Casting on

[Arwyn]

When casting on for the ribbed sections (as in, starting just about any soaker pattern!), what method(s) of co do you use? Does anyone else cast on in rib? (Two needle cast on in an alternating knit-purl type way) I saw it in a book and gave it a whirl, and it was SO SLOW! And hard. Finally got the hang of it about 4/5 of the way done! :oops: Now I just have to hope it was worth it - it's supposed to give a smoother, stretchier start to the rib. Anyone? :eyes TIA!

[CraftyMommaOf2]

Sounds like alot of work! I just finished the ribbing on Brayden's shorts I"m doing or I would have given it a shot. I'll have to see if I can find something online. Let us know how well it turns out :love

[ravingcutie]

I do the long tail co - it requires a second ball of yarn, but it's wrth it. Stretchy for the ribbing. It isn't a knit/purl alternating, but it's fast & easy.

Link: http://knitting.about.com/library/bltgcaston.htm

[marnie]

why do you need 2 balls of yarn? it looks like the same thing i'm doing, and if i understand the link you sent, the 2 yarn colors are just to illustrate which yarn is in which hand.

[ravingcutie]

I use the extra yarn ball because I'm really bad at estimating how long a tail I need. The second time I co w/ too short a tail, I converted to using a second ball - saves headache!

[Arwyn]

Long-tail is what I normally use (it's fast and fun - sometimes I'm disappointed when done with co because I like it more than knitting! :oops: :lol: ). The book I learned from recommended one inch per stich when doing long tail co, and that's always worked for me (so far, at least! *knock on wood*).

[pamelamama]

long tail

but Jess from fabriconnection was shwing me some funky german twisty cast on.... like to try that soon.

[ravingcutie]

I think my "long tail" is actually the german twist, but they're so similiar in my book it's hard to tell. It does involve a long tail- does it still count?

OT - I think the "german twist" is being offered at the local dance studio. Any takers? :lol:

[BethyM99]

They aren't they same, but similar. Longtail doesn't have a "twist". I like German twisted, its fun! It's also pretty

I'm nak or I'd get a link but I found it in google, I guess Jess and I get the GMTA award :lol:

[ravingcutie]

Yay for the GMTA Award (that's what we should call our WWF DDDDCs). I have a major knitting book here. It shows 3 + different versions of a long tail cast on: long tail, german, and italian. Then there's the german twist, and the italian creme soda, etc. But I haven't spent enough time with my needles and the illustrations to know the subtle differences. Someday, when I have a lot of time on my hands I will. I know they do slightly different things, but for soakers the German twist has been good to me. Sturdy enough for that ribbed edge, pliable enough to get over a baby, without allowing it waistband to stretch too much.

[dandelions2]

Yay for the GMTA Award (that's what we should call our WWF DDDDCs

Oh no! Our board is called "WWF"!? Now I'm picturing grossly huge men in teeny tiny shiny spandex panties hitting each other with chairs. ;)

[mamapez]

Yay for the GMTA Award (that's what we should call our WWF DDDDCs

Oh no! Our board is called "WWF"!? Now I'm picturing grossly huge men in teeny tiny shiny spandex panties hitting each other with chairs. ;)

Uh, oh, now the hubbies will be interested...

[dandelions2]

Yeah, but then they will be greatly disappointed when they see all we talk about is sheep! :fluffo

[ravingcutie]

Pamelamama wants to call it something else, but we haven't come up w/it yet... Apparently WWF just isn't charming enough. :lol:

[pamelamama]

:baa