Intro to 2aat (Two at a time) Knitting // Technique Tuesday

This is the first video in a series about knitting two identical or mirrored items at the same time. An overview of the various ways this can be accomplished, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of 2aat (two at a time) knitting are covered.

0:00 Introduction
0:34 One at a time, two sets of needles
2:21 2aat, one set of needles (flat)
4:18 2aat, Magic Loop
6:05 2aat, two circulars
7:51 Advantages and Disadvantages

If you have questions about this video, or suggestions for future videos, please let me know down in the comments or on social media.

[md_makersdiary]

This was a great video and I am looking forward to the video about casting on for cuff down two at a time socks. Thank you for sharing with us.

[willbaren]

I find two at a time socks on two needles using magic loop for me is the fastest way to knit a pair of socks. It’s partly psychological, because I tend to race one sock against the other and partly because sometimes you are up to doing technical work and sometimes you just want to do a lot of plain stitches. Two socks on one needle is more complicated and more boring so it takes more time partly because you have to manage yarn. I’ve tried one sock at a time and it takes longer, I don’t suffer second sock syndrome but it takes me significantly longer to get two socks than two socks at a time. Thank you so much for all your content which has helped me enormously.

[Kieron]

Would love more videos on 2AAT knitting - especially when it comes to a heel flap - I find the standard method of doing a heel flap two at a time with all the extra stitches very fiddly. Would be great to see if you could figure an alternative out. Thanks for the great video ❤

[anhu]

I used to knit socks on 9" circulars. Then I learned to knit 2aat with two circulars. It is my favorite way of knitting socks as I don't have the pain in my hands from holding a small circular, and I don't get the ladders that I often get with magic loop (although I have used that method at times). I have to use SUCH a long needle to avoid ladders that it isn't worth it to me. When I first started using two circulars, I would put a stitch marker between my socks to remind me to swith my yarn to the other sock. This solved so many of my issues - second sock syndrome, change in gauge, and uneven length of the sock leg or foot. As with everything new, there was a learning curve, but for me totally worth it.

[moniquerobinson]

I knit TAAT socks years ago. This will be a great series. I have not tried to knit two fronts at the same time but it makes sense from a tension standpoint. Looking forward to the next video in this series. Roxanne, thanks very much!

[Luneowl]

I usually start socks using the first technique, knitting the toes separately for example and THEN I'll load them onto my circular needle to do 2aat magic loop. I do the same when I reach the heels and knit them individually until I hit the legs and back to 2aat. Maybe someday I'll be coordinated enough to do magic loop from beginning to end but...eh. No rush!

I do like the process of knitting two cardigan bands at the same time to match the increases. Too easy to lose track of the rows otherwise.

[TheWoolpatch]

Wow this is great timing! I’m currently knitting 2 sleeves at a time for my little great nephew. Making a jumper and its just the best way of doing sleeves, cardigan fronts etc as you say. So many advantages. Great video! 👍🏼👍🏼

[nicolelafontaine]

This is a great subject !
I love to knit my socks toe-up 2aat on long magic loop cables. I usually transfer to 2 needles when I do the heel turn and gusset, go back on the same cable as soon as the gusset is finished. This is because my tension may vary a lot depending of the lighting and this way my socks look identical, I never have to count rows on these tiny stitches (my eyes sight is not getting better with aging) and I get the same hight of socks as well. Plus when my knitting is completed I have a pair of socks, never suffer from second sock syndrome. If I follow a cuff down pattern, I usually do my socks in parallel using two sets of needles. 9" circulars hurt my hands. I usually knit mitts, mittens and gloves two at a time, split them for the finger part of the gloves though. For more intricate patterns, like your "Palm Tulips", I could repeat a row I had just done on the second mitt, so less risk of mistake. It also helps to have the thumb on the correct side, never got two right mitts for example. 😁

[homesteadingwoman]

I am looking forward to this series. I have enjoyed your previous videos. I actually learned to knit Toe Up socks from your videos. I especially enjoyed the video on measuring your foot for a perfect fit.

[michelleellis]

I was sat knitting 2AAT socks on 2 circulars. I always do toe up because my boys all have really large heel diagonals that I struggle starting top down.
A huge disadvantage is when you make a mistake and you have to tink back 2. Which I just did 😂, teach me for not paying attention. Can’t wait for the rest of the series.

