kerravonsen | (Reply)

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Until a few years ago I used to do long-tail by the thumb method, basically knitting the stitches on. However if knitting is confusing, then that wouldn't help, but it's the easiest one to learn. I finally clicked with the faster method though.

I was unaware that there was more than one way of doing a long-tail cast-on, so I have no idea which method I am using. But I'm not having any problems with long-tail cast-on, and I'm certainly getting enough practice at it, with all the times I've had to frog back to the beginning!

I think you can still use your hook method as knit and purl are the only stitches, just with variations like adding yarn-overs (holes), kitting together, increasing and decreasing.

I used to think that, until I came across all these terms and abreviations such as SSK, PSSO, "make one", and so on, and I found I couldn't even understand the instructions for them, because it was talking about "insert needle knitwise" and "slip stitch purlwise" and it was all Greek to me. At least now after trying the needle-knitting, I finally understand what "knitwise" and "purlwise" mean, so there is hope in learning the rest.

Though I've just realised that I've been doing my hook-knitting wrong all this time! I've been making twisted stitches instead of straight ones. No wonder my diagonal garter stitch scarf has been curling! I'm not going to undo it though -- that particular yarn has been frogged too many times already, and it is getting fuzzy and sticking to itself.

I crochet too, but though it's faster, I prefer the fabric texture of knitting for most garments

(nods) Knitting is better for garments, because it is stretchy. Crochet is better for bags, dishcloths etc, because it isn't stretchy. For things like blankets and scarves it is probably much of a muchness.

Is crochet faster? That's kind of comforting to me. I always thought that needle-knitting was supposed to be faster. I've certainly seen some people knitting like speed-demons... okay, one person. She was knitting in the bus, and she was so fast it was mind-boggling.