Tuesday, January 11, 2011

How to Make a Long Tail Cast On (Video)

The long tail cast-on method was the first that I learned when I was 10. It is still my go-to cast on method.

Video: How to Make a Long Tail Cast On - From slip knot to the end of the cast on stitches.



The Key Points:
  1. Start with a slip knot on your needle, making sure that you have a long piece of yarn (the "long tail") on one side. Pull it tight, but not too tight that it would slide around on the needle.
  2. Let the two pieces of yarn from the knot hang down. Pinch your left hand thumb and pointer finger, and go between the two strands. Open your fingers, and wrap the last three fingers around the yarn to hold it in place.
  3. With your needle, you are going to go under strand 1, over strand 2 (see yellow arrows), and then pull strand 2 back under strand 1 (see pink arrows). (To say this a different way; the stitch on your needle comes from strand 2. When you make the stitch, you are pulling strand 2 through the loop on your thumb, under strand 1)

  4. Repeat until you have the desired number of stitches on the needle.

TIP: If your cast on stitches are too tight, use a larger needle to cast on, and then transfer to the needle you're going to use for the knitting. Alternatively, use 2 knitting needles when you cast on, and then remove one before knitting.