My pattern says to cast on and knit with super bulky size 6 yarn with two strands. It is a knitted bag. The knitting circular needles are 17 US. I don’t know what cast on to use? Any help would be very appreciated. The cast on is 24 stitches.
The cast-on often depends on the type of item…does it need to stretch, or does it need stability? Beyond those considerations, you can use any cast-on you like if the pattern doesn’t specify.
What is your pattern and designer? What are you making? This will help us to answer more specifically.
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Hi ColoCro, Thanks for taking the time to read my post and answer. It is for a sturdy knitted bag of 24 stitches. The yarn is super thick, super bulky, and I need to cast on two strands of yarn that are thick. The pattern does not specify; but, I wonder if there is a best cast on. I know long tail cast on but can I do long tail cast on with two thick yarns and then knit.
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I think long tail cast on would be perfect for a bag, since you want some stability. Bonus that you already know it! Or you might try a cable cast on, so you don’t have to reel off yards of extra-thick yarn like for long tail.
We’d still like to know the name of the pattern…we love to see what people are working on!
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Thank you very much for your answer. I’ll try the cable cast on.
I am working on a beautiful knitted bag called Glenwood Tote by Mama in a Stitch.
I can’t wait to cast on.
I bought the kit from Lion Brand yarns.
The name of the designer is Jessica.
Thanks
Great bag!
You might want to consider which part it is you’re casting on at, and if you need a matching bind off.
I made some slippers which were not as bulky as this, then felted. I caused myself a problem by using cable cast on because, the way it was shaped, i needed the opposite end where it was bound off to be of equal height in the row and my bind off did not match the cast on, a significant difference in row height and it was all due to the extra height of the cable cast on.
Hopefully this isn’t an issue in your pattern but it made me a bit cautious to think ahead to where the cast on and bind off rows will be in a pattern.
If, for instance, the cast on is the top edge of the bag then the fabric works down, across the bottom and up the other side, so the bind off is also the top edge of the bag, there will be a visual and size difference if you don’t think ahead to matching cast on and bind off.
You could use a knit cast on to avoid the need for measuring out the long tail, and the knit cast on doesn’t add height to the row so a knit/purl bind off will match.
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Hi, I don’t think my last message went through, and I wanted to make sure I thanked you for your very thorough and helpful answer.
Thinking over everything, I will reread my pattern. The pattern notes clarify how to knit the tote.
You begin by knitting a simple rectangle for the base. Next, you pick up stitches evenly on each side to make four sides. I will keep that in mind with your very helpful answer. Thank you again.
You’re very welcome. Your other message came through as a private message, which is fine. I appreciate you taking the time to work out how to respond.
I think as you’re picking up in each side of a rectangle you would want the edges as similar as possible. I’d go with the knit cast on and knit bind off.
There is a cable bind off if you wanted to go to the trouble of learning it, it seems unecessary as it would end up hidden in the bottom seam of the bag.
Let us know how you get on,
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Thank you Creations for your help.
I used the knit cast on. It was quiet doable although you need to use two strands of thick yarns Super Bulky, number 6.
After casting on, I was knitting carefully with a 17 US, 32 IN long circular knitting needles. I decided to change to 17 US 24 IN long circular knitting needles. The 32 IN makes the knitting the k stitches a bit difficult. I am just about to recast on on the 24 IN long circular knitting needles.
I hope this length of circular knitting needles will make my knitting easier.
Thanks again.
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It sounds like you might have decided to start again? If you are working wih the same size needle (the US 17) you shoukd be bke to switch to a shorter or longer cable as needed without restarting. You can just introduce the new needle as the right needle and work stitches off the old needle as the left needle.
I find working in the round quite tricky (i don’t really like the angle of my needles) but there are others here who love it and can offer more advice if needed.
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Thank you Creations for responding. I am now knitting flat with the US Size 17, 24 inches long circular knitting needles. I used the knit cast on 25 stitches, holding two strands of yarn. Because I am knitting with circular knitting needles, after each row knitted, I have to remember to change the orientation of the circular knitting needles because I want to knit flat, and not by mistake join rows and knit a tube. Thanks for following my journey. I am knitting until piece measures 11 inches long. Piece now measures about a couple of inches.d
Ah, I see.
I also use circulars to knit flat and I find if the cable is too long it feels like it’s in the way, bouncing around and pulling on my needles.
Enjoy your knitting.
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