# Knitters, I Never Learned the Long-Tailed Cast On. Am I Missing Something? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095 "2008-02-18T13:33:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095/21 "2008-02-20T02:45:36Z")
I always do a knit cast on unless there’s a compelling reason to do a different cast on. It works, it looks great, and I love it! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095/22 "2008-02-20T05:13:12Z")
I’ve learned the [Old Norwegian cast on](http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on) for socks, and although it has to be done on needles two sizes bigger and it seems really stiff when it’s done, it turns out wonderfully elastic. It’s more than a bit tricky but well worth learning. But unless there’s a specific reason to use a specific cast on, I agree that whatever works for you is great. I’m becoming less and less of a long tail fan because it’s so inelastic in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095/23 "2008-02-20T15:43:49Z")
You’re not missing anything, really. I switch between the knit cast on, cable cast on, and long tail pretty much depending on my mood. It’s been cable usually for a few months now, but for several years it was long tail, just because it confounds people who aren’t familiar with it. Magic with sticks and string! About the only one I don’t do is backwards loop, because I think it’s really ugly. For provisional cast-ons, I like crocheted or [COWYAK](http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/10/cowyak-waste-yarn-method-of-provisional.html). Fun to say, fun to do. Is anybody up for a finished objects thread? I have some things I want to share, but I don’t want to hijack this one. I haven’t been on the SDMB for a couple weeks, so I’m not sure when the last one was. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095/24 "2008-02-20T19:00:21Z")
I came in here to mention the COWYAK, but I see you beat me to it. I’ve always knit on, it’s what I learned first and stuck with it. I heard of the long tailed cast on, but it seemed harder to me. Now I have to try the cable on. Thanks to everone for posting links, I save them to my favorites for future reference. I think you should do a finished objects thread, I find them inspiring. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-i-never-learned-the-long-tailed-cast-on-am-i-missing-something/438095.md?page=1)