Friday, January 4, 2008

Class is in session - Tubular Cast On

As a Ravenclaw, it should come as no surprise that I am a process knitter, not a product knitter. I've been knitting for almost 4 years, but I have very few FOs (Finished Objects) to show for it. For a project to get - and keep - my attention, it better be challenging me in some way.

Since I love learning new techniques, I thought I would put together some posts with links to tutorials, to spread the love around.

In this first collection, I would like to highlight my favorite new cast on for ribbing: The Tubular Cast-On! I actually learned it from Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook (which is far more likely to be found on my coffee table than my book shelf).

1. A very clear demonstration from YouTube of the Long Tailed Tubular Cast On. This is how I personally perform this cast on. However, since I only use it for ribbing, I *do* purl the purls rather than making the tubular stockinette as this tutorial describes.

2. Another demonstration from YouTube, without a voice over (unless you count the rooster in the background). I believe this was done by the Djinnj of LiveJournal's HP_Knitting community.

3. A text description using a provisional cast-on in waste/contrast yarn.

4. A text and picture description of the waste/contrast yarn method.

5. Another text and picture description of the waste/contrast yarn method.

6. Yet another text and picture description of the waste/contrast yarn method. The pictures on this one seem particularly clear to me.

7. The waste/contrast yarn method, this time from everyone's favorite free online knitting magazine, Knitty!

8. Part 1 and Part 2 of a text and picture tutorial for the long tail tubular method (as in # 1).

9. An interesting variant on the long tailed method, using two hands. The author calls this the Italian Tubular cast-on. Text and pictures at the top, scroll to the bottom for a video demonstration.

10. A text and picture description of the waste/contrast method, from Lucia. Also check out her sock-u-lators, by clicking on the Calculators (newer) link at the top of the page.

3 comments:

Quinn said...

Thanks for posting these. I can't wait to try some new techniques.

Unknown said...

I've never made socks before, so I can see that you'll be the go to person for help!

Emma Wigworthy said...

Oh, such a helpful witch. Thank you. I've never tried tubular cast-on and now I can see how to do it I'll give it a go on my next pair.