Knitting

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Make Your Cast On Looser for Knitting Success

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Try this simple tip for relaxing your cast on in knitting.Do you have trouble with your cast on edge being a lot tighter than the rest of your knitting? I still do sometimes (usually when I’m doing a long-tail cast on and I’m in a hurry so I fly through it and pull tighter than I would if I were thinking about it).

The key to a loose cast on isn’t doing it on a larger needle — that just makes the loops bigger, but doesn’t do anything about the space between them.

What you really need to do is spread the stitches out as you cast on, as this post from Fringe Association notes.

How do you do that? Be mindful of the space between the stitches as you cast on, making sure you’re not bunching them all together. I often stick my thumb against the needle as I’m placing the stitch on so that the stitches sit with that much space between them.

You can also do a knit cast on instead of a long tail, which will automatically be a bit roomier and will remind you to stretch the stitches like you do while you’re knitting.

Do you have any tricks for looser cast ons? We’d love to hear them!

[Photo via Fringe Association.]

Comments

  1. Lately I’ve been doing the ‘Russian’ cast on, which is the long tail cast on with an extra twist. It makes the cast on a little stretchier and a little more room between the stitches. I don’t think I will ever go back to just the long tail cast on.

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.