Casting On... help please!

[gdog9199]

Hi, I'm new to knitting (when I say new, I mean a couple weeks, not even). I've been trying to do the long-tail cast on, and I have two problems with it:

-When I pull through, the whole thing comes off like I did nothing in the first place.

-Or when I do get it, there are three stitches.

Any help here? Or possibly just an easier cast-on? I feel like if I could just cast on it might be easier to learn the rest. Thanks!

[Gertie]

Go up to "New Videos" then to "Cast-On". There are videos of different cast-on techniques.

Have fun.

[gdog9199]

Thanks... I guess I was just getting a little frustrated. I did find an easier one, which will hopefully work better for me.

[of troy]

there are lots of cast ons besides long tail.. (ask me, i know at least 40)

but Long tail is a great cast on.
1--its not to hard
2--its reasonable stretchy
3--It is the basis for at least 5 other cast ons!

3.1--Norwegian,
3.2--*Braided
3.3--Open and closed
3.4--Forward and Reversed
3.5--2 ball of yarn (1 color or 2 color)

and since there are atleast 5 variations of braided..

the long tail cast on has (aka double (for 2 strands of yarn)/sling shot) 2 parts.

1--the thumb half
2--the index finger half

you first stick then needle into the simple loop made by the thumb, (really a simple cast on!)

then you "pick up a stitch" (from left finger yarn (which is a substitute left hand needle!)

you pull the new stitch (index finger yarn) through the "simple cast on loop" (thumb)
then let the thumb stitch "slip off (as you'd let a normal stitch slip of the left needle)

gently snug up the yarns (avoid the temptation to pull really snug!--loose and leisurely when snugging up the thumb yarn)

preposition the yarn, and start again..

(now, mind you this is not a detail description of what your hands are doing.. its sort of the 'back story"

watch the video here.. go to youtube and search out more..
some are better, some are worse.. be after you watch a few, you'll find one that works for you!

Once you've mastered the basic long tail.. learn some variations.. Its a great cast on to know.

(remember, i know over 40 methods/styles to cast on.. but i use Long tail about 50% of the times.. its my go to cast on!)

[munchkin928]

When I was showing my husband some knitting stuff, he kept forgetting to bring the needles through the middle of the loop on his thumb, and I think that was making extra stitches. It took us a while to figure out what he was doing though. When I first learned the long-tail caston, I had to watch the video at least 3 times and keep pausing and rechecking everything - it's tricky to learn, but then once you have it figured out it'll be really quick. I think it's definitely worth it to keep coming back to it every once in a while till you get it figured out.

However, the first cast on I learned was actually just the knitted caston, and it was pretty easy to learn (and gets you some knit stitch practice).