I finally managed, a week or two ago, to master this.
And then I realised that I haven’t mastered it at all: whilst I can create the cast-on stitches OK, I’m working towards a completed number of them [I]with only the tail left at the knitting end[/I]. In other words, when I finish up, I realise the working end of the wool is at the other end of the needle.
No probs re circular needles, of course: but I’m sure this isn’t what’s meant to happen.
The couple of videos I watched (don’t think they were yours) that enabled me to get the stitches onto the needle didn’t even mention this.
So I need someone to point out the secret, please …
'Long tail' CO
Do check the videos here in KH. You need two ends to work it properly and both the tail end and working yarn will end together.
It IS your video I watched.
And I still don’t understand how to retain both ends at one end!
When you’re doing the long-tail, you are taking the loop that goes around the needle from one strand and the ‘knot’ at the bottom of the needle from the other strand.
I learned from pictures in a book. Maybe these will help.
:?? I’m trying to figure out how you don’t have both ends at the business end of your needle. Maybe you’re actually doing the Backward Loop Cast-On and just using the yarn that goes over your thumb? If that’s the case, your cast on stitches would be hard to work into anyhow. I really hope you get this figured out, the LTCO is handy once you get used to it.
Ah, Ingrid! - you’re a bloody lifesaver, you are!
In the video, you simply don’t see that last, IMPORTANT bit about the working end. The photos are the thing.
Muchas gracias, m’dear!
WOT, GG? - you refer me to a video ah ain’t nevah seen before?
Sighh …
No: I used this video and had no idea of that final and, as I said to Ingrid, important step.
All very well for you experts: you don’t realise how much you know when you’re viewing a video. For we halfwits, every teeny thing unseen is a trap for young (if only!) players.
:???:
LOL You, a half-wit? Yeah, right.:roflhard: I’m glad the links Ingrid gave you did the trick. I’d still like to know how you did it. Don’t worry, though, I won’t lose sleep over it.
Don’t mistake me for an expert. I might be intermediate or advanced beginner or beginning intermediate or some such, but not an expert. It wasn’t that long ago I quit looking up a video or something every single time I needed to do the LTCO.
Well, GG …
I understand that Churchill said, after the North Africa campaign, something like:
"This is not the end. Nor is it even the beginning of the end. But I think it is the end of the beginning."
What made me think of that, I wonder …?
<grin>
:roflhard:
I’m no expert either having been knitting only 8 yrs. I’m 60 now so a lot of wasted years when I could have been learning! Better late than never!
I find that I sometimes need a few different videos and/or pictures to learn more difficult techniques so you’re not alone.
feeling perverse :mrgreen:
How many years does it take to be an expert?
Sorry, I guess I could resist but I don’t want to.
You’re far and away more advanced, and a much better knitter, than I am. :notworthy: