8 Drop the loop of yarn B off your thumb
and gently tighten the yarn A stitch you
have formed on your needle. You have
created a yarn A knit stitch.
9 Return to your catapult or Y shape
position, this time moving the needle tip
to the right to create a loop on your index
finger.
Take the needle tip to the right-hand
side, and underneath yarn A, coming back
up through the loop created by yarn A
around your index finger.
Bring the needle tip down between
yarns A and B in the centre of the Y shape.
Bring the needle tip up from underneaththe strand of yarn B on the inside of your
thumb, scooping up yarn B.
Use the needle tip to pull yarn B through
the loop of yarn A on your index finger.
Drop the loop of yarn A off your index
finger and gently tighten the yarn B purl
stitch you have formed on your needle.
Steps 4–8 create a knit stitch in yarn A,
and steps 9–14 create a purl stitch in yarn
B. Repeat steps 4–14 until you have
sufficient stitches on your needles.
When you come to work your first row
or round, you can drop the knotted ends
off the needle tip, untie them and weave
them in later.THE TWO-COLOUR alternating long-tail
cast-on is the perfect method for setting up
work for double-knitting, since it creates
alternating knit and purl stitches in
alternating colours, exactly as required
for double-knitting. Here we break down
the technique into 15 steps.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1 Tie together the ends of your two yarns,
leaving the knot loose enough to untie
later, and leaving yarn tails to weave in.
2 With your right hand, hold the knotted
ends over your needle. You need yarn B
hanging over the side closest to you, and
yarn A behind the needle.
3 Place your left-hand thumb and index
finger between the two yarns, with yarn B
over your thumb and yarn A over your
index finger. Grip yarns A and B with the
other three fingers of your left hand to
tension the yarns.
4 Hold the needle in your right hand
lower than your left hand, so as to create
a loop on your thumb. The needle and
yarns form a catapult or Y shape.
5 Bring the needle towards you and
underneath yarn B, coming back up
through the loop created by yarn B
around your thumb.
6 Take your needle over yarn A on your
index finger, picking the yarn up.
7 Use the needle tip to pull yarn A
through the loop of yarn B.
This interesting cast-on is ideal for double knitting
projects, as Jen Arnall-Culliford explains
TWO-COLOUR
ALTERNATING
LONG-TAIL CAST-ON
Find more expert advice and in-depth tutorials
on essential knitting skills in Jen Arnall-Culliford’s
new book, Boost Your Knitting. It explores 12
techniques including brioche knitting, intarsia
in the round, double knitting, and choosing
colours for stranded colourwork. It also offers
12 beautiful projects from world-class designers
including Joji Locatelli, Anna Maltz, Sarah Hatton,
and Wendy D. Johnson. £22 for print + e-book
from http://www.acknitwear.co.ukAbout our expert
Jen Arnall-Culliford is a technical knitting editor
and knitwear designer with an encyclopaedic
knowledge of knitting techniques
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S:^ JESSE^ WILDThe Knitter 76 Issue 144 Subscribe now at TheYarnLoop.com