• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • YouTube

Learn 2 Long Tail Cast Ons

January 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

Learn how to master the Long Tail Cast On, the most widely used cast on in knitting. This tutorial includes instructions for how to estimate your long tail length, as well as how to begin this cast on *without* a slip knot!
Last week we kicked off a month of cast ons in honor of the new year, and this post continues the series with a look at two different long tail cast ons. Specifically, this post is about the nearly-universal Long Tail Cast On and the somewhat less known German Twisted Cast On. The Long Tail is one that many knitters master sometime near the beginning of their career and never stray from. While that’s not the case for every single knitter in the world, it’s also not uncommon. The German Twisted, just one of its many names, is done quite similarly to the Long Tail, but with – wait for it – a twist that opens up garment possibilities by adding some useful stretch to the mix. 

How to Work a Long Tail Cast On

Learn how to master the Long Tail Cast On, the most widely used cast on in knitting. This tutorial includes instructions for how to estimate your long tail length, as well as how to begin this cast on *without* a slip knot!
If the Long Tail Cast On is so universally known, why bother with it in this series? We’re going to examine this infamous cast on in detail for a couple reasons. First off, there are beginners in the room (Hi, welcome! Glad to have you!), and some folks start their knitting journeys simply using a different cast on like the Knitted Cast On or the Single Cast On. It all depends on who taught you. Secondly, your technique might be different than mine, and it can be useful to compare and contrast techniques. For instance, I do NOT start my Long Tail Cast On with a slip knot because I hate the unnecessary little bump it creates. Some folks like the bump, but I don’t. Plain & simple. :)

In this video, I start off with a great tip for how to estimate your long tail cast on. To give credit where credit is due, I must link to brilliant Knit Designer Theresa Schabes who taught me this trick in a workshop a few years ago. It’s a go-to knit hack for sure!

Long Tail Cast On pros: it’s widely used, it’s easy to memorize, and it’s sturdy. Cons? It’s not stretchy. Stretchiness and aesthetics are the two main reasons folks, myself among them, start to venture into the world of other knitting cast ons. So many knitting patterns simply say “cast on X sts” and don’t specify which one to use. In my patterns, I generally specify the preferred cast on to use because, especially in the case of garments,  you need to be able to put on and take off your dang sweater! Much like my preference for Long Tail Cast Ons sans slip knots, it’s just a practical consideration.

Learn how to master the Long Tail Cast On, the most widely used cast on in knitting. This tutorial includes instructions for how to estimate your long tail length, as well as how to begin this cast on *without* a slip knot!

How to Work a German Twisted Cast On

Learn how to cast on your knitting with the German Twisted Cast On, also known as the Old Norwegian Cast On. This is very similar to the Long Tail Cast On, but adds some useful stretch.
About two years ago on this blog, I did a post about the Old Norwegian Cast On, also known as the German Twisted Cast On or the Elastic Long Tail Cast On. Since we’re doing a whole series of cast on posts this month, it’s fitting to once again include a bit about this cast on, in addition to the following video tutorial. After all, the German Twisted Cast On is a variant of the classic Long Tail Cast On, featured above. PS: If it wasn’t super obvious, there are a lot of common names for this cast on, so keep that in mind for future googling purposes. 

The German Twisted Cast On is stretchier than the regular Long Tail Cast On, but it still has some sturdiness to it. This combination of characteristics makes it ideal for things like cuff down socks, cowls, or hats. As I mentioned in my other post about this cast on, the added twist incorporated into the construction of this cast on gives knitters a little bit of extra yarn in each stitch, which is where the elasticity comes from. Pro tip: The thing with that added stretch is that your tail should be slightly longer to accommodate it. My rule of thumb is to add 20% more length to your tail when you estimate it before casting on. If you look at the Long Tail Cast On tutorial in this post, you can use the same tail estimation trick for the German Twisted, but for every ten stitches’ worth of tail you estimate, add two more wraps (a.k.a. an extra 20% of length). Easy!

I personally like the knotted look of this cast on, but some folks don’t. If you’re looking for a prettier cast on than the German Twisted, but you don’t want to sacrifice the elasticity, tune in to the next post in this cast on series where we’ll tackle the Chinese Waitress Cast On, a much-more-difficult-to-accomplish cast on than the German Twisted, but it’s super pretty (if you don’t mind the challenge). I love the German Twisted Cast On because if the only other cast on you know is the Long Tail Cast On, this one is so similar! Great for advanced beginners looking to level up their technique game.

Learn how to cast on your knitting with the German Twisted Cast On, also known as the Old Norwegian Cast On. This is very similar to the Long Tail Cast On, but adds some useful stretch.
The yarn used in these videos is 24/7 Cotton in Ecru and was provided by Lion Brand Yarn. 

Filed Under: Knitting, Knitting 101 Tagged With: cast on, elastic long tail cast on, german twisted cast on, knitting 101, long tail cast on, old norwegian cast on, video tutorial

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Knitflix for Hiberknitting (And Crochet!)
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Master the Knitted and Cable Cast OnsMaster the Knitted and Cable Cast Ons
  • Tackle 3 Advanced Knitting Cast OnsTackle 3 Advanced Knitting Cast Ons
  • Old Norwegian Sock Cast OnOld Norwegian Sock Cast On
  • The Long Tail Tubular Cast OnThe Long Tail Tubular Cast On

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Monthly highlights sent to your inbox.

Find Me Elsewhere, If You’re There

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
.
Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
.
I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
.
I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
.

#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
.
The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
.
I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
.
#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
.
What’s on your needles this week? 
.
Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
.
I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
.
#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
.
Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
.
[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy