Long Tail Cast On, Purlwise
Occasionally you may want the lovely little purl bumps to appear on the front of your needle as you cast on, rather than on the back. Here’s our tutorial video where we explain how easy the Long Tail Cast On, Purlwise is…
Click To See Video Transcript
I’m going to show you how to do a long tail cast on purlwise. But first, let’s take a look at what a long tail cast on knitwise looks like. When you do the long tail cast on knitwise, you get these dashes along the bottom edge of your needle on the front side, and on the back side of the needle you get these purl bumps. Now if you’re ever in a situation that you want the purl bumps to show up on the front of your needle as you cast on, you do a long tail cast on purlwise. Let me show you how to do that.
Now the setup is the exact same as it is for a long tail cast on, with a slingshot setup. So first let’s measure out three times the width…Three and a half times, let’s say, the width of what you’re working on. Make a slipknot. Make a slipknot right here and use my needle to pick that knot up. Then you can pull both strands evenly to snug that knot right up to your needle. Make sure it’s not too tight. And now we’re ready to set up the slingshot.
So with my long tail in front and my working yarn in back, I’m going to use my thumb and index finger to separate those two strands coming down from the knot. And I’m going to just gently pull back. And now we have our slingshot.
Now to cast on Purlwise instead of going to your thumb, instead you’re going to take the tip of your needle to the base of your index finger. Draw it up your finger picking up that strand, then go under the strand coming from your thumb and back through the loop coming from your finger. Now let your finger fall out of that loop, and then use the finger to tighten that stitch.
All right, let’s do that again. So when you have your slingshot, take the tip of your needle to the base of your index finger. Draw it up your finger. Draw it under the strand coming from your thumb and then back through the loop coming from your finger. Drop your finger out and then use that finger to tighten that stitch up.
So you can already see these little purl bumps forming here. All right. Needle to the base of your finger. Draw the needle up your finger under the strand coming from your thumb through the loop coming from your finger. Drop your finger out and then tighten.
Let’s do this a few more times. Take the tip of your needle to the base of your finger. Draw it up your finger. Take the needle under the strand coming from your thumb and go through the loop coming from your finger. Let your finger fall out and then use your finger to tighten that up.
Here we go. Look at those purl bumps. All right. A little faster, maybe.
A needle to the finger. Up the finger under the strand from the thumb. Through the loop from the finger. Let the finger fall out. Tighten up the stitch.
One more time. Needle to the finger. Take the needle up the finger. Take the needle under the strand coming from the thumb. Through the loop from the finger. Let the finger fall out. Tighten the stitch with your finger.
It’s as easy as that. It’s just a backwards version of doing a regular long tail cast on.
The setup is the exact same as it is for a knitwise long tail cast on, with a slingshot setup. To cast on purlwise, you’re going to take the tip of your needle to the base of your index finger. Draw it up your finger, picking up that strand, then go under the strand coming from your thumb and back through the loop coming from your finger. Now let your finger fall out of that loop, and then use the finger to tighten that stitch. You’ll simply repeat that motion if you want your purlwise cast on to go all the way across.
If you’re planning to work a rib stitch, the purlwise long tail cast on works great in combination with a knitwise long tail cast on, for a stretchy cast on that matches the ribbing. This is also known as the alternating long tail cast on! You’ll alternate one knitwise cast on stitch with one purlwise cast on stitch for 1×1 ribbing, or two knitwise cast on stitches with two purlwise cast on stitches for 2×2 ribbing.
For detailed instructions and tips for long tail knitwise cast ons, check out our Long Tail Cast On Tutorial, where we explain both the Slingshot and Thumb Method!
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Yea You! Thanks!
Thank you so much for the video tutorial. I was wondering if you can alternate a regular long tail cast on and a purlwise cast for a 1×1 rib?
Hello Sudeshne,
Thank you for reaching out! This cast on works great in combination with a knitwise cast on for a rib stitch. For tips on knitwise cast ons, check out our Long Tail Cast On Tutorial, where we explain both the Slingshot and Thumb Method!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I love this method of casting on for ribbing! What method of bind off would you recommend to match this cast on?
Hi Jacqueline,
Thanks for reaching out! While Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Better Bind Off looks the most similar to a long tail cast on, it is a bit tricky to master the tension and can take quite a long time. Most knitters use a Basic Bind Off, worked in pattern if your piece ends in ribbing as well, and find it to be a close enough match without any extra work!
Best,
Julianna
Thanks so much for the response. Purl Soho is the best!
Mind blown! You having the best tutorial videos I have seen!
How do I do the long tail cast on method when I am left handed?
Hi Jule,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not have instructions for working a long tail cast on left handed; however, if you are just starting out, I would recommend trying to learn to knit the same way a right handed person would. Knitting is a two-handed activity, so you will still have to use your right hand for many things either way, and as you start knitting more complicated patterns, it will probably become more and more difficult to reverse the instructions.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you. I love your tutorials, I find them the clearest and most efficient. On this one, I was wondering if I put the long tail in front and do the regular long tail cast on, am I getting the same results as the purlwise long tail cast on?
I misspoke in my last comment. I meant to ask, if I put the long tail in BACK and do the regular long tail cast on, am I getting the same effect as the purlwise longtail cast on?
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for reaching out! For both methods you keep your tail in the front, it is more about which direction you are grabbing the yarn with your needle that distinguishes the knit or purl cast on!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gianna
HI ! I really appreciate your great tutorials.
Being a new knitter, I don’t understand … why/when would you use the purl-wise approach instead of the knit-wise approach ? Does it have anything to do with the ‘right’ side vs. ‘wrong’ side of a piece?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Barbara,
There are a few different reasons that a pattern may call for a purlwise cast-on! In general though, the knitwise version of this cast-on is the standard, so I’d recommend using that unless your pattern calls for otherwise. But if you’d like to have purl bumps on the front of your work, then using the purlwise method is a great way to do that! You can also alternate the knitwise and purlwise methods to get a nice and regular edge for working in ribbing stitch patterns. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you so much for the tutorial! I was always changing my patterns a bit (starting with the “wrong side”) to have the little bumps on the back but these days are over!
I love your patterns and always recommend your website to new knitters.