Weekend Stitches
Hello there, I hope you are well. I've been doing a little knitting and a little unpicking and I thought I'd let you know how it's going and share what I've learnt.
Knitting progress is slow. I will confess to unpicking the first attempt at this piece. I just wasn't happy with the very tight and inflexible cable cast on edge. To be honest, I hadn't tried another method for casting on before, though I'd heard people talking about long tail cast ons. I just thought it was optional or just the method they'd been taught. When I had a quick look on Youtube at other methods, I realised that the different methods were favourable to different projects.
Knitting progress is slow. I will confess to unpicking the first attempt at this piece. I just wasn't happy with the very tight and inflexible cable cast on edge. To be honest, I hadn't tried another method for casting on before, though I'd heard people talking about long tail cast ons. I just thought it was optional or just the method they'd been taught. When I had a quick look on Youtube at other methods, I realised that the different methods were favourable to different projects.
After determining that the long tail cast on would give a soft and springy edge, I just had to choose a video that I could follow. First I looked at Very Pink Knits on Youtube but it seemed very complicated, then I looked in my The Handknitter's Handbook but couldn't find exactly what I was after, then in true Goldilocks fashion and 3rd time lucky, I saw another video on youtube that was perfect. Laura from Happy Berry, who I'd always associated with crochet, had a tutorial that was just what I needed.
Her video is excellent. Initially I didn't think I'd be able to get the hang of it but I persevered. The poor husband looked on wondering and scratching his head at my muddling attempts.
Do have a look at her video if this interests you, you'll find after a while, you are chanting the instructions in your head.
Long tail Cast On
- wind yarn around your needle - the number of stitches that you require - ensuring you have enough yarn - then unwind yarn and add an extra few inches - this is the 'long tail'
- slip knot to begin on needle
- closing your hand with the yarn lengths held clasped with your lower fingers
- push thumb and index finger between the two strands and open a triangle shape - the yarn ball to thumb, short length of yarn to finger
- turn palm towards you
- push needle under thumb yarn
- twist hand to the side
- over the top of finger yarn
- hook loop on your thumb - over the yarn on needle
- let go and pull down
Thoughts on the long tail cast on - I like it a lot, it's the simplest method I've seen. It gave the soft elastic, springy edge along the bottom of my cardigan that I was after.
What method do you prefer to cast on?
Thank you for the positive comments on my Craft Project - Link Party last week, there's still time to join in. Craft Project will be back again on the first Tuesday next month.
Bye for now
Cathy x
I never learned to knit, so I don't have any favorites. My daughter, d-i-law, and grand daughters do though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that yarn you are using!!!! Brilliant!
Gentle hugs...
Thank you W o W, it's good that your family enjoy knitting, I know I'm biased but I think it's a nice hobby. I'd be lost without some crochet or knitting happening, though I don't pick it up everyday. Enjoy what you do, Cx
DeleteI like Very Pink Knits, I find her instructions really easy to follow, but it just shows that different people need to be explained things in different ways. You Tube is brilliant, there's always someone there who can explain things in a way you understand. I like the Long Tailed Cast On but I'm favouring the Old Norwegian Cast On for socks now, it gives an even stretchier cast on.
ReplyDeleteNormally I do like Very Pink Knits youtube channel. I've made her knitted washcloth - corner to corner and have watched a few other videos of hers. For the Long Tailed Cast On, she demonstrated it twice and quite fast. I'll look into the Old Norwegian Cast On when I knit socks again. Thank you Jo, for the recommendation, Cx
DeleteWhat would we do without you tube??? It is my go to thing when wanting to learn something new.
ReplyDeleteYes, how times have changed, I often look on there for help and tutorials. Cx
DeleteI tend to like the knit on cast on, it's how I learned and it's the fastest for me, and I like the way it looks. I've tried other cast ons but I revert back to my beloved.
ReplyDeleteYes that's a good method too, my Mum taught me that way. For some reason I started the Cable Cast On but I didn't know it was called that until a few years ago. Thanks for sharing which you prefer, Cx
DeleteI like a good old long tail cast on! I have a small book that describes different cast-on and also cast-off methods, grouped by their properties, for example stretchiness etc. It was a bit of an eye opener to say the least. Happy knitting x
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your cast on preference Christina, your book sounds interesting. Sometimes it's nice to have the obvious stated. Cx
DeleteThank you for sharing this. I prefer the long tail cast on although I hold my yarn different than what's on the video. It's just the way I taught myself to knit. As a sock knitter, I use the German cast on which provides a more stretchy cast on for the edge of the socks. Enjoy your lovely knitting. 🧶🧶🧶
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your cast on thoughts. I'll look into the German cast on for socks. Cx
DeleteI love the colours of the yarn you are using, it seems very bright and happy to me. I still haven't got the hang of knitting as the pointy sticks and I have a bit of a co-ordination problem, which is why I love my crochet hooks. I may be brave and have another go after looking at some of the YouTube links. xx Susan
ReplyDeleteThe colour code is MC43 James C Brett Marble Chunky 200g. I purchased it through the Wool Factory. I'd imagine they ship world wide. thewoolfactoryonline.com If you want to learn to knit with youtube, happy berry does some tutorials right from the beginning. Do let me know if you have a go. Best wishes, Cx
DeleteI have only ever cast on with two needles, the bog standard one and the cable one for a firm edge, but I didn't realise that different methods suited different types of projects. I shall have to have a go at long tail. Thanks, Cathy. x
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we stay with the same method. I'd heard people talking about long tail cast on but I thought it all looked unnecessarily complicated. Now I can see the advantage I realise it's worth it. Best wishes with it, Happy Berry is good. Cx
DeleteI was taught to knit when I was a child so I only know one way to cast on and didn't know there were others. I've never got very far with my knitting skills. Reading was my thing either for study or pleasure even though I've always had very poor eyesight. Learning from the internet is a help so long as the instructor doesn't go too fast. At least you can repeat a video clip. I do like the yarn you're using.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my knitting skills have sadly not progressed a lot either, though I've knitted many things over the years. Youtube and the internet in general are a fantastic and instant resource for learning new skills. Happy Berry tutorials are slow, perfect for learning.
DeleteThe yarn colour code is MC43 - James C Brett Marble Chunky 200g. I purchased it through the Wool Factory. thewoolfactoryonline.com
Cx
Thank you for the link for The Wool Factory on line. They have some lovely yarn.
DeleteI cast on the way my grandma taught me, she called it the thumb method. Ladies at my knitting group cast on in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different methods and variations too I've found. Our Grandmas and theirs before them obviously didn't have youtube but would've just taught each other. Cx
DeleteMum taught me to knit when I was a child and long tail was the first cast on I learnt and of course it's my favourite method. I cast on using the centre of the ball for the tail, then cut it when all the stitches are on. This saves trying to calculate how much tail length you need. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteThanks for reply Jane, I've not heard of that method - but there are so many, If it works that's good.
DeleteI'm not sure if any of my comments are reaching your blog. I've left a comment on 3 different posts - First, last and craft project itself. Thank you for joining in with the 'Craft Project' I've linked your craft project post to it - and left a comment on that (my link up post) post too for you. https://hooksandneedles68.blogspot.com/2019/05/craft-project.html
Do let me know if any problems. I did notice on your blog profile - when you click 'website' it takes you to a furniture site! The reason I looked was to add your site to my blogger reading list. Thanks Cx
The colour of your knitting is beautiful!
ReplyDelete