Impeccable Knits’ news – Estonian Cast On (techniques page)

Estonian Cast On Step 1

There are some techniques that I use again and again so I thought I’d create a Techniques page on our new site as well. Keeping all the important stuff in one place, so to speak!

One of these techniques is the Estonian Cast On. I love the stretchiness and the lovely finished edge that it gives, especially to ribbing. For the full tutorial just follow the link above.

6 sts cast on.

The pattern migration is proceeding and you can see all of the completed ones on the new site Impeccable Knits.

Estonian Cast On for Socks, Mitts, Hats, Gloves…

As I discover something new to me, sharing always comes to mind

So new to me this week is the Estonian Cast On — a lovely stretchy cast-on for 1×1 or 2×2 ribbing.  I’ve just added a picture tutorial to the PurpleSage Designs website; you can see larger pictures and download a pdf of the tutorial from the website. Here’s what it looks like:

Emily Ocker’s cast-on – for flat circular knitting

I’ve found this cast on very handy so thought I’d do a little picture tutorial to share. (I first saw this cast on described in Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac.)

This is a great cast-on for objects knit in the round from the centre out — think hats, doilies, circular blankets.

Enjoy!

New Techniques added

Just thought I’d add a quick note about a few new tutorial links on the Tutorials, Tips and Techniques page.

New links today:

1. “How long does the tail for long-tail cast-on have to be?”
2. Backwards knitting (great for short spurts like knitting bobbles or very short rows)

A couple of other resources that have been added the last few weeks:

1. I-cord cast-on
2. Norwegian purl

Double Yarn Over Long Tail Cast On

Just when you thought there was no more…. here’s another variation on the Long Tail Cast On.

Double Yarn Over Long Tail Cast On

This is just a standard Long Tail Cast On but as you scoop the yarn from the index finger wind it around the needle twice.

Then, when you are knitting the first row, drop the extra yarn-over from the cast on of each stitch. This provides a bit of a lacy look to the cast-on edge.

Double Thumb Loop Long Tail Cast On

Here’s another elastic cast on.

In the sample pictured, the cast on row (considered the Right Side) was followed by a knit row which created the purl bumps directly above the cast on row on the Right Side.

When followed by stocking stitch as in this sample, the cast on will flare the knitted fabric at the cast on edge a little, but not as much as the Crossed Yarn Over LTCO.

There’s a full tutorial on the PurpleSage Designs website.

Crossed Yarn-Over Long Tail Cast On…2

This is a variation of the Crossed Yarn-over Long-tail Cast-on (CYO LTCO) that was in the last post. The last post had this cast-on worked on a patterned rib fabric.

Variation 1: First Row after Cast-on Knit

Here, the first row (a Wrong Side row) is worked as a knit row, creating the purl bumps you see on the Right Side just above the loops from the cast on.

Since this is a very elastic cast on, you can see that when the remaining fabric is worked in stocking stitch (knit Right Side, purl Wrong Side), the bottom edge flares a bit.

Variation 2: Yarn Over Loop Knit Together with Cast-On Loop

In this variation, knit the Yarn Over loop together with each corresponding cast-on stitch.

This is still an elastic cast-on, but not as elastic as the above version. This version provides a slightly raised edge but a less “loopy” finish;  the edge still flares if stocking stitch is used as the main fabric stitch but not as much as Version 1 above.

Crossed Yarn-Over Long Tail Cast On

Crossed Yarn-Over LongTail Cast-On Not Blocked

A unique new cast-on — “unvented”, I’m sure

It’s a cast-on that creates a looped, very elastic cast-on edge perfect for this pleated skirt pattern.

In the first photo, the cast-on loops were not blocked {– pinning 224+ loops isn’t for everyone! }

Crossed Yarn-Over LongTail Cast-On Blocked

In the second photo, the loops have been blocked open {read that as each pinned individually}.

The knitting pattern shown here is the hem of the PurpleSage Vintage Child: Accordion design, a girl’s skirt.

The full tutorial on this elastic cast-on is on the PurpleSage website and there’s a downloadable pdf for you as well (just scroll to the bottom of the tutorial page.)

Twisted Backward Loop Cast On, New Tam Pattern

Twisted Backward Loop Cast-on
Today I was taking some pictures and writing a new tutorial to upload to the PurpleSage Designs website. This is a variation of the Backward Loop Cast-on but is a little firmer while still being very elastic. Great for casting on extra stitches at the end of a row. It should be available tomorrow.

New Design: Peony
So the new Cotton Comfort (colour: Peony) has already magically created a new pattern! Love magic yarn!!!!

The pattern is partially written and will be available in sizes from baby to adult.

I’ve had a request to create an adult version of the Gomphidius Swath tam pattern so that’s in the works, too.

Good thing it was raining today

Website Update
The pattern links are all live on the website now, I’ve uploaded several tutorials (some have pdf’s that can be downloaded — a real bonus to the webspace!) and I’m collecting the recycling ideas from this blog to put them all together on one webpage.

Recycling Fibres
I would really love to do more with recycled fibre (I have quite a collection of rescued fibre), but using recycled fibres for patterns is difficult.

It can prove difficult to impossible for knitters and crocheters to find suitable substitutes to work to the proper gauge. And there’s nothing more annoying (I know you’ve been there!!) to find a pattern in a yarn you really, really like only to find out that either the yarn has been discontinued or was a one-of-a-kind hand-dyed by the designer and not available to anyone else, ever!

Creating scarf or shawl patterns where gauge isn’t crucial may be the answer to the first issue and choosing recycled fibres of “common” colours might address the second but runs against the grain of creativity. More pondering required!