Last stitch?

#1

Hello :slight_smile: This is actually my first post. I’m trying to teach myself to knit (I usually crochet) and I’m wondering, I used the long tail cast on. What am I supposed to do with the tail? It’s kind of getting in my way and it looks like if I pull my work off the needles it could come unraveled very easily from that point. (Well, the end stitch would come undone at least.) In crochet I would just hide it under the stitches but I don’t know how to do that with knitting.

Also I read that some people just transfer their last stitch over to the right needle without actually knitting in the stitch (at least I think that’s what they were saying!) how would this change the look of the edges?

Thanks!

#2

You can roll up the tail or cut it off. I sometimes do a cast on several times so I don’t end up with too much tail. Some people do knit the tail with the regular yarn for a few stitches, but I think that makes them too thick.

Some knitters do just slip the first stitch of the row to the right needle without working it. This can give a chained looking edge to a scarf. I don’t do this because it looks looser and messier than just knitting an even edge. Since you’re just beginning, just skip that for now and knit into the first (and the last!) stitch until you get a bit more practice in.

#3

And like Suzeeq said, you can [COLOR=“Blue”]cut the tail[/COLOR] down, but make sure you leave enough to weave in the ends (4 or 5 inches). I learned from the mistake of cutting right up near the knot on my very first sweater. Knot loosed up and everything went down hill from there. So you can trim it down and weave it in later.

Edited type is in blue…and yes, I am very silly when I’m this tired. G’night.

#4

[I]I learned from the mistake of cutting right up near the knot on my very first sweater. Knot loosed up and everything went down hill from there.[/I]

Hmm I don’t have a knot. Did I skip something when I did my cast on? I think I’m going to go watch the video again.

#5

No you didn’t miss anything. I learned to cast on with the long tail caston and the person who taught me had me tie a loose slip not for my first stitch, so I’ve always just done it that way. The video here shows just starting your casting on with out doing it that way. It’s probably better to do it that way, and I really should give it a try.

But the priniciple’s the same–don’t cut the yarn to close to where you started-you have to be able to weave in. :slight_smile:

#6

whew. Thank you :muah:

#7

No, you don’t have to use a knot to start the caston.