I’m sure many of you are relieved to hear that my first online video is not a karaoke version of Dude Looks Like a Lady. Especially with the vile disgusting cold that I have caught (caught again? caught, given and re-caught?) from Asif. I’ve had an exceptionally bad winter for colds, and this one is the worst yet. I’m barking louder than any of the dogs up and down my apartment hallway.
But enough about me, let’s talk about my YouTube video, featuring…me! I decided to do a demonstration of the long-tail cast-on when I found that most of the online videos on the subject were dark and difficult to see. Say what you will about mine, at least it’s bright. And brightly coloured. You also get a glimpse of my ever-evolving redecorated craft room. And you also get precious video proof that I know at least a little something about knitting, and that I haven’t outsourced it all to the women of Uruguay.
It’s four minutes and thirty seconds. The sound is more or less in sync. The video is not too horribly compressed. My face is vaguely recognizable even if my voice isn’t. And there’s fabulous Latin music. Hola! So kick back and enjoy yourselves while I go blow my nose.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
HEY~~
I really like your video cast!!! It is great!! So sorry about your cold!!!
I also teaching my knitting student to long-tail cast
..they seems not getting it..This is really good video to look them…
Thanks
You forgot to file under “Cold from Hell”. Great demo. You’ll never know how many generations of future knitters will be influenced by it!! Feel better.
I’ve always cast on the 6 year old way, but then on the second row I knit into the back of the stitch, giving it a very interesting giving it a finished edge.
The video was very clear, and easy to understand. Next project I intent to cast on the long-tail cast on method. I’m also going to send the link to my sisters and mother (we’re all knitters).
I love your video! Well paced and well spoken.
Can you do a video for a provisional cast on with circular needles, please?
What’s on your tat?
Love it! The Latin music was a very cool touch, made it seem so professional.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Hey everyone–thanks for the many kind words about the video. (I thank you, and my sinuses thank you.) I’m glad you like the music–it’s great that there’s so much excellent stuff out there available under Creative Commons licensing.
Cousin Lin’s friend Susan (grin), your solution to the issue of the ‘backwards loop cast-on’, which we learned when we were six, is by far the best one–though I still find that that first row is a bugger to knit. I’m glad you like the video so much that you’ll be sharing it with others!
Shelly, my tattoo is a little heart with wings, and it’s more than 20 years old. And I’d be happy to show how to do a provisional cast-on with circulars–but first I should know, is it so that you can have a fancy edge for socks or a sweater, or are you going to be grafting one piece to another?
Great video – well-paced and clearly explained. You’re absolutely right – you have to see the long tail cast-on to understand how it’s done. I now realize that I’ve been doing something completely different for years!
Hi David, good video and great to put a voice to the face!!! I didn’t think you were barking. Your words very clear and concise. It was definitely better to understand how to cast-on that way by demonstration than by sketches in a magazine. not something I am interested in doing at this time, but I will return to view it again. Maybe it is possible to teach an older woman new tricks????
The video was great. I think a new knitter would find this helpful. Your craft room looks really great too! I like the way the light was coming through the curtains behind you. Hope you feel better soon and I look forward to any other informational videos you might put together.
Hi David- Cool video, I can run it over and over again and practice.
I am knitting a baby viking hat (with horns) but have never attempted a baby poncho. Someday….
Lovely video and great music. I, too, would like to see a video about the provisional cast on. I have used one for grafting ( I had a hard time – fluffy alpaca didn’t help…), but I would also like to use it for adding interesting edgings – mostly for socks…
Loved the music! Maybe someone should set up a site with suggestions for ‘music to knit by’; I know there is some music I just can’t knit to and some that makes the needles fly!
Great video, easy to follow and fun music. Even though I’ve been using this cast on for years, I love to see how others do it. Your method is less clumsy than mine. I look forward to your next video!
Great video presentation of the long-tail cast on, which I’ve tried to do in photos and description. Inspires me to do that binding off video I’ve been putting off!
Hi
I liked the video! I’m a beginner knitter and I recently moved to Montréal. Obviously, I agree, knitting is an expensive hobby.. i didn’t imagine that when I first started so I was wondering if you know of any online shops where I could buy some affordable yarn in Canada that can help me satisfy my yarn craving!!
thanks!
Hi Megara–I would recommend you visit Ram Wools at http://www.ramwools.com. They carry the Patons line of yarns, most of which are quite affordable and of reasonable quality. They also have a Ram Wools house label that offers some excellent yarns at good prices. (Be sure you click in the upper right corner to change the prices from American to Canadian.)
You will also find Patons, Red Heart, Bernat, Sirdar and Caron yarns at Mary Maxim, at http://www.marymaxim.ca . The yarns are reasonably priced and shipping is inexpensive. Be sure to check the list of sale yarns–many at half-price.
Hope this helps!
Really liked your video. I do my own version of the left handed long tail…not as graceful as your demo. I will try to do better based on what you have shown. Also wanted to tell you that i really enjoyed the Natasha Beddingfield song.
Roxanne
Wow! I started watching your video, and I couldn’t keep from picking up the needles and giving it a try. Perfect demo, and now I have a new technique!
Thanks so much.
Cheers from the East Coast,
D.
The video was excellent! I’ve never tried to do the long tailed cast on, even though I’ve been knitting for two years. Although, I do a weird long-tail cast on version of the cable cast on for knitting in the round (fetching) otherwise it comes out backwards. I think it has something to do with the left-handedness. Oh, and a question- it there and kind of formula for guesstimating how long your tail should be for a certain number of stitches, or do you just hope and pray you’ve pulled enough?
Oh, all these lovely compliments
Nichole, the formula is generally [3x (desired length of cast-on edge)] + 6 inches = long tail…but the success rate varies wildly depending on individual knitters’ tension, the thickness of the yarn and the size of the needles. I’ve had better luck hoping and praying, but your mileage may vary.
Thanks so much for the very clear instructions. Much appreciated!
I know it’s really late to be posting this comment, but I have a couple of tips for the long tail cast on as well. It’s the way that I was taught, and the only way I ever cast on. A good rule of thumb is to allow 1 inch for every stitch that you’re going to cast on, plus a little extra for tension variations. As well, if you want the “nice” finished edge on the outside of your project, you usually have to knit (or purl, or whatever would fit best with the pattern) one row before starting the actual pattern.
Great blog! I just discovered it and am reading it start to finish!
hi, I read in a book that if you simply loop the required number of stitches around your needle, then add a tail you will have pulled off enough for your long tail cast on. I use this and it works great.
And thanks for the video, I found it most helpful.Now just do a video of men knitting in public to help me over my fear of knitting at work!
Thanks so much for this. Been struggling to cast on some mega fluffy kid mohair yarn using the method I was taught as a kid. Never used this method before but it worked like a dream and your video was so easy to follow x
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I am once more attempting to learn to knit. I’ve loked at several you tube videos to no avail.. finally a simple easy to see video… I’l probably be emailing with questions….Keep up the good work-
I’m so glad you found the video useful! I keep saying I’ll make another one, but I’m a lazy sod, so it’s been slow off the mark. It will happen! Stay tuned
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