[aggierowe]

Last year I knitted my first Fair Isle sweater, a Marie Wallin design with the colorwork in the yoke region but the pattern called for knitting it in the round from the bottom up, another first technique for me. I threw caution to the wind and since the sleeves weren’t going to require colorwork until they’re attached to the body as I knitted “upwards” from the bottom, I knitted the solid color part of the sleeves beginning with casting on to make the cuffs, two at a time using 2 circular needles.I couldn’t believe how much of a time saver it was, and also feeling accomplished that the sleeves were ready to begin the intricate colorwork. Knitting the two sleeves on two circulars is indeed similar to magic loop, but it was a lot easier for me to picture the construction of each sleeve as I knitted round after round. I was also obsessed with knitting my first Fair Isle sweater and completing it in a couple of months, so knitting two at a time helped with my deadline. I also took pics of the progress with my iPhone so that I could envision the sleeves being constructed and keep each sleeve with their respective yarns separate. When it was time to attach the sleeves for the colorwork I removed them from the two at a time method and followed the colorwork charts. Whew!

[kathrynrogers]

I want to become proficient in 2@ a time toe up. I love the idea of having a finished pair at the same time. Thank you!

[atrotsiuk]

Roxanne I love your videos so much! ❤
I did socks for my husband following the math of your videos and at the first try it fits perfectly!
But as a person who hates magic loop technique this looks like torture 😅

[Lora]

I have never knit two at a time but am intrigued and want to try it at least once. Maybe it will be my favorite way to knit socks! Looking forward to this series.

[cherryfreudiger]

In this year I tried two at a time sleeves in a top down sweater. You’re correct that it seems to take longer and I had to keep reminding myself that while the length seemed slow, in the end I’d have two sleeves and a completed project! I used two circulars and was pleased that I had two sleeves that were exactly the same in shaping and length! I love doing two at a time toe up socks on two circular needles as well. Cheers!

[RavensFlight]

Looking forward to future videos in this series! Thanks for your work!

[bridgetchristianson]

I learned TTAT from my mom for sleeves and fronts so many years ago. Because I tend to forget an increase or a decrease it defines an advantage for me so my items end up the same. I love it for all things now, socks and mittens, etc. I do have one tip: when knitting flat, I use a closing stitch marker and attach the pieces together, still maintaining two skeins of yarn. T 0:15 he reason I do this is to remember which row I’m on if I have to set down my work especially if it’s between the two pieces. I will also try to knit at least a couple stitches of the next piece so I don’t accidentally turn and go the wrong way. These few stitches can easily be unknit back to the beginning of the row if they get distorted from being put down.

[aquinnahsun]

I always knit socks 2AAT Magic Loop, almost always toe-up. I use Chiaogoo’s sock/mini set, usually US 1, with a 37” thin cord, so the length is 47” (with the 2 5” needle tips). The very thin cord means there is almost no chance of creating ladders at the sides. I use Judy’s Magic Cast-on and love the seamless, very strong toe that results. The only time I knit socks 1AAT these days is when there’s an intricate lace element, simply because a mistake can mean a lot of tinking if there are 2 socks on the needle. My most recent pair of socks just won first place in our island agricultural/craft fair, and I made them 1AAT (Sari Nordlund’s Lucia pattern). Great work with this video, and I’m eager to see the rest of the series. I can always learn something new from you, Roxanne.

[theastewart]

Hi Roxanne. I was just starting to watch your most recent Technique Tuesday video where you mentioned this video. So I figured I’d come here and watch this first video. For me personally I think I’d definitely suffer from second sock syndrome so two at a time works for me. I’ve only made 2 pair and both were worked on 2 separate circular needles, one 16 inch cord length And the other 24 inch cord length. I used a method in a book titled Knitting Circles Around Socks by Antje Gillingham which my teacher taught us. They were both cuff down. While the 2 balls of yarn were a pain to deal with, knowing that my gauge would be the same made it preferable for me. I then taught myself Magic Loop and decided to try a toe up sock. I could not get gauge no matter how small the needle was. The toe kept getting bigger and bigger so I think I’m putting a pause on toe up and sticking with cuff down. So onto your next video! Thanks for another great video.😊

[nadiak]

One of the only projects I use this for is socks. For some reason, I can never make them identical so now I do like your friend, knit each section one after the other on different needles. It works wonderfully well and I now have matching socks. The bonus is they are finished at the same time as well and the added bonus is that if you make an error, it is easier to replicate it at the same place in the second sock bcs it is fresh in my memory. Great video & great topic! ❤