The Prolonged Tail Strong On is probably going one of many hottest and versatile cast-on methods in knitting. It’s simple to be taught, quick to do, and produces a stupendous, barely stretchy cast-on edge.
On this text, we’ll cowl all of the issues it is worthwhile to know regarding the Prolonged Tail Strong On methodology, from provides and preparation to step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting. Preserve finding out to be taught additional and watch the video!
The Prolonged Tail Strong-On Methodology
The Prolonged Tail Strong On is one the popular knitting strong ons. In precise reality, it’s one in every of many first cast-on methods I tried after shifting on from the knitted cast-on I found as a brand-new beginner.
And even now, it’s nonetheless my go-to cast-on for a lot of knitting initiatives, notably for patterns that don’t specify any particular cast-on. I adore it because of it’s quick, easy to work, and creates a neat, barely stretchy edge.
What is the Prolonged Tail methodology?
The Prolonged Tail Strong On is a two-strand cast-on. That means it’s labored on one needle with two strands of yarn: the working yarn (aka the strand of yarn coming from the yarn ball) and the tail end of the yarn.
Structurally, it’s much like a backward loop strong on, plus a row of knitting. Nevertheless the Prolonged Tail Strong On is way easier to work, and fewer vulnerable to stretch out as you knit into it.
What are the advantages of the Prolonged Tail Strong On?
Knitters love the Prolonged Tail cast-on because of its versatility, ease, and polished look.
- Neat and tidy: The Prolonged Tail cast-on creates a clear edge that’s very comparable in look to the essential bind-off edge. To ensure that you your cast-on to match your bind-off, the Prolonged Tail cast-on is an efficient various.
- Easy and quick: The Prolonged Tail cast-on could be very good to utilize when casting on quite a few stitches, as a result of it’s loads earlier than totally different methods, similar to the cable cast-on.
- Good and Elastic: The Prolonged Tail creates a fairly stretchy edge. It’s the closest issue to an all-purpose cast-on, and works for every kind of initiatives.
Two Strategies to Prolonged Tail Strong On
Sooner than we get started, I should level out that there are two strategies to put your arms/yarn when making the Prolonged Tail Strong On. In case you see one different knitter show the Prolonged Tail in a barely completely totally different technique, that is the rationale.
- Slingshot Methodology: On this system, you’ll place the yarn spherical your thumb and first finger in a technique that resembles the type of a slingshot.
- Thumb Methodology: The Thumb methodology creates the exact same cast-on edge – it’s merely one different methodology of holding your arms.
I favor to utilize the slingshot methodology, which I’ll show on this tutorial. I uncover it to be easier and earlier than the thumb methodology, notably if you’ve practiced it a few cases.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Proper right here’s one of the best ways to work the Prolonged Tail Strong On, step-by-step.
Provides
You will have a few major provides for this cast-on.
Yarn: Select that that’s acceptable to your problem. Or, if you’re merely working in direction of, choose a clear, light-colored, worsted-weight wool.
Knitting needles: I prefer to advocate wood or bamboo needles for freshmen since they’re a lot much less slippery than metallic needles. You have to use straight needles or spherical needles for the prolonged tail cast-on. In case you’re using spherical needles, keep one end in your correct hand, and let the alternative drop.
Knitting Phrases to Know
And, listed beneath are some phrases and definitions you’ll need to know for this tutorial.
Working yarn: That’s the strand of yarn that comes from the ball of yarn. It is generally called the ball yarn.
Yarn tail: That’s the “prolonged tail” that provides this cast-on its title. It’s the strand of yarn that’s not linked to the ball.
Estimating the Dimension of the “Tail”
Alright, let’s begin.
To start out out the Prolonged Tail Strong On, you’ll need to measure out a measurement of yarn to utilize for the “prolonged tail .” And at this degree, it is potential you will be questioning, “How prolonged of a tail do I wish to go away for my strong on?”
That’s a unbelievable question – because of there’s nothing worse than attending to the highest of an prolonged strong on and discovering you’ve run out of tail!
Listed beneath are two strategies to estimate how prolonged of a yarn tail you need.
- The quickest answer to estimate the scale of the tail is to measure out 3.5 cases the scale of the last word strong on edge. So, in case your problem edge will measure 8 inches, it’s best to measure out 28 inches of yarn for the tail.
- One different answer to estimate the scale of the tail is to wrap the yarn spherical your needle as many cases as there are stitches throughout the strong on. So, in case your pattern requires 20 cast-on stitches, wrap the yarn throughout the needle 20 cases. Mark that measurement of yarn, add 6 inches for weaving in later, and use it to your prolonged tail.
Making a Slip Knot
After you’ve measured out the yarn tail, tie a slip knot. Place the slip knot on the needle so that the yarn tail strand is closest to you, and the working yarn strand is furthest from you.
Then, select up the knitting needle and keep it in your correct hand. Place your correct index finger on prime of the slip knot to hold it in place.
Discover: Some knitters start their long-tail cast-on with out a slip knot. Instead of a knot, they start with a simple twist of yarn.
Holding the Yarn
Now it’s time to decide on up every strands of yarn in your left hand.
Grasp every strands of yarn with the ultimate three fingers of your left hand. Then, insert your thumb and index finger between the two strands of yarn. Open your fingers to create an “L” type, and unfold the two strands of yarn apart.
Then, tilt your hand once more barely. This may occasionally create two loops of yarn, one spherical your thumb, and one different spherical your index finger. The loops will look similar to a “slingshot” type.
