Weekend Stitches - Long tail cast on

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. 

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