If you have to cast on a lot of stitches, say, for a sweater or a long circular scarf, you might have trouble estimating the amount of tail you will need.
Instead of trying to estimate and then risking either running out of tail or wasting a bunch of yarn, you can just use both ends of your ball of yarn to do your cast-on.
Never Run Out Of Tail - The Infinite-Tail Method
Tips:
1) Don’t use both ends of the same ball of yarn if you can possibly help it. Avoid tangles and use two balls of yarn.
2) If you do use both ends of the same yarn ball, when you are done casting on, make sure to cut the yarn that is coming from the outside of the ball.
This quick cast-on trick brought to you by…
This cast-on trick is a small part of the upcoming video knitting course, The KnitFreedom Video Guide To Cast-Ons, on sale this Friday, May 10th. Watch your email inbox for the presale info!
Leave a Comment
Did you learn something new from this post? Have a question? Leave a comment and let me know!
79 thoughts on “Never Run Out Of Tail Casting On – The Infinite-Tail Method”
Doesn’t the end you used then cut off come loose after your item is all knitted?
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Wow, you are the best teacher of knitting! I love your videos and I can’t wait to purchase your book.
You are our knitting Angel, thank you, thank you!
Pauline, thank you so much for your sweet comment! It’s students like you that keep me so encouraged and excited to keep blogging.
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Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am
impressed! Extremely helpful information particularly the last part :
) I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain information for a very long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Liat, thanks so much for this tip. I either run out of tail or have way too much left over. This will help me so much!
Hi Liat, do you wait until you finish your project to pull out the knot?
so glad I found you. I will use this cast on can’t wait. Planning on making a blanket for Gr nephew this will be a welcomed cast on :)
Brilliant! Ever think of applying that elegant brain to world peace?!
You are so sweet – I will see what I can do! ;)
YAY ! Liat this cast on is amazing.
Thank you , thank you , THANK YOU !
I’ve recently heard about this method from a couple of different sources, but couldn’t visualize it until I saw your clear video. Your video tutorials really are the best.
It’s Friday, I want to buy your ebook on sale, but I keep getting the full price when I try to check out. What am I doing wrong?
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What a great tip thank you.
Thank you, thank you! So simple, but I had never thought of doing that. XO
I love your blogs and have saved all your tips. If bulk is not a concern, can’t both the “tails” be woven in to the finished piece individually?
Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information specifically the last part :) I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
That is the coolest tip ever! As a new knitter (since July 2012) I struggle to estimate the length of yarn to use for casting on. Either too much or too little. I’m happy because I’ve learned something new to help me with knitting (which I LOVE!) Thank you.
What do you do with the other end of the yarn once you have completed the cast on?
So easy! I may tempted to try the long tail cast on now. Thanks for making things easier and less frustrating for us.
Another wonderful tip. Thank you
I can’t believe I never thought of this! Thank you.
Liat,
I just love watching your videos, Iv’e learned so much! My Mother taught me to knit when I was just 7 or 8 and the long tail was one of the first things I had to master. One thing I would like to know after watching this video several times is how did you wrap your yarn to “pull” from both the inside and the outside? I know how to “pull” from the inside but how can you “pull” from the outside at the same time? I would be “unwinding” from the outside and get tangles!
Thanks for all you do!!
Pam
Fabulous! Utterly fabulous. Thanks!
Best,
J
Fabulous! Utterly fabulous. Thank you!
Best,
J
Thank you! I never can figure out how much yarn I need to pull out for my projects and now I don’t have to!
I continue to learn soooo much from you ! You are so gracious to share so much knowledge on Youtube. I am grateful you are part of my ’email life’ !
Many, many thanks…..
Thank you so for the reminder. I had seen this awhile back and had forgotten all about it. Sooooo much better. I save all your hints. All your videos and examples are so easy to see and follow. Bless you.
Could you possibly use this to cast on stretchy stitches in the middle of a project. I was thinking about a sweater that I am making that has a cap sleeve and round neck. it will require some give so it will lay properly.
I also would use it when I am making socks with after thought heels and toes so that there would be give there.
Just a thought
That is ingenious! I never would have thought to do that! : )
Love, Love this idea. Your video’s are the best for me to understand….Thank you
No worries!
