Super silly beginner question

schneiderphoto · 06-08-2007, 02:38 PM

Hello everyone!
So I'm beyond my scarf phase now and starting to work on patterns. And here's my super silly question.
Is the caston considered your first row? or is the caston a cast on and the first row is what you knit after you cast on.
See! super silly!
Have a good weekend everyone!
Mel

kemp · 06-08-2007, 07:52 PM

It depends on the cast on your use. For example, the long tail cast on creates a knit row so I would count that as one. It's usually not critical though as long as you are consistent within the pattern.

schneiderphoto · 06-08-2007, 07:53 PM

great thanks so much!

CarmenIbanez · 06-08-2007, 07:54 PM

Unless otherwise specified, the cast on does NOT count as your first row.

G J · 06-08-2007, 08:30 PM

I agree, that unless it's specified, the row count does NOT include the CO, but the long-tail cast on DOES make a knit row, so it looks best if you're doing stockinette, to purl the next row.

Are you TOTALLY confused now?

BTW, what are you knitting?

suzeeq · 06-09-2007, 03:55 AM

Another vote for the caston being a caston, and the 1st row is the first row you knit after you cast on. Even if you use the longtail CO, it still doesn't measure the same as a cast on and 1 row.

sue

redwitch · 06-09-2007, 05:43 AM

Just to clarify: longtail (aka double) caston makes an edge that looks like it has already had a row of knitting done on it. It's in the shape of the caston stitches, that look like the bumps you get on the back of a row of knitting.
But it is not as long as an actual 'caston, knit one row' would be, It's not a knitted row in my opinion. BUT in stocking stitch, I recommend that you make the first row you work a purl row, because that side of the caston already looks like it contains a purl row so you should make it that side.

However in actual practice if you end up doing one row fewer than the pattern calls for it is unlikely to make any difference, so don't worry about it much. Also, if you find that you actually like the look of that side of the caston, you might choose to put it on the right side of the work.
So for longtail/double caston, some people say it's a knitted row, but I think all that really means is that they THINK it looks like a kntted row has already been done.

For all other castons, there's no debate: caston row is not the first knitted row, you cast on then knit row 1.

Sarah

LadyCunegonde · 06-09-2007, 02:16 PM

What does the turning ridge refer to?

suzeeq · 06-09-2007, 02:37 PM

The turning ridge is a purl row on the knit side (usually done on the WS as a knit) that's done for the edge when you turn up the bottom of a sweater for a hem.

sue

LadyCunegonde · 06-09-2007, 06:04 PM

Thanks for the above answer Sue.

My next question has to do with the knitting instructions. They are as follows:

Hem:Starting with a p row, work 6 rows in St st.
Next row, turning ridge (WS): K. Cont in St st starting with a k row, work in strip pat as follows:....ect

So I purl the first row. Then I knit one row and purl the next row...ect until I have a total of 6 rows not including the cast on row. I should end with a knit row.

So what am I'm confused about:
Are the instructions telling me to knit the next row? So if I ended with a knit row for the hem, I would start the body part with a knit row. So I would have a knit row and then another knit row.