I’ve searched my how-to books, but can’t find a cast on method called “thumb” method. Has anyone else heard of this? The pattern is only a k2p2 rib - but I’m not sure what they mean by this type of cast on.
Should have done a search first. I found it! It’s just a different way of doing the long tail cast on. OOPS!
thumb or English thumb is a style of long tail cast on.
IN US (and Canada) the most common way to work a Long Tail cast on is “sling shot” (at points, the needle/yarn are aligned and sort of look like a sling shot)
in thumb the needle is held in right hand (about the way you’d hold a pencil
1 yarn is held by left hand (thumb yarn) and one strand of yarn is held in left index finger.
the yarn is wraped round the left hand thumb.
the needle is inserted to this thumb stitch ([B]the left hand thumb subs for a left hand needle)[/B]
then the right index finger flicks and makes a stitch,
the new stitch is held on right needle and old stitch slides off the thumb.
so you make a simple loop cast on (on the left thumb)
Knit into the stitch (the left thumb is a substitute left hand needle)
the right index finger makes a new stitch,(with the right hand yarn) and the “old stitch” on the left hand “thumb needle” is dropped off.
the yarns are tightened,(tensioned) and you start all over with a new stitch on left hand thumb
Its a very natural feel if you knit english style.
there are, i am sure, video’s demontrating it.
but you can just do an US/Canadian style long tail (aka a sling shot long tail) and have the same cast on.
Interesting! When I first read the question, I thought of the backward loop cast on, which I do with my thumb. I learned something new!
Backward loop is sometimes called the thumb CO, just to add more confusion. But I use the `english style’ version of the LT, thought I was being clever figuring it out myself because I couldn’t do the slingshot method.
There are two commonly-used methods of casting on. The thumb method uses one needle and tends to create a less noticeable edge to your knitting. The two needle cast-on creates a firmer, less elastic, but stronger edge and is suitable for delicate yarns or garments which will be subjected to very hard wear.
Maybe in your world there are 2(two!) commonly used methods for casting on.
I know 40! and commonly use about a dozen!
my most common cast on is the long tail… but long tail has many ‘flavors’ (thumb is one ‘flavor’, norwegian is an other, latvian another, braided another…
and there there are the tubular cast ons–another favorite cast on of mine
Channel island is used frequently, and if i am working in the round (starting dead center, its a eyelet cast on for me!
There are lots of ways to cast on–and frequently 5 or 6 methods to do the same thing…
like thumb long tail.
it can be come "norwegian –
the sling shot method of Norwegian is pretty well documented, but the thumb method is totally different. (aka Maine cast on)