Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! If you are anything like me, by default I almost always choose the traditional cast on method in my knitting, unless the pattern calls for something else, that is. The traditional cast on works fine for most things, but has little give as far as stretchiness goes and can just plain get boring after a while. With all of that in mind, today I bring to you the Long Tail cast on, also known as the Continental cast on. The Long Tail cast on can be a little daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually kind of fun. A little tip for working this cast on is to not pull your yarn too tight, or you will have a difficult time with your first row. Tension is definitely key with this method. My favorite time for using the Long Tail cast on is when knitting hats in the round.
Honestly, the written instructions are a bit confusing, I highly recommend watching the video on this technique!
Step 1: Take a length of yarn from your ball of yarn.
Tip – For the long tail measure about one inch per stitch. How many stitches will be dependent on your pattern
Warning! – If you do not measure enough yarn to begin with you may run
out will have to start over.You can always cut off extra yarn when you
finish casting on.
Step 2: Make a slip knot and insert the needle into the loop. Tighten slip knot onto needle.
Warning!- When casting on a lot of stitches the yarn has a
tendency to untwist. Make sure the long tail is closest to you so you
can easily retwist the yarn as you go.
Step 3: With your bottom three fingers grab both pieces of yarn and hold them in your palm.
Step 4: Take your index finger and thumb and push them through the two pieces of yarn.
Step 5: Shift your thumb and forefinger backwards to pull the yarn tight.
Step 6: Take the tip of your needle and pick up the bottom piece of yarn closest to your body.
Step 7: Swing the needle around and under the yarn wrapped around your index finger.
Step 8: Pull the needle through the loop of yarn on your thumb.
Step 9: Release the yarn around the thumb.
Step 10: Pull the yarn closest to your body tight on the needle.
Repeat steps 6-10 until you have reached the desired amount of stitches on your needle.
Tip – If your pattern calls for a loose cast on use two needles together to cast on instead of one.
