Newbie learns to cast-on

Well, I have been at this, lately part-time only, but I think I need some help. I use the “long-tail” cast-on and have had scant success with the knit stitch.

My question is, can a newbie learn at the knitting night for men? I think it is Monday nights, but I really don’t remember.

In any case I need some coaching, my technique just isn’t fully-developed yet. I cast-on, rip out the cast-on stitches and start over. I guess I am waiting for a sturdy, solid cast-on before I advance to knitting and purling.

Incidentally, Baz stands for my initials, which is a long-term nickname and rhymes with “jazz”. My real name is Bryan.

Thanks,

Baz

I’m not familiar with the Knitting Night for Men. Is it held at your local yarn store? If so, I would imagine that you could go there and learn some techniques.

The videos here and elsewhere on the Internet are great, but I know that not everyone learns well from videos. If you can find someone to help you in person, I’m sure it would help a lot! :thumbsup:

As far as ripping out your CO and 1st row of knitting, try knitting a few rows instead. See if the look of it improves as you go on. Each time I start a project my work looks weird and ugly until I get 5-7 rows in, and then it starts to look like something. I’m sure many others feel the same way. It’s just part of starting something new; there aren’t enough rows of knitting to make the piece look like it should. :wink:

Good luck and have fun! I’m sure you’ll be knitting away in no time. :guyknitting:

I agree. Cast on and knit. Don’t wait for the perfect cast on before you take the next step. Just keep going. At first your stitches could be uneven as you train your muscle memory, but they will even out as you get more experience.

I’d suggest that you cast on, knit some rows, purl some rows, switch back and forth between the two and don’t have any specific project in mind. Just work it until it comes automatically.

I’m sure that any knitter in a group would be happy to help you get started.

Yep, agree with the others, just get the sts on the needles any way you can and keep going. Even tension and stitches come with practice and that inclused knitting stitches so you get the hang of handling the yarn and needles, not just doing the cast on over and over.

You might take a look at the video here for the ‘thumb’ alternative CO. Years ago I could never get the regular long tail cast on to come out right, but realized that if I put the thumb loop on the needle, then knit into it with my right hand and the working yarn and slipped the loop off, it was exactly the same. The video says it’s slow and awkward, but that’s just for the person in it, I think - I’m quite fast with it and make nice even stitches after 45 years of using it.

I taught a learn-to-knit class to co-workers a couple of years ago. I gave them needles with the stitches on it, and once they got the hang of the knit stitch, I showed them the thumb method that Suzee is talking about. It was much easier for them to learn than long-tail, and the results are the same.

Long-tail is faster, but if it’s confusing, then thumb is the way to go.