Backward loop cast on and flat knitting

I am starting on, what I hoped was a relatively easy and fast project, and cant believe that I am stuck at cast on :laughing:

The scarf pattern says Cast on 4 stitches with the backward loop method on a circular needle and work back and forth.
Row 1 (WS) : Slip 4 with yarn in front
Row 2 (RS) : K4
Row 3 (WS) : Same as Row 1
Row 4 (RS) : K2, inc 2p, K2

I cast on 4 stitches and all 4 stitches are now on my right needle, with the working yarn on the left most stitch.
I turn the needle for Row 1 and the working yarn is now on the on the left most stitch , on the left needle. I am foxed ! How do I get the working yarn where it should be, when I begin to work every row - at the extreme right of the left needle !!
Cant believe that I cant get this right even after 20 odd projects :face_with_thermometer:

It sounds like a bit of i-cord or at least an edge technique for a turned edge. What is the name and designer of your pattern? knowing this information will help us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=700AG7Kvbhc

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Hi @salmonmac, it is the Sola Scarf by Anne Ventzel. This is a knit holding two yarns together and I wanted to try this scarf first before I do the Bindweed pattern, which also requires two yarns to be held together

Ah ! I wondered whether “working back and forth” meant shifting the work from one end of the needle to the other AND turning it - in which case, I would always get the knitting yarn where it should be

It is a kind of i-cord edging on this clever scarf. Slip the sts and bring the yarn to the tip of the needle to continue. This will wrap the edge (no need to pull too tightly).

Are you using a short circular or starting out on a dpn? It’s easier to slide the sts along a shorter needle.

ETA: I tried it and you do turn at the end of row. The slip sts with yarn in front takes the place of sliding the sts to the other end of the needle as you would normally do for i-cord. So you can use any circular needle as the pattern recommends.

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Thank you @salmonmac ! I think I get it now. I am using a circular needle. Tried with a spare yarn and I think I can do it - let me do a few rows and check out. Thanks so much. This pattern indeed is so clever that it seems to do a i-cord, as and when you do the knit !! I wouldnt have been able to catch that, but for your explanation :heart_eyes:

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See how it goes and let us know. It’s a very good idea on your part to test out the 2 yarns-knit-as-single-strand technique. Have fun with it and with the next project.

ETA: Of course you can avoid having to slip the sts to the other needle if you just slide them to the other end of your circular. This avoids a dropped stitch or loop.

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Got it, Thanks a ton !

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Learning to work an I-cord edging as you knit is a useful technique. A lot of designers use it for scarves and shawls, as it gives such a nice edge. Extra bonus…it’s really easy to hide your ends inside that I-cord! :smiley:

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Indeed @ColoCro - my last project had icord for the cami straps - it is fun knit too !

@salmonmac, it is coming out very well - thanks so much for helping me with this !

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Excellent! The beginning of so many patterns is the difficult part. Can’t wait to see the finished scarf.

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This project was completed in Dec, apologies for coming back here only now ! Thanks for your help to realise this project ! As always, a small write up, which I pen down to read and relive the experience :slight_smile:

A kit (Sola Scarf) purchased during a holiday in Denmark in 2023, in a quaint little shop in Aeroskobing, on the island of Aero, pattern by Anne Ventzel, I came around to knitting it only now - in time for the Nepal trip we are undertaking in Feb. I thought it would be appropriate for the weather at the time and stylish too, together with a short top and trousers. The scarf is made by holding two yarns together, Cava by Garna (73% mohair, 27% silk( and Nobilis by Garns (100% fine lamb wool). This is my first attempt at knitting with two yarns held together and while I have always been nervous about this, I have found that it is not terrifying at all and actually great fun ! I can now attempt the sweater that my DIL wants me to knit, which also needs two yarns to be held together. This pattern has the I-cord bind off all through the edges, intelligently incorporated into the pattern. I didnt decipher that from the pattern, and as always @salmonmac and @ColoCro from the ever helpful knitting community helped out by pointing this out in a jiffy. This community of knitters is to be treasured, they are so helpful, inspiring and motivating. It gives me courage to try just about any knit !!

I love the colour of the scarf - I could have knitted this as a slightly longer one, especially as I have yarn left ! Me and the tight knitter version of me need a break from each other or……we need to come to an agreement to knit a bit looser ! :joy:

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Such a pretty scarf and a new technique conquered in style. Now on to a two stranded sweater!
Yes, loosening up is a good idea. Knitting should be relaxing. Have fun doing just that on your trip and thank you for the photo.

It’s beautiful and looks like a more interesting knit than the popular Sophie. I’m adding this one to my (extremely long) list of favorites!