Long tail cast on methods
Marnie Maclean has a post showing how to speed up a long tail cast-on. I’ve noticed before that when I’ve seen pictures of this in books, they look nothing like what my mother taught me. And seeing it “in motion” on Marnie’s blog confirms that what I do is indeed quite different. So I persuaded the long-suffering John to photograph me doing it my way. (Cue Frank.)
With an appropriate long tail held in the left hand, lay the yarn between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. Take hold of the yarn as usual to tension it with the right hand.
Wrap yarn round left thumb so that end leading to right hand lies below the other thread. Insert needle under thread closer to tip of thumb.
Throw yarn as you would to knit and pull this stitch through.
Drop yarn round thumb.
Start again.
John also recorded a 30 second movie, but until he also shows me how to upload this so that viewing is practical, the still shots are all I can provide.
UPDATE:
Here it is (thanks to Pixie for her help)
Be kind people – it’s my very first one – I know the quality is pretty awful, but it does at least show what I do. (Although I’m now seriously thinking I need to try it with the yarn in my left hand – this way really does need 3 hands.)
Does anyone else do it this way?
(And for those as nosy as me who like such details – the yarn I’m using is the handdyed yarn I received from Kristen the other day, and I’m wearing my Sockapaloooza socks.)
ten comments:
Firstly, gorgeous yarn. :)Secondly, that’s a really interesting CO method. I don’t think I’ve seen that one, but it looks like it would produce the same results as the method I demoed. Being the geek that I am, I’d love to know where that CO originated. Anyway, thanks for the demo.
Marnie () (link) - 04 January '07 - 22:31
It’s my understanding that what you’re doing is a variation of the “e-loop cast-on.” That’s what I do when I’m casting on in the middle of a row, like in a mitten or something.kristin () (link) - 04 January '07 - 23:29
upload it to youtube.com that’s what I do, straight from my camera.pixie () (link) - 05 January '07 - 00:09
Nope, that does not look familiar!Chris () (link) - 05 January '07 - 04:05
That’s the way I learned to cast on. My mom taught me (she’s from The South, in the USA, in case you’re taking a poll). It’s the long-tail cast on, but throwing instead of picking, so it takes two hands (well, three, if you count holding the needle). When I relearned to knit a couple years ago, my friend showed me how to do the long-tail cast on with both loops on my left hand—picking the yarn through the e-wrap.Saralyn () (link) - 05 January '07 - 07:23
That’s how I cast on, that’s how my mum taught me to cast on. Not sure who taught her, ‘cos I don’t think Grandma knitted, but there was probably another family member that did, (and they all originated from Suffolk, coincidentally) although, when mum was here last, I cast on and did it differently without thinking, using no thumb and both needles! Mum was aghast.I have since reverted…
Louise () - 05 January '07 - 10:44
I don’t think that’s the way I do it, but I could be totally wrong. Or I could be doing it wrong.Carrie K () (link) - 09 January '07 - 00:15
That`s the usual way I cast on, except I wrap the yarn round my first finger rather than thumb. Maybe it`s one of these UK v. USA things?Spinning Fishwife () (link) - 09 January '07 - 00:41
Hmmm, it’s great to watch but I don’t do it like that either….I might tackle the video thingey too one day (but not today)Donni () (link) - 10 January '07 - 23:24
I think that’s the first cast on method I used (winter of ‘63-’64 – called the ‘thumb method’ in the Coats & Clarks Learn How To bookAdele () - 11 January '07 - 17:26
