Comments on: Knit Like a Man – the Long-Tail Cast-On

By: ddtoronto

ddtoronto — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:35:38 +0000

The general rule is approximately three times the width of what you are knitting. So, for example, a scarf six inches wide should start with a long tail of about 18 inches. Another popular calculation is one inch for every stitch. I would pick whichever is longest and use that. Personally, I almost always add an extra 8 to every long tail because I’m neurotic

By: ddtoronto

ddtoronto — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:53:31 +0000

The one situation where you definitely have to add extra length to the tail is when your yarn is bulky or unevenly spun. Heavier weight yarn and larger sized stitches tend to eat up more of the tail as you cast on. In that situation, I would try four times the width of the item.

And always remember you want to have at least five inches, and preferably six, left over so your tail can be woven in. It is obnoxious to try to weave in a tail that is three inches long.

By: flippedchick

flippedchick — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:56:16 +0000

Thanks for this information, just discovered your videos. They are easy to follow and your instructions make it easy to follow. Do you have anything on weaving in the tails?

By: ddtoronto

ddtoronto — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:17:40 +0000

No, though I have to admit that would be a good one to do.

I have two approaches to weaving in tails. If the tail is attached to some ribbing–I move the tail to the backside of the work (if there isn’t a backside, don’t worry) and then, with a tapestry needle, I pull the yarn up through one column of stitches on the nearest rib, then pull it down through the other column and snip it. (This generally means moving the tip of the needle in a spirally fashion to get it through the columns.)

By: ddtoronto

ddtoronto — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:02:39 +0000

The second approach I use, for garter stitch and, with a slight variation, for stockinette–is to again bring the yarn to the backside but this time to pull it up a few rows through the loops in the back, then weave it up and down through one row of loops and back through the loops on the row below, and then snip the end. Don’t pull the tail tight. If you do this at the right tension, the tail will be almost unnoticeable.

There are other ways out there–just google ‘weaving in yarn tails’.

By: nadiapapineau

nadiapapineau — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:46:47 +0000

This video is so helpful! Thanks so much! I cast on 7 different times with different videos until I found this one which is good enough quality that I can actually see what I am supposed to do!
Only one question, what do I do with the rest of the tail once I start knitting?

Thanks so much!

Nadia

By: ddtoronto

ddtoronto — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:35:56 +0000

Hi Nadia–you cut what’s left of the tail down to about 5 or 6 inches and then weave it into the work. My two comments directly above yours give some tips on how to do this. Good luck!

By: Buck61

Buck61 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:08:33 +0000

A really good tip I learned for this cast-on, was to use a separate skein/ball for each ‘end’ of the cast-on. Tie the two together at the slip knot; after you finish casting-on, simply cut off one of the skeins/ball and proceed as usual. With this tip you don’t have to worry about running out of tail.

By: Buck61

Buck61 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:51:44 +0000

another male who knits here…Been knitting for years.

By: meddddddddic

meddddddddic — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:57:01 +0000

Your video is great!! Thanks for making it easy!