Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! To continue on with our series of keeping cast on rows loose, we would like to share our third tried-and-true method. So far we have focused on the most basic tricks for making cast on rows looser. But what happens if either moving up a needle/hook size or holding your needles together to cast on still don’t quite give you the results that you want? That’s where this next knitting tip comes into play:

Our third way of making the cast on row looser is to use a stretchy cast on. Through our crafting groups, we’ve found that many knitters continue to exclusively use the cast on that they were initially taught when they were first learning to knit. For instance, it is likely that the long-tail cast on is the one and only cast on that beginner to moderately experienced knitters use. And, while it is a great and very stable cast on, it isn’t necessarily the stretchiest nor the most appropriate in all garments. However, there are other cast ons out there that are more ideal for different projects and patterns!

There are several very stretchy cast ons out there, so find the one that works best for you and your project. We at T.H.R.I.V.E. Association are partial to the German twisted cast on, as it really is one of the stretchiest cast ons that we’ve found. It does take some practice and some concentration to master, but it is worth the effort! 

Remember, there are other stretchy cast ons in case this one doesn’t suit you. This may be time to break out your trusty knit stitch dictionary or Google search “stretchy cast ons” and just experiment with the various stretchy cast ons to find the one that works for you. There is often no one-size-fits-all in crafting, such as with cast ons. Remember, crafting handmade gifts is as much about the journey and honing our knitting skills, as it is the finished garment. Happy crafting! 

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. Continuing on with our cast on series, here’s a super simple knitting tip that can save you in a pinch:

Say that you’re on the train or at the office and you only have your yarn, your pattern, and the called for needle size for your chosen project – what can you do if you need to make your cast on more stretchy for your project? You can simply hold the two needles together and cast on as usual. This effectively increases your gauge without any added fuss. It’s so simple and very effective. In fact, several of our volunteers have had great success with this technique! Sometimes even the simplest techniques can get us the results that we’re looking for!