Tuesday Tip – Extra Stretchy Cast On
Recently I ran a knitalong with Creative Knitting for my Fan the Flames Cowl. Since you know I’m gonna pack it full of tips and tricks that aren’t on the page, I thought I’d share some of my favorites here.
Extra Stretchy Cast On
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Watching this marvelous cast on again, I am right away struck by the two specific techniques to give it more room – one is the index finger plant to separate the stitches and the other is the “pivot around the world” which adds additional twist to make the cast on stretchier. A corollary question I would now like to ask: I note that this was demonstrated with each cast on stitch being a knit stitch. If the cast on were to be done in pattern, say casting on knits where there would be a column of knits (in 1×1 or in 2×2 ribbing, say) and casting on purls where there would be a column of purls, does the DIRECTION of the pivot then change if the cast on stitch was a purl vs a knit? For instance, I notice that the pivots here were all done scooping back behind the needle and coming up underhand to the front of the needle. If there were a pivot to introduce if a purl had been created, would it be executed by coming forward from the needle then diving front to back? (Still underhand? or is the pivot ever overhand?)
I am hoping I was able to make myself clear – I really wondered what happens with the added twist when executing a purl stitch in this cast on. Thanks!
I don’t change the twist for a knit or a purl. I do it the same way. Glad you like it!
Oh, thank you, just in time, for I am ready to cast on today for my sweater and now am completely clear how to proceed!