Cast-ons

I'll admit to being highly intimidated when it comes to learning new cast-on techniques. After all, the one I've been using works. Funny thing is, it's apparently not even called what I thought it was called. I thought it was the thumb method but apparently it's actually the single cast-on or backward-loop cast-on. Seems like back when I learned it many years ago, they called it the thumb method, though I could be mistaken. Maybe they've just developed the craft a lot more, or found a lot more from around the globe thanks to the Internet. There wasn't a lot of information on it at the time. Now, Better Homes and Gardens has updated their site, which is the one I originally learned from. I see they still don't mention Continental vs. English. But I digress.

I saw a cool video awhile back that showed how to cast on in 2 colors for a knitted braid edging. In this case, it was to help with a hat pattern they were selling on the same site. I liked the hat, but at the time I figured I was seriously not ready to attempt it. I had never seen anyone move yarn around that way with even one color, let alone two. I guess that's what happens when you teach yourself to knit from a 2-dimensional image.

Recently, however, while looking up who knows what, I came across a site called Knitting Help that has videos for several cast-on techniques. I haven't watched all of them, but the cool thing is that for the more complex cast-ons, they have videos for both Continental and English knitting styles. I'm always pleased to see that, since I knit in the Continental style. But I digress again. I watched the video for the long-tail cast-on and actually managed to do it. Boo-yah.

Then, of course, I remembered that hat video with the cool braided edge, and recalled the yarn manipulation for the cast-on looking very similar. Unfortunately, I hadn't bookmarked the video, apparently thinking I just would never be able to do it. But, being who I am, I hunted that puppy down. It's on the Knit Whits site and was posted to their Facebook page, which is where I saw it. I knew it was one of the ones I read most frequently, and they are one of the top two. For inquiring minds, the other is Knitting Daily (Interweave Press).

Having located the video, I was surprised to realize that apparently, by "awhile back," I meant September of 2008. Wow. I can't believe it's been that long. In re-watching the video, now that I've learned the long-tail cast-on, I totally get it, and am determined to try it. Not today, but soon, before I forget (or before yet another year goes by). I have since bookmarked the page so I can buy the downloadable hat pattern, which I still very much like.

I hate to post blog entries with no pictures, so here's a pic of a mini my Hubby painted for me, that I used in probably the first D&D game I played with him serving as DM:

Her name is Shadow (though the mini is officially called "Therese" by Reaper Minis), and she is guarding the yarn with both weapons, so watch out for that sneak attack.