I knew you would fix it!
I so appreciate your videos!
Thank you!
Totally makes so much sense once you see it! Why oh why didnt I know this sooner?
Liat I always look forward to ANY info you send out! Makes knitting life so much more fun!
Thank You for all your time and energy you put into keeping us knitters (new & old) up to date…
Thank you Liat,
I just love it and it will save me so much time because, most of the time,
the yarn is not enough to finish the cast on.
Loved the tip! So simple yet so brilliant. Gave me a “Why Didn’t I Think of That” moment.
Clever! And a real time saver. Thanks.
Thank you very much for all that you share. Appreciate all of your hints & I have knit since I was little. :)
Once again you’ve busted out of the box, and given us a completely brilliant idea! I’ll be using this on my next project, for sure! Thanks a million, you are the best knitting teacher on the Internet, IMH).
Thank you …I use the long tail all the time and have been re-doing it over and over to get it right. I’m a new knitter.
Once again, you have come through with a brilliant tip. I always look forward to your email videos. Thanks for sharing.
(I wonder how much time I would’ve saved in my life over the 55 years I’ve been knitting had a used this simple trick! Thanks so much!)
Awesome tip! Easy to follow video. Just what I needed!
Thanks Laurel! So glad you found it helpful.
That was very interesting and I will do it! Thank you.
What a fantastic idea. Can’t wait until Friday to order this new video. Thank you again.
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This was new to me and so appreciated. Also, yesterday I received an email saying my year was up and I would no longer be receiving your WONDERFUL newsletters. Then in this email I see where a person can sign up for it. Do I need to re-subscribe? I get so much from each of your newsletters and look forward to them so please say it isn’t true! Pat
Hi Pat,
You are so sweet! I will continue posting helpful blog posts and emailing them to you, but I don’t have any more newsletter emails written… I’ve just been so busy! I had to stop after writing 52 of them.
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{{{hugs!!}}}
that is really neat. Thanks
Same question as Robin. What do I do with the other yarn end? I followed along last night, thought it was ingenious, then was instantly confused with the 2 working yarns. *NewKnitterProblems. Thanks.
Hey Rikki, just cut one of the yarns and leave a 6-inch tail. Continue knitting with the other one. Then, when you’re done with you’re project, weave in that tail with the rest of your ends.
Your Utubes are the absolute BEST out there. Thank you!
Thanks Lucille! That makes me happy! Thanks for your comment.
What do you do with the second tail when the cast on is complete? Just cut it, leaving 2 tails at the starting end and one tail at the other end?
Cool trick, wish I’d had this one 2 days ago…
I googled and this suggests you do cut one of the two yarns once you’ve finished casting on.
Hi Robin,
Good question! Yes, just cut one of the tails, leaving 6 inches for weaving in. Then, when you’re done with your project, weave it in with the rest of your tails.
What an excellent idea, thanks very much
Hugs
Wx
Hey Girl! Great to hear from you! Glad you like the tip. Hugs!
Thank you so much. This makes long tail method so much easier
LOVE this tip – thanks Liat!
Oh thank you, thank you, and thank you Liat! I have knit several patterns (cowls) lately that had 200-300 cast on stitches, wish I had seen this earlier.
Oh no! You’re right, this tip would’ve been perfect for those cowls. Maybe you need to start one more…? ;)
Oh, i forgot to tell you. i can’t use the same ball, i always mess up. the yarn gets tangle so i just use another ball. thanks. Gloria.
Hi, i ‘ve been using this method for a while. i was knitting blankets for my grands a couple of years ago. i just happen to come across this site. but what i didn’t see was the part about geting rid of the double yarn and not counting it as a stitch. i thank you Liat, i always learn something from you , You are the best!!! Love , Your Student, Gloria.
Gloria, I’m so happy! I love that you keep learning new things from me. Looking up these new techniques keeps me learning, too! :D
What a simple yet brilliant technique! So easy both to remember and to do, and so useful when casting on for circular sweaters.
I know, right? Well I didn’t think of it – Cameron Hildreth, owner of Stix Yarn Shop, taught it to me. Genius!
Thank you Liat it is very good and useful I do love it. thank you so much
You’re welcome!