Are you a sweater knitter? I am. Even in the middle of summer I have the compulsion to cast on. My enthusiasm for the scarf I am knitting is wearing off. I’m not sure why. I am not deterred because a fingering weight scarf is a lot of knitting. A sweater obviously is a lot, more than a lot, of knitting. So that’s not it. It may be that small needle knitting requires more small motor skill than I can maintain for long. I have a yearning for larger needles.
I am trying out a Crochet Cast On. Have you done this?
It’s usually used as a provisional cast on but I also read that it’s a good cast on if you want to pick up from your cast on later in your project. For this pullover I will pick up from the neck opening and work my neckband after I finish my first ball of yarn.
That’s as far as I have cast on so far. I’m impressed. The row of stitches along the knitting needle are neat and tidy but … it’s coming out. If I’m going to pick up afterwards I think I need a bigger crochet hook so the stitches are a little looser. I crochet really, really tightly. Loose knitter, tight crocheter, go figure. I’m going to knit this sweater with a 4.0mm/US6 and I’m using a 5.0mm crochet hook and working this as loosely as I can. I think it’s working well now.
Here are a couple of links if you want to give this cast on a try. All the videos seem to concentrate on the provisional aspect. I am going to pick up off of it instead of taking the cast on stitches out. The cast on itself will stabilize the neck opening.
Crochet Cast On for continental style knitters.
Crochet Cast On for English throwing knitters.
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Deb
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Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 
I like to do the crochet cast on as well as the knitted and the cable co. However I am lazy and only do it if the pattern specifically says to..I am a long tail CO gal. Only because it is the fastest.(even though I waste precious yarn sometimes too) The one I despise is the provisional co…I usually avoid patterns that require that technique..because I don;t do it enough and find it messy to navigate.
Not one for shawls. Am a plus and most of us knit shawls socks and hats galore. I like sweaters and am having fun with 2 colors with the Need a Circular Yoke book. I co for that on July 25 and am just getting to the sleeve separation this weekend.
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I’m a long tail CO gal too. I’m trying to pick up some crochet skills since it’s been a long time since I did it. That’s fast knitting on your Circular Yoke. I’m glad to hear someone else is knitting a sweater even in the summer.
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