In her essays and blog posts, the Yarn Harlot (aka Stephanie Pearl-McPhee) has often mentioned the difference between a "knitter" and a "capital K Knitter." The former is the casual knitter who works average projects for gifts or otherwise and who doesn't really expand his or her arsenal of knitting skills. On the other hand, a Knitter is someone who is constantly learning and improving, bringing new skills and challenges to an already brimming repertoire. While I'm probably somewhere in between, perhaps a little closer to the knitter without a capital K, I do find joy in learning new tricks and skills within my craft.
Fortunately, the glorious internet makes it easier to strive towards Knitterhood, empowering us to learn something new. For once, you actually can progress in a bubble, assuming it involves some broadband. Text descriptions, picture tutorials and YouTube videos can set you on your way. The resources are innumerable and just waiting for your Google search.
While I may not be ready for the challenge of taking big pointy scissors to a 200-hour fair isle sweater, I've discovered that there are many ways to enhance a skill that's already part of the knitting experience. Take the cast-on, for example. Most garden-variety knitters cast on just about every project with the old standby - the long-tail cast-
on. It's springy, it's easy, and only occasionally do you have to do it all over again because you ran out of tail. But there are other ways, grasshopper. Whether it's an Italian tubular cast-on or a little bit of magic, there may be better ways to get from point A to B.
Behold, the magic cast-on. This technique creates a seamless join from which you can knit toe-up socks or double-knit items like Minty Fresh's Tapestry Cowl.
- For in-depth text and photo tutorial, check out Judy Becker's original article on Knitty.
- For a great pattern that uses this cast-on technique and the wonderful videos that go with it (embedded in the document), purchase the Tapestry Cowl pattern by Minty Fresh.
- For free videos, search for "magic cast-on" on YouTube and Google Video.
- Apply the magic cast-on to toe-up sock patterns for a seamless toe!
For information on other cast-on techniques, check out this Knitty article dedicated to just that.
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