In the Beginning

Welcome, to new friends coming from the Storey Publishing book tour! It is my pleasure to be part of the tour and to introduce you to a fabulous new knitting reference book, "Cast On, Bind Off" by Leslie Ann Bestor. 

Excerpted from Cast On, Bind Off © Leslie Ann Bestor, photography © John Polak used with permission from Storey Publishing

As I was reading through Cast On, Bind Off, I was thrilled to see the first section of "Basic Cast Ons" and a clear picture of nine great basics.  A knitter who knows a few good cast on techniques will have the knowledge needed to make the right choice when starting a project.  This page offers a varied list of the techniques a knitter can easily learn for the first step of a project.

Excerpted from Cast On, Bind Off © Leslie Ann Bestor, photography © John Polak used with permission from Storey Publishing

Each technique has its own page, which lists the characteristics and uses, along with a clear series of pictures and easy to follow instructions.  A big plus is the spiral binding, which means the book will stay open (halleluiah!) while you try your hand learning a new cast on.

I've taken the book along when knitting in public and friends have been able to learn their desired cast on (or bind off) by following the instructions laid out on the page.

This little book puts at a knitters fingertips, the necessary tools to make an informed choice. When knitting a sock you might try a cast on with a little stretch, like the Old Norwegian, or when starting a sweater, a clean, stable edge may be desirable and the Cable Cast on will fit the bill.  Cast On, Bind Off is a great compilation of techniques that will help any knitter make the first step a perfect beginning.

I'm keeping my copy, because there are many new to me techniques I'd like to learn, but you can win a copy from Storey Publishing by answering a question in the comments:

How many of the cast on techniques listed on the page pictured above do you know and use?  

I'll pick a ramdon winner on Friday July 13th (a great day, don't you think?) and announce the winner sometime over the weekend. Thank you for stopping by!

Follow the Tour!

7/9         Picnic Knits

7/10       Knit and Tonic

7/11       Zeneedle

7/12       Rambling Designs

7/13       Rambling Designs (Leslie Ann, guest post)

7/14       Neo Knits

7/15       Knit & Nosh

7/16       Knitting at Large

7/17       Rebecca Danger

7/18       Lapdog Creations

7/19       Nutmeg Knitter

7/20       Yarnagogo

7/21       Weekend Knitter

7/22       knitgrrl

7/23       It's a Purl, Man

7/24       Whip Up

7/25       Knitspot

7/26       Under the Humble Moon

7/27       Knitting Daily

7/28       Knitting School Dropout

7/29       Hugs for Your Head

7/30       The Knit Girllls

Comments

[Cathy]

I've heard of eight of them, but have only used 5 in projects so far.

[Anne Marie]

I can't see the pic for some reason. ??? The Cable Cast On in your second pic does tend to be my favorite because I don't have to figure out before starting how much yarn I will need for the cast on, I can just go to it.

[Carole]

Cable cast on is my favorite and the one I use the most. I've used 3 or 4 of the others but never Old Norwegian.

[Issy Thomas]

I am always amazed to find there are so many different techniques! What an awesome book.

[Elizabeth]

Wow, I know less than half of those! But I use the four I know, plus tubular and German twisted, pretty variously. I'd like to learn that Old Norwegian--it's gorgeous.

[Denise]

I currently use 4 of them, but would love to learn more. Thanks for the post and opportunity!

[Geri]

I knew or used at least 4 of the cast on's. I'm convinced that casting on and off a certain can make a project more pleasing and functional. Great idea for a book!

[Barbara Seiver]

I know 4 of them, which is amazing for a knitter who 56 years ago was taught backward loop...and had never heard of the others. It's satisfying to learn new things and "do" knitting in a better way.

[Laurie]

Four. I learn every new one I can find. German twisted changed my knitting life for the better.

[CindyCindy]

Cool book and a really handy reference tool. I'm familiar, and have used, 5.

[Tamara]

I have used the long-tail, backwards loop, and the cable-cast on, and use all three regularly for various purposes. It would be awesome to be able to learn more!

[Rebecca Gabriel]

I've used 4. Backward loop, both long tails and knitted. Really, really want to learn more~

[Vicki]

I'm pretty sure I was taught, as a girl, using backward loop, quickly graduating to long-tail and that's my go-to method. I've used cable and knitted, also!

Sounds like a great resource!!

[Sarah]

what a fantastic book!, I have only used knitted and cable as well, and would love to learn some others to help me expand my skills!

Love!

[Mary Katharin]

I've used about 6 before but usually fall back on my beloved long-tail.

[Debbie]

I use three: long tailed, cable & backward loop. It would be great to learn some more cast on techniques!

[Rachel]

I have used 4 I think - I tend not to remember the names so maybe more or less! :)

Looks like a nice book to own.

[Trish]

I know and use 3 - cable, backwards and chained. Thinking old norwegian is next on my list to learn!

[aliceq]

I know 4, but I'm not sure which 4, as I didn't know there were two versions of long-tail, and I can't tell from the picture which one I do; I guess I need this book! I also "know" several versions of the tubular caston ("know" in quotes, because I have to look it up every time I want to use it), and a few more types of provisional caston (though now I just use backward loop for that).

[Judy]

I think I know 5 of the cast ons. They may have more than one name, usually do. Looks like a really nice reference book.

[sprite]

I have used seven, but I'd probably have to look up how to do three of them again. My go-to is the twisted German, which is the same as the nicely stretchy Old Norwegian.

[kathleen]

I use long-tailed, backward loop, and cable cast on regularly--so, three out of eight are known and used. I've heard of the rest, but would have to learn or re-learn if I wanted to use them:)

I have used other cast-on's occasionally, if called for in a pattern. But those three are my go-to's. Long tailed was the first cast-on I learned.

Love the spiral binding which is so practical for a book of this type. Wish more publishers used it.

[Ruth]

I know four, and now realize how much I still have to learn. :)

[andrea]

i actually know how to do 3 but unless i have to do a button hole i only use 1. my mom taught me the cable cast on and that is the one i use most. thanks for the chance to win

[Kym]

What a great resource! I have used 5 of the cast-on techniques, but I usually use the long-tail.