A cast-on question for you
If a pattern told you “cast on X stitches provisionally” but didn’t specify the method, what would you opt for by default unless someone told you otherwise?
a. crochet chain provisional cast on
b. long-tail style provisional cast on with two strands
c. other
Respond in comments, would you please? I’m working out a pattern-writing conundrum and need to know how the majority of you would approach it if presented with those vague directions. Thanks!
Crochet-chain. The long tail provisional cast on has been, in my experience, a major pain in the butt. I’d much rather crochet-chain, and in fact would probably always substitute crochet-chain for any other provisional cast-on method that was suggested (unless a cursory reading of the pattern indicated why that particular specified method was the best one to use).
Crochet. But mostly because I am a much better crocheter than knitter and crocheting doesn’t scare the bejesus out of me. I know lots of knitters that would rather gauge themselves in the eye with sock needles before pick up a crochet hook. I’ve even taken to crocheting chains for friends at knit night so they can use them for provisional cast ons instead of having to crochet the chain themselves.
🙂
after the SDRK conundrum (which is perhaps what you reference in this post), crochet. though in this particular case i propose another method, which i sent you in email previously…
Long tail cast on.
If by crochet chain cast on you mean crochet a chain first, then neither. I’d crochet around the knitting needle with my provisional yarn.
I’d probably do what I just did, which would be to do a google search on the method, read through the pattern, and see which one fit best. Though I like casting on with waste yarn and undoing it later if I have a choice 🙂
Crochet. It’s the simplest for me to do and grasp right now. I suppose I’d try something different if it was specified and explained (in the pattern or the glossary if it’s in a magazine). But I automatically default to crochet.
Meh, I would go on a whim. It’s so irrelevant to the final look of the piece that I would do whatever version is freshest in my mind. I guess I’m most familiar with crochet but I find it fiddly, so I’m always looking for alternatives that are faster but easy to undo (for me they tend to be one or the other, but never both)
I will probably use whichever one I happen to remember at the time. The cast on doesn’t have an impact on the overall look of the item since it is going to be ripped out anyways.
I would google “cast on provisionally” Then I would follow the easiest tutorial which is this:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATfall05TT.html
Then I would hope that I did the right thing.
Since it’s getting ripped out later, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time thinking about it and just use the method that popped into mind. I would probably do the long tail provisional cast on with waste yarn. Crochet chain option maybe, but only if I was instructed to, as I’m still not so comfy with crochet.
I’d likely use the crochet chain cast on just because I like that cast-on method. It lets me feel more in control of how much yarn I’m using, where I still find myself using either too much or too little with the long tail.
I would crochet unless told otherwise
If I’m on the road and/or in a hurry, I’d whip out a crochet hook and chain over my needle with waste yarn.
If I’m at home and have some time for exploration and experimentation, I’d probably go pull Principles of Knitting off the shelf and start reading. Then I’d test one of the methods to see if I like it better than my default crochet method, becuase sometimes I forget to grab a crochet hook when I strike out on the road.
i would do the crochet version,because for me it would be the safest version for this case.
Knitted cast-on. It’s how i learned to cast on and my default unless there’s a mention of a need for a loose cast on.
Crochet for me, definitely. This is the first method I learnt, and I find it the least fiddly.
The two – strand one. Option B i believe.
a. crochet chain provisional cast on
I would go with option b. long-tail style provisional cast on with two strands as a default.
I would use the crochet chain method.
I would also use the crochet chain method.
You’re all awesome. Thanks so much for answering. Helena wins (albeit slightly unfairly since she’s working on the current SDRK project) — ding ding ding!
I asked because I found, to my dismay, that one way doesn’t work as well as the other in the pattern for its chosen purpose, and so I wanted to know what *most* people default to so I can explain accordingly.
Thanks for helping out! Go have a piece of chocolate or something. You deserve it.
crochet chain– it’s my favorite.
Same as what Harper said – I learned this in Great Beginnings at Stitches – instead of a crochet chain, you crochet around the needle, then you don’t have to mess with picking up the right loops and how to hold it so it’s easy to pick into the loops (I hated doing it, so avoided provisionals). Now, I hold the needle and yarn in my left hand and the hook in my right and just go about my business!
i would use crochet provisional cast on.. its quick and easy (plus the one I’m most familiar with)
I’d tend to go for the long-tail cast on with two yarns.
I would crochet chain, especially if it were a large number of stitches that required a long tail to pick out.
Long tail cast on with two yarns……you taught me!!! that is the only one i know and it was so easy!!!!
Long tail cast on with waste yarn, or another circular’s cable standing in for the waste yarn.
Hands down crochet provisional cast on around the knitting needle – I will even admit to using this one even when suggested to do another version.
It’s the fastest and easiest for me and it always works out the first time. But I am comfortable with crochet so maybe that helps too.
Judy’s Magic Cast on! Check out this classic Cat Bordhi video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBIS0AhhQY
I’d do the long tail cause I find it the easiest for me!
Crochet chain. I’ve always used it and never really caught on to any of the other methods.
Crochet. It’s easier for me too.
I’m a lazy/rebellious knitter. Usually when I see the words “provisional cast on” I decide there can’t be a REAL reason that a regular old first-knitting-lesson-style cast on wouldn’t work and go for it.
Occasionally I have regretted this. Like when picot edges won’t lay down. The other times I’ve invented a way around it.
It’s the dog’s honest truth. Sometimes I even pass up patterns with provisional cast ons… I’m more lazy than rebellious. And impatient.
I would use the crochet method. I “get” it, and i find it easiest to “unzip”.
Crochet. It’s the easiest for me *not* to mess up.
crochet chain
I would use the crochet chain for preference – if it stated another sort of provisional cast on I would use that to add another skill but the default position is crochet
i’d use the crochet cast-on if i had a contrast yarn available. i’d also probably try it six or seven times some other way first… ’cause i’m dumb like that…
%-)
crochet all the way!
Crochet chain.
I always knit a few rows in waste yarn and then knit in the yarn I’m using. Long-tail style is probably the way I will teach myself next. I’m not a very strong crocheter.
The long tail with 2 yarns. After years of trying the crochet chain way, the longtail is much easier for me.
Neither. I was first taught a kind of cable cast on, and I can’t use anything else unless it is actually specified!