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. Check out the video below to see how easy this Long Tail Cast On Purlwise is…
Note that if you’re planning to work a rib stitch, this cast on works great in combination with a knitwise cast on. For tips on knitwise cast ons, check out our Long Tail Cast On Tutorial, where we explain both the Slingshot and Thumb Method!
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.