[amysuen]

My mil is the only person IRL who knits, but I can't ask her... The learn to knit book I have says to cast on by knitting 2 stitches, then cast on more by putting the right needle <i>between 2 stitches</i>. Mil says she "knits on" by <i>knitting into the back</i> of the previous cast-on stitch, then putting it on the left needle to cast on. Is one technique better than the other, and why or why not? TIA! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[blazfglori]

I've never used either of those methods.<br><br>
I use the *long tail cast-on* for everything.

 

[Aurora]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:

 

[amysuen]

I looked at the directions for the long tail cast on, but I didn't "get" it. What do you do with the rest of the tail, does it just hang there while you're knitting the whole piece?

 

[blazfglori]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>amysuen</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">What do you do with the rest of the tail, does it just hang there while you're knitting the whole piece?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
Yep!<br>
You weave it in when you're finished with your project.<br><br>
Some people knit it into the first row as well.

 

[amysuen]

What's the advantage of such a long tail over a shorter one?<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch">

 

[blazfglori]

It's not in the length of the tail, I guess it's just in whichever way you find easiest to cast on, and for me that's the long-tail method. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br>
Anyhoo, if you calculate it right, the tail that's left isn't very long at all.<br>
Mine are usually about 6-8 inches long.

 

[stashalou]

What timing - I just learned the long-tail cast on today at <a href="http://www.knittinghelp.com" target="_blank">www.knittinghelp.com</a>. I am starting a pattern that said to use that cast on method. I think that that site has videos of other methods too. Good luck with your knitting!<br><br>
stashalou

 

[amysuen]

Thanks everyone! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"> I just went to knittinghelp and it makes more sense to me now. I thought all cast-ons were equal, but knittinghelp explained it all. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">