A baby coat and hat that I am making says “cast on sts thumb method” --does that mean something different than regular cast on???
Thank you
Terri
Cast on 'thumb method'?
Wow! I had no idea that was a perfectly acceptible cast on method.
For a long time that was the only way I could figure out how to cast on. I thought I had just made it up like a bandaid to the real thing!
Who knew?? 
I did it that way for years when I was a teenager. It was the only way I knew how and thought I had made it up, too! 
WOW! I have been knitting for quite awhile and NEVER did that!? What happens to the garment if I cast on in the “typical” way?
They must have a reason for casting on this way. I only use it if I have to cast on extra stitches or something. I don’t really like the way it knits up on a first cast on–it can be loose and separate the stitches a lot. I’d probably try it if a pattern called for it, but if I didn’t like it I’d go with long-tail.
I like long tail cast on too. It seems to work for about everything (except toe up socks n such). And its fun.
The “thumb method” is good when you need a really loose edge. I’m not a fan of it, but it is good for some things. Trust the pattern. 