ page, which includes links to sock patterns that use the same techniques as my sock tutorials, but with sock-weight yarn and smaller needles:
    https://verypink.com/frequently-asked-questions/

    S t a c i

  32. So most of the socks I’ve done previously have a heel flap. I’m guessing these do not? Would I then make the cuff part longer?

  33. Kathy – you can make the cuff as long as you like…this heel is worked differently than patterns that have a heel flap, but the lack of a heel flap doesn’t necessitate a longer cuff. It’s up to you how long you’d like the cuff.

    S t a c i

  34. Hi Judi – yes, the heel I demonstrate for this sock can be worked in either cuff-down or toe-up socks. It is identical, both ways.

    S t a c i

  35. Hello Staci,

    I have very little experience with knitting, other needle works & yarn, yes.
    All of the sudden I want to knit socks, and I am so driven.
    I ran across your site & have been watching your “YouTube” lesson’s.
    I want to tell you “Thank You” very much for sharing your
    Knowledge & Teaching skills. I am starting with the Magic Loop,
    and you have helped me so much. I have ripped it out uncountable times,
    and start back over. I don’t want this to defeat me. I hope in
    time it will all feel comfortable to me.

    Thank You, Thank You very much, I will keep visiting your lessons & site,

    Sincerely, Tricia

  36. I have just watched your video on knitting socks. I have been wanting to try some but have stayed away from them, but you make them look easy. I have purchased some of your patterns before, so I always come back to your website. I’m going to purchase this pattern, I think I can do it. I’m an advanced knitter. I just love to knit, I taught myself from a book, but the more I do the more I get confused. I just want to say thank you so much for the time you have put in ALL your videos. It’s well worth it to us other knitters. Also thank you soooooo much for keeping your patterns at a reasonable price that we can afford. Please keep up the fantastic work you do so well

    Linda

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