Long tail cast on - right side, wrong side

How-to Questions
1

I love the long tail cast on method which I learnt via your video (BRAVO!):cheering: . However I am not sure about which is the “right side/wrong side” of the work.
After casting on, the stitches are on the left needle with the tail on the right (and the stitches look like purl). Is this the right side of work (before making the stitches for the pattern, I mean)?
Or, do I need to [B]purl[/B] these cast on stitches and turn the work over before starting the pattern of whatever that I am making, to get to the right side of work.(so the “right side” now has knit stitches)
I am going to start on a sweater which asks for cast on, then 10cm height of double ribbing (2 knits, 2 purls). I would like to start with the long tail cast on method and I want to get this right, before I make a mistake about the right/wrong side.
Am I at all clear? :?? :??
If any one can set me straight please?
Thank you:knitting:

2

When doing the conventional long tail cast on you are essentially knitting or casting on knit stitches. So that the row on the needle looks like purl stitches after you have finished casting on. Depending on the pattern if you want a garter stitch you would knit all of the stitches after CO and for stockinette you would purl all the stitches after CO. You may start knitting in the 2x2 rib (K2, P2) from the cast on if you desire with no problem after casting on in this method (make sure your stitches are little bit loose [cast on with 2 needles or you can go up 2 or 3 needle sizes from the one you will be casting on with]).

I like to use what I think of as a reverse long tail cast on or purl cast on when I am doing ribbing. This gives you both knit and purl stitches in the cast on row. It is a little bit trickier but not much once you get the hang of it.

Here are some web pages with nice pictures and or tutorials:

http://www.januaryone.com/archives/2007/01/mistake_rib.php
http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=116


http://www.pieknits.com/blog/2006/08/purl_long_tail_cast-on.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRi_C8jKdcw (this one seems a bit different from when I do it, so I am not sure if it is the same thing)

HTH.
Katrina

3

A million thank you’s to Mystery_Gyrl for the wonderful links. I admit I am not much good with illustrated instructions…the youtube video really helped, since I sit in front of the computer with my needle and yarn to follow!
Thank you again.

4

The odd numbered rows would be the Right side and the even’s the wrong side, [B]unless[/B] specified otherwise. If I can see the back of the cast on to me that’s like having it “in side out” as if it were a shirt etc… I don’t like the back of the cast on being the front.

5

The RS is simply the side with the V, knit sts; the purl side is the WS.

6

[QUOTE=Mystery_Gyrl;1168240]When doing the conventional long tail cast on you are essentially knitting or casting on knit stitches. So that the row on the needle looks like purl stitches after you have finished casting on. Depending on the pattern if you want a garter stitch you would knit all of the stitches after CO and for stockinette you would purl all the stitches after CO. You may start knitting in the 2x2 rib (K2, P2) from the cast on if you desire with no problem after casting on in this method (make sure your stitches are little bit loose [cast on with 2 needles or you can go up 2 or 3 needle sizes from the one you will be casting on with]).

Can I use this method for single ribbing/ seed stitch too?

7

Yes, you may.