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Casting On

2979 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  mamabice1
The only way I know to cast on is to use my left thumb and forefinger. I don't like way the stitches look as they can be very uneven when knitting/purling the first row. Is there another way to cast on that achieves a better look? Love this site and thanks for your help!!
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
you want to learn some version of a long tail cast on....there are many and most work about the same, the stretchiness will vary...the whole point of the long tail cast on is that you are casting on and knitting a row at the same time.....

go to youtube and type in "knit cast on".....lots of videos will pop up and you should watch more than one till you find a demonstrator who is good for your learning style....there will be lots to choose from....practice and replay a few times and you will have it....good luck
Knew I'd get some help....I'll go to you tube and thanks for the info......J
((((( Oh, my goodness, are there ever more mays to CO. You're using the longtail CO or it's called the sling shot method, too I believe.

Surf for:

knit CO video

Cable CO video

These allow you to CO at the beginng of an already completed set of rows, also.

Take a surf and peek away!

Good luck!!

Donna Rae
~~~~~
joankathleen said:
The only way I know to cast on is to use my left thumb and forefinger. I don't like way the stitches look as they can be very uneven when knitting/purling the first row. Is there another way to cast on that achieves a better look? Love this site and thanks for your help!!
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This info is very helpful....I'll give it a try and thanks for your help.....
E-How is a good place to start too. I didnt know there were so many cast ons until I started looking around on line and thru books. It is almost like take your pick.
All this info is great and I'm trying all the suggestions. Thanks again to allllll.......
I have found a method that works well for me.
I start with the first slip knot stitch, then knit into it, twist the loop around and slip it onto the cast on needle.
May have to tighten the stitch a bit to pull up the slack.
In that new stitch do the same,
repeating for the desired number of stitches.
The first row edge comes out the same tension
as the rest of my knitting.
galaxycraft said:
I have found a method that works well for me.
I start with the first slip knot stitch, then knit into it, twist the loop around and slip it onto the cast on needle.
May have to tighten the stitch a bit to pull up the slack.
In that new stitch do the same,
repeating for the desired number of stitches.
The first row edge comes out the same tension
as the rest of my knitting.
That sounds like the knitted cast on - it was the second one I learned and I liked not having to figure out how much yarn to start with -i.e. the long tail. I used it for awhile, then I learned the cable cast -on. You might like that one too. You start just you are doing but after the first stitch you insert needle between the two stitches and pull your loop. It's even more stable than the knitted cast on, especially on the first row. Why it is called the cable cast on, I don't know! You may not be looking for another one , so take it a suggestion. :D
Thanks for the heads up. Love the cable cast on method. Beautiful. Thanks for asking the questions..
martyr said:
galaxycraft said:
I have found a method that works well for me.
I start with the first slip knot stitch, then knit into it, twist the loop around and slip it onto the cast on needle.
May have to tighten the stitch a bit to pull up the slack.
In that new stitch do the same,
repeating for the desired number of stitches.
The first row edge comes out the same tension
as the rest of my knitting.
That sounds like the knitted cast on - it was the second one I learned and I liked not having to figure out how much yarn to start with -i.e. the long tail. I used it for awhile, then I learned the cable cast -on. You might like that one too. You start just you are doing but after the first stitch you insert needle between the two stitches and pull your loop. It's even more stable than the knitted cast on, especially on the first row. Why it is called the cable cast on, I don't know! You may not be looking for another one , so take it a suggestion. :D
I never did remember the name of the technique,
as I learned this many a year ago and never gave it a second thought ..
I just adopted it and went on my merry way.
Thanks for the info on the cable cast on...
I will give it a try on my next project. :>)
joankathleen said:
The only way I know to cast on is to use my left thumb and forefinger. I don't like way the stitches look as they can be very uneven when knitting/purling the first row. Is there another way to cast on that achieves a better look? Love this site and thanks for your help!!
As you now know there are many versions of cast-ons. Check out the following:

Crochet provisional
Channel Island
Estonian
Judy's magic
twisted German
Norwegian
Deb's Turkish
Guernsey

And the list can go on.

Happy casting. :-D
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Hello,
I just had to reply my name is Kathleen and my sisters name is Joan. Good luck with casting on.
joankathleen said:
The only way I know to cast on is to use my left thumb and forefinger. I don't like way the stitches look as they can be very uneven when knitting/purling the first row. Is there another way to cast on that achieves a better look? Love this site and thanks for your help!!
look in U tube for videos for cable cast on. Very easy and looks tidy too. tie a slip loop in the end of your yarn and slip on to your needle. put needle in st as if to knit it and pull loop through but do not take off needle put on the left needle with the first stitch. Then put right needle tip between the 2 stitches and pull yarn through and put on to the left needle. Carry on in this way until you have the stitches you need.
martyr said:
galaxycraft said:
I have found a method that works well for me.
I start with the first slip knot stitch, then knit into it, twist the loop around and slip it onto the cast on needle.
May have to tighten the stitch a bit to pull up the slack.
In that new stitch do the same,
repeating for the desired number of stitches.
The first row edge comes out the same tension
as the rest of my knitting.
That sounds like the knitted cast on - it was the second one I learned and I liked not having to figure out how much yarn to start with -i.e. the long tail. I used it for awhile, then I learned the cable cast -on. You might like that one too. You start just you are doing but after the first stitch you insert needle between the two stitches and pull your loop. It's even more stable than the knitted cast on, especially on the first row. Why it is called the cable cast on, I don't know! You may not be looking for another one , so take it a suggestion. :D
called cable cast on because it looks like a small cable rope.
YouTube has many tutorials for casting on. My favorite is:

Check out these:


The first one is provisional and you have the live stitches at the end. I don't think that was what she was lookig for but for the provisional, you can save a step and some hassles if you use a crochet hook and knit it right on the needle instead of crocheting first and then picking up stitches.
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