[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 between 2 stitches. Mil says she "knits on" by knitting into the back 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!

 

[blazfglori]

I've never used either of those methods.

I use the *long tail cast-on* for everything.

 

[Aurora]

:

 

[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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amysuen What do you do with the rest of the tail, does it just hang there while you're knitting the whole piece?

Yep!
You weave it in when you're finished with your project.

Some people knit it into the first row as well.

 

[amysuen]

What's the advantage of such a long tail over a shorter one?

 

[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.

Anyhoo, if you calculate it right, the tail that's left isn't very long at all.
Mine are usually about 6-8 inches long.

 

[stashalou]

What timing - I just learned the long-tail cast on today at www.knittinghelp.com. 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!

stashalou

 

[amysuen]

Thanks everyone!

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.