Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

There are more ways to cast on than the original way with thumb and needle and knitting it on. I usually cast on from the previous stitch but this one is good if you are doing socks as it gives a bit of stretch Cast on the first 2 with the needle the next cast on put your needle in between these two stitches and k on your next stitch carry on to end. If this makes sense to you. If anybody has any other ideas I would love to hear them.

Hi Flowergirl,

I have always casted-on like that.  I cast on two stitches with the needles first and on the second stitch I put the needle behind it and cast on, you do get a better neater stitch.  My Aunt taught me that over 20 years ago. (Oh I feel so old)

Love Sues

There’s another one which is really good for socks or anything you want to have a stretchy edge on.  It’s not very easy to explain but here goes:

slip knot as normal, make a diamond shaped “tent” around your thumb and index finger then the needle that has the slip knot on needs to catch hold of first the piece of yarn around the outside of your thumb, from the outside edge, then do the same with the yarn around your finger also from the outside edge.  This SHOULD produce a loop type slip knot which you tighten as normal onto the needle and cast on like this til you have required number!

If that’s clearer than mud I will be very VERY happy!!

According to the Readers Digest knitting book there are over 40. different ways to cast on

Wow who’da thought it?

I think I’ll stick to the ones I know!

I always use the cable cast on method. I was taught using the thumb method but not how it seems to be shown now then using 2 needles, then I discvered the cable cast on method. Not from a book I was just fed up with my cast on edge and found that putting the needle between cast on stitches made a better cast on edge.