We’ll be using Magic Loop (one long circular needle) and the moebius cast-on technique to knit a bulky bowl in two contrasting colors that you’ll felt by hand or in a washing machine.
What Is a Moebius?
A moebius (pronounced “MO-bee-us”) or moebius strip is a long strip joined together at the short ends with a 180-degree twist so that there is no inside or outside of the circle but one continuous surface that runs along both the inside and outside of the loop.
To knit a moebius, instead of knitting a long strip and then joining the short ends (which you could technically do), you cast onto a long circular needle in such a way that you can knit the moebius in the round with the twist already incorporated. This is called the “Moebius (or Möbius) Cast-On” and was invented by Cat Bordhi.
What Kinds of Projects Can You Knit With the Moebius Technique?
The most popular and simplest moebius projects are cowls, which are circular scarves worn close to the neck. The moebius twist creates an area of visual interest close to your face.
You can also start with a moebius and then knit another shape attached to it, like a hat with a moebius brim, socks with moebius cuffs, or a shawl or sweater with a moebius collar.
What Is a Moebius Bowl?
A moebius bowl is a regular bowl knit in the round with a brim that incorporates a moebius twist. To create a moebius bowl, you first knit the moebius strip brim, then pick up stitches all around one edge, flattening and fixing the twists in place. You then knit the rest of the bowl in the round, decreasing and bringing the stitches together in the middle as you would the top of a hat.
Why Create 5 Twists in Your Moebius?
While one twist makes a pretty bowl, cowl, or hat, creating a bowl with 5 twists makes a beautiful flower-like structure where each twist appears as a petal, highlighted by a lovely contrasting-color edge. The shape is completely unique and something very special to look at, and the process of knitting it is as effortless as knitting a bowl with one twist – you don’t feel a thing!
What Materials Will I Need to Knit These Bowls?
You’ll need a 47-inch-long circular needle in US Size 15 (10.0 mm). Addi Turbo is my favorite brand, but you can use Knit Picks, ChiaGoo, Addi Lace, or any other circular needles you have access to. You can buy them through yarn stores online, on Amazon, or at your local yarn store. I prefer metal circular needles to the bamboo or birch needles you find at big box craft stores. You can do this project using a 40-inch circular needle if you already have one in that size; the 47-inch length just makes doing Magic Loop on a large number of stitches slightly easier.
To make both bowls, each with opposite colors to the other, you’ll need 100 yards each of bulky (chunky)-weight 100% wool yarn in two contrasting colors. Malabrigo Chunky (available online or at your local yarn store) is my favorite choice for this project, but any 100%-wool bulky yarn will work.
What Are the Bowl Dimensions?
The finished felted bowls measure as follows:
Medium bowl: 6.5 in. in diameter x 3 in. tall.
Large bowl: 10.5 in. in diameter x 3 in. tall.
After felting, the bowls can be stretched to fit over any similar-sized bowls or baskets you may have to give them your preferred shape. More or less felting will also make the bowls smaller or bigger by 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.
What Techniques Will I Learn in This Class?
You’ll learn how to:
- Cast on using the Moebius cast-on
- Identify how many twists you have in your moebius
- Add twists to your needle to make a 5-twist moebius
- Knit into the first round of a moebius
- Identify the beginning of the round of a moebius
- Knit a moebius in Garter stitch
- Do a 3-stitch I-Cord Bind-Off
- Flatten out, identify, and prepare the 5 petals of a 5-twist moebius for picking up stitches
- Pick up and knit evenly across a prescribed number of stitches
- Do the Knit Front-and-Back increase (KFB) and recognize it when you see it
- Count rounds of knitting without writing anything down
- Do the Knit 2 Together (K2tog) decrease and recognize it when you see it
- Know when to decrease and when to do a plain round without writing anything down
- Close the bottom of a bowl
- Invisibly weave in ends
- Felt a knitted project in a top-loading or front-loading washer or by hand
What If I’m New to Felting?
To create a felted bowl, you’ll knit your project with 100% wool yarn that has not been treated in any way to allow for machine-washing. You’ll knit this bowl on larger needles than you normally would – in this case, using bulky yarn with US Size 15 (10.0 mm) needles, to make the stitches extra-roomy.
Then, you’ll wash the bowl in hot water with regular detergent in either a top-loading or front-loading washing machine or by hand if you don’t have access to a washing machine.
Detailed instructions in the class walk you through each step so that even if you are new to felting, you can learn how to do it on this project successfully and easily. You won’t be new to felting after this!
What If I’m New to Magic Loop?
This is the perfect project on which to learn! It’s never too early to learn to knit in the round on Magic Loop (one long circular needle). Not only do you spend less money on needles, you can apply the technique to any round-knitting project, large or small, and even knit two-at-a-time projects like socks, sweater sleeves, and mittens.
Knitters new to Magic Loop or knitting in the round will love our up-close, step-by-step videos that show you every single detail. After this class, you’ll be very comfortable knitting in the round on Magic Loop.
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All Techniques Demonstrated American (English) and Continental Style
If you’re the kind of knitter that needs to see exactly what all stitches and techniques are supposed to look like, you’re in luck! We demonstrate every technique with the yarn held in both the left and right hands so that no matter which way you knit, you’ll see clearly what you need to see.
Personal Answers to Your Knitting Questions
We know self-taught knitters have questions, and we never want you to feel alone. As a KnitFreedom student you have access to personal knitting coaching via email at any time. Just email
[email protected]. Knitting expert and video teacher Liat Gat will answer your questions about this project. You can even send in a photo of your knitting if you aren’t sure how to explain what’s happened.
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