​Knitting Techniques and the Hacks I Like Best (The Cast -On)

By Jennifer Levine

You know it’s happened to you.
You found the perfect yarn.
You found the perfect pattern.

Then… S#!*
The pattern is far from perfect.

Minimal directions:
Cast on. Work in stockinette. Bind off. Seam together.

Which cast-on?
Stockinette—does that mean knit every row? Or is that garter? I can’t remember!
Bind off… how??
Seam? I thought I was knitting, not sewing!

The practice of knitting (which also includes purling) is not at all like baking. Thankfully, you don’t need to be precise about everything to complete a project successfully.

That flexibility starts right at the beginning - with the cast-on.

Some patterns specify exactly which cast-on to use. Others simply tell you how many stitches to cast on and leave the rest up to you. The Long Tail Cast-On is, by far, the workhorse of cast-ons. It works for most projects, giving you a neat edge with a bit of stretch—and it creates the first row of knitting at the same time.

The problem? The long tail.
I never measure the right length of tail. Ever.
So over the years, I’ve learned a few hacks. Here are my favorites.

Hack #1: Two Strands, No Guessing
You can use the inside and the outside of the same ball of yarn—or better yet, two separate balls.

Make a slip knot using both strands together and place it on the needle. Cast on the required number of stitches (do not count the slip knot). When you reach the end of the cast-on row, cut one of the yarns.

When you finish the second row, simply drop the slip knot off the needle.

You’ll have a couple of extra ends to weave in, but that’s far easier than ripping out your cast-on three times because the tail was too short (or ridiculously long).

Hack #2: Choose a Different Cast-On
The Knit Cast-On is very similar to the Long Tail cast-on. It creates a neat, slightly stretchy edge and starts with a slip knot.

You knit into the stitch on the needle, pull up a new loop, and place it back onto the left needle. It’s great for: Practicing the knit stitch; Adding stitches mid-project; Knitters who hate estimating tail length.

Hack #3: My Favorite—The Cable Cast-On
The Cable Cast-On is similar to the knit cast-on, but instead of pulling the new loop from the stitch, you pull it from between the first two stitches.

This creates a firm, clean, well-defined edge—perfect for structured projects where you want stability and polish.

If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for still reading! There are so many topics I could dive into, but I wanted to start with the basics. If there’s something else you’d like to see covered, just let us know the next time you’re in the shop.

Happy Knitting!