Let’s look at in: At this degree, your left palm have to be coping with up barely. You’ll have one loop on the thumb, with an outer and inside strand. You’ll have one different loop on the index finger, with an inside and outer strand. And, it’s best to nonetheless be holding the two strands of yarn with the alternative fingers on the left hand.
Making the First Sew
Now it’s time to make the first cast-on sew.
- There are 4 steps to make each sew. The actions may sound troublesome at first, nevertheless go slowly, and likewise you’ll select it up rapidly enough.
- Preserve the needle in your correct hand, securing the slip knot alongside together with your correct index finger. Swing the needle down and in course of you. Then, swing the tip of the needle up through the center of the thumb loop, catching the outer strand on the thumb loop.
- Now, swing the needle to the proper, over and down through the center of the index finger loop, catching the inside strand on the index finger.
Then, pivot the needle in course of you. Switch the needle over the inside stand on the thumb, and down through the center of the thumb loop. - Lastly, launch the loop out of your thumb. Use your thumb to tug on the tail yarn to comfy up the loop on the hook. Then, return your arms to the start “slingshot” place.
You’ve merely achieved one cast-on sew. When you check out your needle, it’s best to see two loops: the slip knot (which counts as a sew) and the model new cast-on sew.
Now, you’re capable of make the next cast-on sew. Repeat these steps to strong on the entire stitches you wish to your pattern.
Starting your First Row of Knitting
Now that your cast-on is full, flip your work over so that the needle components to the proper. Preserve the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand, and the empty needle in your correct hand. Now, you’re capable of knit!
Prolonged Tail Strong-On Recommendations
Listed beneath are some strategies and tricks to bear in mind as your apply.
- When counting your stitches, take into account that the slip knot loop counts as a sew.
- Steer clear of over-tightening your stitches. You want them to be free enough to glide over the needles.
- In case you uncover that your cast-on edge is just too tight, attempt casting on spherical two needles held collectively, or a needle that is one or two sizes larger than the size generally known as for in your pattern.
- Try to keep up a great spacing between each sew throughout the strong on. Snug up the stitches subsequent to 1 one other sooner than pulling on the yarn tail to tighten them.
- Ponder starting the pattern on the first wrong-side (WS) row. In case you keep in mind from earlier, we talked about that the prolonged tail cast-on creates the first row of knit stitches as you are employed. Due to this when you flip your work, you’ll see small purl bumps on the alternative side of your strong on. In case you then start your pattern on the right-side (RS) row, you’ll see these small purl bumps on the doorway of your work. It will probably or won’t trouble you – so it’s in the long run your title. Nevertheless, it is potential you will take into consideration starting your pattern on the first WS row, so that you just don’t see them.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Run into trouble? This cast-on methodology can take a bit of little bit of apply to get used to. Please keep going even when your first makes an try aren’t good. Once you assemble up the muscle memory and this technique “clicks” for you, it’ll be your go-to cast-on.
Listed beneath are some ceaselessly requested questions regarding the prolonged tail cast-on.
Help! The yarn tail seems choose it’s turning into untwisted as I strong on.
Certain, this may happen. When doing an prolonged tail cast-on, the plies of the yarn tail strand can seem like they’re untwisting. What you’ll be able to do to restore that’s drop the two strands often, and permit them to re-twist. Then you definately presumably can select the strands once more up, make the “slingshot” type as soon as extra, and keep going alongside together with your cast-on.
What should I do if my prolonged tail cast-on is just too fast?
Sadly, if you run out of yarn in your prolonged tail, you’ll have to pull out your stitches and restart your strong on. Use one in every of many two methods on this text for estimating the scale of your yarn tail, and take a look at as soon as extra.
And keep in mind, it’s always greater to overestimate and have too prolonged of a yarn tail – because of you presumably can always trim it on the end!
If the pattern requires a particular cast-on, can I substitute the Prolonged Tail cast-on instead?
Certain, you presumably can substitute the Prolonged Tail Strong On in plenty of cases – as long as it’s properly suited to your problem.
Don’t forget that the long-tail methodology is good for edges that need to be barely stretchy. So in case your edge have to be really stretchy, you may have to attempt the German Twisted Strong On (aka Earlier Norwegian Strong On) or Jeny’s Stretchy Strong On.
Instructions
- Setup. To make the Prolonged Tail Strong On, measure out an prolonged measurement of yarn. Pull out a measurement of yarn that’s 3 to 4 cases as long as the width of your problem. Then, tie a slip knot. Place the slip knot on the needle with the yarn tail closest to you, and the working yarn furthest from you.
- Holding the Yarn. Grasp every strands of yarn with the ultimate three fingers of your left hand. Insert your thumb and index finger between the two strands of yarn, and unfold them apart.
- Create the “slingshot” type. Tilt your hand once more barely to create the “slingshot” type. Your left palm will probably be coping with up barely, with a loop of yarn spherical your left thumb and a loop of yarn spherical your left index finger.
- Start the first sew. Swing the needle down and in course of you. Swing the tip of the needle beneath and up through the center of the thumb loop, catching the pores and skin strand on the thumb.
- Swing the needle over and down through the center of the index finger loop, catching the inside strand.
- Now, pivot the needle in direction of you over the inside stand on the thumb, and down through the center of the thumb loop.
- Then, launch the loop out of your thumb. Gently tug on the yarn tail to comfy up the loop on the hook.
- Repeat these steps to strong on additional stitches.
Notes
Take care to not strong on too tightly. In case you uncover that your cast-on edge is just too tight, attempt casting on over two needles held collectively, or one needle that’s one or two sizes larger than the size generally known as for throughout the pattern.
Additional Knitting Tutorials
Listed beneath are some additional beginner knitting tutorials that you would be be occupied with.
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