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A Cheat Sheet for Cast Ons

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As a knitter, I have always been a long-tail cast-on person. It’s been my go-to cast on method for a long time, and I know that it’s not always the best choice for every project. But, I find it easy and familiar, so I often default to it.

When I teach knitting, I usually teach the knit cast on method. This is because it’s a versatile cast on method that can be used for most projects, and once you know how to knit cast on, you also know how to knit! This saves time and is less fiddly for kids.

However, I also know that there are many other cast on methods available, each with their own unique benefits. Kate Atherley, a renowned knitter and author, has spent a lot of time thinking about and experimenting with different cast on methods. She recently rounded up some of her favorite ways to start a knitting project over at Modern Daily Knitting. Her article provides a great overview of different cast on methods and their uses, and it’s a great resource for knitters looking to expand their skills and try new techniques.

As a knitter, I highly recommend exploring different cast on methods. Each method has its own unique benefits and can be used for different types of projects. And it’s always good to have more than one cast on technique in your knitting toolbox.

 

Click over to see swatches using different kinds of casts on and a little bit about the properties of each one. If you want actual tutorials you’ll still have to Google it or search on YouTube or your favorite knitting reference book.

There’s also a printable chart that shows different purposes for which you might need to cast on stitches, as well as different methods that are a good option for those situations. So handy!

[Photo: Modern Daily Knitting.]

Looking for printed hard-copy knitting books? Check out these Knitting Pattern books 

 

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Comments

  2. I was going to say socks. I don’t seem to have the book I learned about that cast on from anymore so I looked online and Ashley Little at Bluprint said it’s medium stretchy and looks good on both sides so it’s good for things you see both sides of like blankets and scarves.

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]