Right Side Wrong Side Question?

How-to Questions
1

I know this sounds stupid BUT . . .
When using a long tail cast-on, is the first row I am about to knit (side facing me) the wrong side or right side?

When pattern states row 1 RS. Is the first row (the one facing me) the RS or the WS???

Thanks for your help,
Kathi

2

It’s row one of your pattern–usually the right side.

3

technically, the long tail cast on also completes your first row by making a row of purl bumps, so a lot of references will tell you to then start your stockinette with a wrong side row.

that said, i generally use the long tail cast on and always start on the first right side row anyway, just as i would for any other cast on (as i’m sure many others do, also).

4

I’m still confused???

5

There is a difference of opinion on the long tail cast on. Some people say that the long-tail cast on should count as a row when working stockinette stitch. Others treat the cast-on as just a cast-on and count the first row of the pattern as the first row.

I happen to be one who doesn’t count the cast on as a row.

As for the right side, or wrong side, your pattern should tell you if the first row is a rs or ws row.

If you’re working st st, you can purl the first knitted row and call it row 2, or just knit the first row. It really isn’t that big a deal for straight stockinette.

Personally if a pattern says to cast on and then knit X number of rows, I do just that.

6

I just recently heard about the `advice’ that you should work the first row after the CO as the WS row if you do a long tail cast on. I’ve been knitting since I was in high school (a very long time ago) and usually use the long tail and just do the next row as written in the pattern. A cast on is a cast on and a row is a row.

sue