The first knitting book I bought was a book devoted to casting on and binding off methods. It's amazing how many ways there are to cast on and bind off but there are definite uses for some methods.
For example, the provisional cast on for tubular ribbing to provide a beautiful rolled edge for 1x1 ribbing for hats, cowls, mittens, and etc. That one took some practice to master knitting in the round. One of the biggest issues I ran into was that the first and/or last stitch cast on was loose, floppy, and on occasion got lost because it was just draped over the needle.
I tried the provisional method using the crochet hook and it just took too long for me. My favorite provisional method is when you make a slip knot (that doesn't count in stitch count) with a piece of scrap yarn and the main yarn then hold your hand like a long-tail cast on with the scrap yarn around your thumb. I don't know what this method is called. You reach under the scrap yarn with the right hand needle and grab main yarn, bring it under scrap yarn, then up, then wrap main yarn around right needle then reach down under scrap yarn and grab main yarn again.
Fast! So fast and easy.
The one and only problem is that the last stitch is just hanging on the needle. So, my solution is to do a long-tail cast on for that very last stitch. You have to pick it out when you are ready to remove the scrap yarn but it's easy to pick it out and then you just pull the scrap yarn and it slides right through the initial loops.
Just remember to reach through scrap yarn loop around thumb before grabbing main yarn and it will lock that last stitch in place.
I have tried many provisional cast on methods and for ribbing this is the simplest, fastest method.
Another tip, use a yarn thinner than main yarn when possible. If they are the same thickness it will work fine but using scrap yarn a bit thinner gives a noticeably tighter edge that looks really nice.
Oh, and just slide that bulky slip knot created with both scrap yarn and working yarn off the knitting needle then let it dangle there while setting up your first base rows. It holds that first stitch in place without being in the way.
If you want a good casting on and binding off reference book, I highly recommend this one:
For example, the provisional cast on for tubular ribbing to provide a beautiful rolled edge for 1x1 ribbing for hats, cowls, mittens, and etc. That one took some practice to master knitting in the round. One of the biggest issues I ran into was that the first and/or last stitch cast on was loose, floppy, and on occasion got lost because it was just draped over the needle.
I tried the provisional method using the crochet hook and it just took too long for me. My favorite provisional method is when you make a slip knot (that doesn't count in stitch count) with a piece of scrap yarn and the main yarn then hold your hand like a long-tail cast on with the scrap yarn around your thumb. I don't know what this method is called. You reach under the scrap yarn with the right hand needle and grab main yarn, bring it under scrap yarn, then up, then wrap main yarn around right needle then reach down under scrap yarn and grab main yarn again.
Fast! So fast and easy.
The one and only problem is that the last stitch is just hanging on the needle. So, my solution is to do a long-tail cast on for that very last stitch. You have to pick it out when you are ready to remove the scrap yarn but it's easy to pick it out and then you just pull the scrap yarn and it slides right through the initial loops.
Just remember to reach through scrap yarn loop around thumb before grabbing main yarn and it will lock that last stitch in place.
I have tried many provisional cast on methods and for ribbing this is the simplest, fastest method.
Another tip, use a yarn thinner than main yarn when possible. If they are the same thickness it will work fine but using scrap yarn a bit thinner gives a noticeably tighter edge that looks really nice.
Oh, and just slide that bulky slip knot created with both scrap yarn and working yarn off the knitting needle then let it dangle there while setting up your first base rows. It holds that first stitch in place without being in the way.
If you want a good casting on and binding off reference book, I highly recommend this one:
No comments:
Post a Comment