Casting On sans Hot Mess

Logic is the love of my life. (Besides my husband who is truly the love of my life).  When I first began my quest to learn how to knit, I took an essentially logical approach to it.  Obviously, you use the needles to tie the yarn together and voila!  You have a project.  Logic.

It wasn't until I got my yarn home, and my first pair of knitting needles (by the by, do yourself a favor and get a size 6, 7, or 8 needle.  These are the best size for worsted weight yarn), that I realized that I had no idea how to get the yarn to stay on the needle.  Enter:  Casting on.

There are several different ways to cast on.  You can find a list of them here.  I primarily use the Long Tail Cast on, which is generally the easiest for a few reason.  Number one: It goes quickly.  Number Two:  It stays put.  And lastly, Number 3: It is by far the easiest cast on method to maintain the correct amount of tension.  Before this post, I hadn't ever tried any of the other methods.  I now have tried...most of them.

The Wrap Cast On

The wrap cast on is essentially just wrapping the yarn around the needle from right to left.  Easy.  The huge problem with method is there is VERY little tension control, which is essential to obtaining the correct gauge for your project.  A photo:

The Knit Cast On
Once you know how to knit, this cast on method is relatively easy.  Basically, you create a slip-knot, which you can learn how to do here.  Then you knit a stitch, but instead of slipping the stitch off the needle, you slip it on to the left hand needle.  Nice, easy, but only if you know how to knit.


The Cable Cast On
This method seems a little excessive.  Is there really a need for a cable cast on?  I'm not a fan.  Therefore, I will not teach.


The Provincial Cast On
This method is BEAUTIFUL!  I was all excited to do it until I read the instructions.  Turns out, you have to crochet a chain and then cast it on.  There went that idea.  Shantel will tell you, it's no big deal, but for me, the non-crocheter, it proved impossible.


After trying all of these methods, my final recommendation is to please, please, stick with the long tail cast on.  Below is a great video teaching you how to do this type of cast on method.




Keep Calm and Knit On!

BHRD7YCU9A5Y

So You Think You Can Knit...

I remember when I first picked up a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn.  I likened it to trying to eat rice with chopsticks.  How in the world are you supposed to take this string and sticks and create something out of it?  How aer you supposed to hold the needles?  how are you supposed to wrap the yarn around said needles once you've figured out how to hold them?

I have two options for you on how to actually learn to knit.  I guess there is a third one, bu I don't suggest reading a book about it.  Even though books have pictures and such, it is just too hard to figure it out if you ask me.

Option #1:  Find a small, locally owned knitting shop.  a lot of these will either offer a class to teach you how to knit, or you can schedule a time to come in and learn.  If you are a person that needs to have someone actually show you how to do it (or tell you what you're doing wrong) then find a PERSON to teach you.

Option #2:  YouTube!!!  it's free and you have about 1.5 million videos to choose from.  If you don't like the teaching style of one video, just find another one.  There's always going to be another video out there.

Once you've decided on which option you'd like to use, you'll have to pick out a first project to do.  Here is some advice:

Pick something that you can finish quickly.  It is very easy to get discouraged until you get your knitting fingers under control.  Here are some options to think about...

-Dishcloths

-Pot Holders

-Scarf

-Basically, anything square with nothing more than the knit stitch and purl stitch.  

Then you will get the hang of it.  I started with pot holders as I have crocheted most of my life and didn't want to make (yet another) scarf.  Candice started with dishtowels and then jumped to a very simple scarf using the stockinette stitch (which is knitting 1 row, and purling the next).

Also, be sure to buy yarn that is pretty, easy to work with, and inexpensive, i.e. a none-decorative yarn, no eyelash yarn, no sparkly yarn, and no super thick yarn.  Get a worsted weight yarn that slides through your fingers easily.

Once you've finished your first project, do another one of the same type.  Consider the first project, a practice run.  Then, once you feel comfortable with a basic pattern, you'll be able to move onto a more complicated pattern with new stitches.

Start slow, and work your way up to speed.  

Good luck, and happy knitting!