How to Knitting Tutorial: Long-Tail cast-on method
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How to Knitting Tutorial: Long-tail cast-on method

Long-tail cast-on method is one of my absolute favorite ways to cast-on for knitting. Probably because it was the first method I learned. But also because, honestly, I love the look of it! A nice braided looking edge to set off your beautiful knitted items – yes please!

Plus, technically, the long-tail cast-on method is stretchy.

That being said – it can also be not super stretchy. You’ll want to watch your tension to make sure you get the right stretchiness factor for your project. And I’ve got some tips for that.

Already know how to do the long-tail but need a deep dive into how to measure the tail end? I got you covered in this blog post, click here.

How to Long Tail Cast-on: Part 1 Measurement

First, as the name implies, you will need a long tail in order to do this cast-on. So we need to measure out a length of yarn. There are a number of ways to do this and I go into more detail on this post here.

However, for the majority of the time I find absolute success with the Wrap / Zig Zag method. And that is what we will do for this tutorial.

Wrap + Zig Zag = Success!

How to measure for long-tail cast-on

I use a type of “hybrid” method, a combination of wrapping and zig-zagging with excellent success – even when measuring to cast on a lot of stitches (100 or more!)

To do this you will simply wrap your yarn around the knitting needle you will be using (not too tightly).

Count out the wraps as if they are stitches.

Once you hit 10, you can go ahead and let the yarn loose and begin the zig zag method for obtaining the rest of your yarn measurement.

You will measure a length of yarn against the 10 wraps you just counted out. If you combine these two lengths of yarn – you have 20 stitches worth of yarn.

You can continue zig zagging at 10 stitches at a time. Then, and this is very important, add a pinch to make sure you’re covered.

Conventional wisdom says 5 inches for a tail – I like mine closer to 8-12 inches. I never want to run out of yarn or have such a small tail that weaving in my ends is difficult.

If you are having difficulty understanding what I mean, don’t worry – I get lost in my own words sometimes, but lucky for us both… I have a YouTube tutorial right here you can watch.

How to Long Tail Cast-on: Part 2 Working the cast-on

Before we begin, make sure you know which part of the yarn is your long tail and which is the working yarn. This can cause huge issues if you end up using your long tail in the place of the working yarn and vice versa. And by huge issues, I mean you may find that your tail is not even close to the right length.

So, before you cast-on make sure that the yarn closest to you is the long tail. If your long tail is furthest from you and the ball of yarn nearest you, you will run out of long tail before you are done casting on.

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 1

Insert your needle into the slipknot with the long tail closest to you, and the yarn attached to the ball furthest from you.

And for those of you who have been knitting a while – you can skip the slipknot entirely! In fact I prefer that so I don’t have a knot on part of my fabric. In that case you will just have your yarn laying over the top of the knitting needle. Once you do that first step you will create 2 stitches at once.

Long Tail Cast-on Method Step 2

Hold onto the yarn with the bottom of your palm and your ring and pinkie fingers.

Index finger and thumb preparing to open yarn.

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 3

Using your index finger and thumb separate the yarns with the long tail near you being held by the outside of your thumb and the yarn attached to the ball held on the outside of your index finger.

And BAM! You’re in slingshot pose! It looks like you’re going to sling that knitting needle somewhere, but we aren’t.

Sling Shot Hold

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 4

Take your needle and move it to the yarn on the outside of your thumb, press down until it is holding the yarn.

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 5

Swing your needle so that the yarn is now wrapped around the needle and bring your needle up and over the yarn on the outside of your index finger.

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 6

Bring your needle down on the yarn on the outside of the index finger.

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 7

Swing your needle back out towards your thumb and through the gap in yarn held by your thumb. 

Long-Tail Cast-on Method Step 8

Drop the yarn from off your thumb and bring your thumb to the outside to pick up the long tail again. Pull to the appropriate tightness for your knitting gauge.

Caution!
This is the part where your long-tail cast-on can become really stretchy, or not stretchy enough. Be sure that you pull your yarn not too tightly. You want to be able to stick an additional knitting needle into that stitch so you can knit. You also don’t want it so loose that your cast-on edge looks sloppy. Practice makes better!

Repeat steps 3 through 8 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.

And if you prefer a video tutorial, then I’ve got you covered with my Long-Tail Cast-on video tutorial too!

How to Long-Tail Cast-on Comments/Questions

I’d love to know how it went using this cast-on method. Love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments below. Also, if you have any lingering questions, don’t hesitate to ask them.

Until next time friends,

hugs & Happy Knitting

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