Long Tails

The long tail cast on has caused much consternation since its inception hundreds of years ago. The essence of frustration is that we often end up with a tail that is exceedingly long or not long enough to complete the amount of cast on stitches required. Thus causing us to cast on several times just to get it right. Their are many mathematical formulas out there telling you how to calculate it and almost every one makes me batty. I've tried every one without success. Until one day I was perusing a knitting magazine and came across an advertisement for a WPI tool. A light bulb went off in my dim little mind and I thought... could I just wrap the number of stitches I need around my needle and have the right amount of yarn for my cast on. I dropped the magazine in a hurry and gave it a try. It worked regardless of the needle size or the weight of yarn. Freedom from aggravation had been found at last. Would you like to see it?

All you need to know is the amount of cast on stitches required for your project and a needle of your choice.

First determine how long the yarn tail should be, in this case about 6 inches will do fine. You may use whatever length you want.

Hold the yarn tail at the left side of the needle with your yarn tail dangling into space and then wrap the yarn from the ball around the needle. One wrap for each stitch you need. (It does not matter whether you wrap clockwise or counter-clockwise.)

The wraps should be neat and snug but still able to slide along the needle. 

On the last wrap place your thumb and fore finger on the yarn and let the whole thing unwind off the needle.

Make the slip knot where you pinched the yarn. Begin your cast on.

I always cast on using two needles together to ensure that I have stretchy edge. For this cast on I counted 7 gray stripes in the yarn and started my wraps just about the 7th stripe. Look - its spot on. Not to short and not to long!!!!!

It only take a few seconds and works every time. Don't you just love light bulb moments? I know I do:D

TTFN, Abigail

P.S. At times there is a little variance of 1 inch, plus or minus, but still very do-able.

P.S.S. I would not use this method for cast on's that use more than 100 stitches. It might be a little unmanageable. I suppose you could use a clothes pin to hold the wraps on the needles should you have to put it down and maybe start with a slip knot and drop it when your are done wrapping. If you do try it on a large project I would like know how you succeed.

Comments

[KSee]

thank you for sharing this. I've gotten pretty good about the long tail cast on for my socks but I have been too short or too long enough times that I am going to use this for the next pair.

[Carina]

This is absolute genious! Thank you for sharing your 'ah-ha!' with us.

[Carina]

This is absolute genious! Thank you for sharing your 'ah-ha!' with us.

[Sheri]

Fantastic idea and will save me lots of time
Have often started to cast on and taken stitches off to start again
Thanks very much for this tip

[Wanda]

That's a fantastic idea! Thanks for the tip!!

[turtlegirl76]

For a large project, say, 200 stitches - couldn't you do 50 wraps and then quadruple the length you used?

[Hannah]

Your technique is a gem. In order to cast on huge numbers of stitches, wrap your needle or needles a convenient amount, say 20 stitches, then pinch the length to mark. To measure your tail for 300 cast on stitches, use your 20 stitch length as a measuring guide. Measure 14 more lengths. 20 st x 15 lengths = 300 stitches.

[Frances]

I used to have a problem with getting just enough yarn for this cast. I recently read a post in a newslatter suggesting that you use 2 seperate strand of yarn (one could be from the beginning of the ball and one from the end or just 2 seperate balls of yarn) That way you'll always have enough.

[Marsha]

I just stumbled upon your tutorial today, I know late as usual. I just wanted to share that your method works even in large numbers of stitches. I cast on 300 (yes three hundred) stitches for an afghan to be knit in garter stitch. The method you explain worked flawlessly. Thanks for the light bulb :-)

[aija]

Great tip, thanks!

[Puss]

Ahhhhhh, simple ideas are the best :)

[debbie]

now why didn't i think to do that? i'm a long-tail fan and it aggravates me when my tail is too long and i squeeze hoping i won't need those extra inches....

[Holly]

This is absolutely brilliant!! Thanks for sharing.

[Amanda Cathleen]

ah! Great idea! Thanks : )

[Carrie K]

That's a clever idea! Thanks, Abigail. You have some of the greatest tips.

[Charity]

Oh, you clever thing! Love this idea! :0)

[kat]

i do the same thing just wrapping a smaller amount like 10 or twenty & multipling that amount. I also cast on a needle one or two size bigger cuz i am just a tight cast oner.

[Dave]

This is wonderful! I don't often use the long-tail, but I'll have to keep it in mind for the next time I do. Thanks!

[Jeanne]

What a great idea - thanks for the tip! My tails are usually way too long because I'm paranoid I'll run out and have to start over!

[Tiffany]

Thank you for the advice. I always cast on that way and with two needles. Thanks for the advice. :)

[Lacey]

I have always used the tail cast on for my socks and it has always worked great. I read about wrapping the yarn in a book I think.

[Deb]

I have only recently taught myself the long tail cast on and I love it my cast on edge looks so much neater now :)

[Jenn]

I always do that too - love it and it saves me the aggravation of running out of yarn. With huge projects (more than 100 stitches to cast on) I figure enough yarn for 100 and then use that amount to measure out how much more I need.
Glad you found it!

[Debbie]

Wow, I never use the long tail cast on, due to the problems you described. I think I will from now on, due to the good tip you gave. I think I will teach that to my knitting class.

Thank you!

[trek]

I always do mine like that. If I have a lot of stitches, I divide and multiply. Say I need 120 sts. I wrap 20 and multiply by 6. No worries.