Draft
Cast On Tips and Tricks
Fixes for a cast on that is too tight or too loose, and a way to skip the slip knot.
5 min video
A few fixes for a cast on that comes out too tight or too loose. The long tail is the usual offender, so that is what they are shown on.
You can skip the slip knot and start with a twist instead, which avoids the bump a slip knot leaves. For tension, the fix is in how you tighten: snug, not choking the needle. If that does not come easily, cast on with a bigger needle, or over two needles held together, then knit the first row with the needle the pattern calls for.
If your cast on is too loose, do the opposite. Cast on with a smaller needle and knit from that.
1 Start with a twist instead
If you do not like the bump a slip knot leaves, lay the working needle over the bridge between the two strands and swing it around to put a twist in the yarn. Then cast on as normal.
2 Give the needle a hug
Choking the needle when you tighten each stitch makes a cast on that will not move and is hard to knit from. Make each stitch snug, but not squeezing the needle. Think of wrapping the yarn around lightly, a hug rather than a chokehold. The stitches should slide along the needle.
3 Cast on with a bigger needle
If your cast on still comes out tight, go up a couple of sizes, say a 10 instead of an 8. Cast on as usual, then knit the first row with the size the pattern calls for. You get bigger stitches to knit into and more stretch in the first row, which helps with ribbing and lace.
4 Or cast on over two needles
Hold two needles together and cast on over both. The size of the second needle does not matter. When you are ready to knit, pull one needle out. The stitches are bigger again, good for ribbing or any edge that comes out too tight.