Monday, November 22, 2010

Pimp my cast-on!

Knitters--when's the last time you used a cast-on other than your go-to, can do it with your eyes closed cast-on? For me, that would be the long-tail cast-on. I worked damn hard to learn the thing, and I really can do it with my eyes closed, but seriously, is that a good enough reason to start every knitted project with a long-tail cast-on? That's like drinking nothing but chardonnay, no matter what you're eating. Think of how much better that 7-11 burrito would taste with a gutsy Cabernet instead. Branch out, people!

Last year I took a class from Ann Budd. It was all about casting on and binding off, and nothing but. Here's the binder of samples we put together in class:


Some of the cast-ons are pretty intense, and my sampler binder isn't always enough help. In those cases, I resort to Youtube videos, Ravelry, and blogs. I don't even want to think about knitting without them. I know some people think they're a crutch, but I wasn't born with a silver cable needle in my mouth. I'll take help from wherever I can get it. I also have a plethora of books that I really need to make better use of. I don't spend enough time just paging through them, picking up ideas and inspiration.

This is a ribbing that I cast on using a tubular crochet cast-on. I'm not talking about crocheting a chain and picking up the bumps for a provisional cast-on. This one is way more intense, but as you can see, it makes a very tailored edge, and I think well worth the extra time and work.


Here's the best link I've found for this particular cast-on. Romi, you are a genius! I'm promising myself that my next pair of cuff down socks is going to start with this cast-on. Cast-ons like this take your knitting to the next level. There's nothing wrong with the good old long-tail, and there are still plenty of times when it's appropriate, but sometimes you just have to walk on the wild side.

10 comments:

  1. Very nifty!
    I'm a long-tail cast-on peep, myself. I've ventured out a little for certain projects but I always go back to that one. (I DREAD the backwards-loop one. *shudder* Too loosey-goosy for me - I can NEVER make that one look neat.)

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  2. Such talent. I've only taken one knitting class and in awe of anyone with this talent.

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  3. You are so right, choosing the right cast on for you project is *almost* as important as choosing the right wine for your convenience store burrito!! You crack me up!!

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  4. LOL @ Karen!
    How cool is your sample binder?!

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  5. yeah, a tubular cast on rocks.. there are about 6 or 7 ways to get the effect--I use the no waste yarn method.. (i started with a 3 needle method 35 years ago, and learned the crochet method, (2 different ones with crochet/waste yarn before learning the no waste yarn method i use all the time now.
    how ever you do, it.. its great!

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  6. Love your sampler binder!
    I use different cast on/bind offs depending on what I am knitting. The German Twisted cast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af1xpkBBYxs) on is also stretchy. And I also like Nancy Bush's Estonian cast on for socks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frc5_9AIVy0)

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  7. I am of the long-tail cast-on persuasion myself! I'd love to learn some new ones too. Your blog title = great. Made me laugh. :)

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  8. I do long tail cast-on and also knitted cast-on.
    Time to try something new!

    Thanks for the inspiration...

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  9. When I was a wee young knitter, all the knitters in the family used the backwards loop method. Now long tail is the one I use the most and it's funny to think that when I first tried it, I thought, "This is too hard! I'll never figure it out." I guess it's time to give a few others a test run.

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  10. Hey, thanks for the musings on castons. I think I've tried that tubular at some point, but I would need the youtube videos to attempt it ever again. I certainly am a long-tail caston person, like most of your commenters, it seems. I also tend to use the Magic Cast whereever it is appropriate.

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