Tubular Cast-On Tutorial

Or, at least ... How we duz it here in the Kingdom!

There are so many nifty ways to ... we were going to say "skin a cat" but you know how we feel about cats ... so we'll just say "to DO things". There are so many Cast-ons and Cast-offs and so many different ways to increase and decrease or to turn a heel or shape a toe on a sock. That's one of the reasons knitting is so much fun. It's such a pleasure to find new techniques and learn new skills. The right technique well-used is an elegant thing.

The Tubular Cast-On that we use can be found all over the internet. We don't claim to have thought it up. We think whoever the originator was, she or he was a genius!! We have tweaked the process in a way that suits us and that's the process we're going to share with you today.

This Cast-On gives a lovely stretchy edge that is perfectly suited to the cuffs of socks and we use it a lot. After today, you will, too.

This cast-on starts with a provisional cast-on. Using the waste yarn, crochet a chain of about 40 stitches. We're using a worsted weight yarn so the stitches will show up better but we would generally use the same weight of yarn that we're casting on with. Just be sure you use a good contrasting colour.

On the back of the chain of crochet stitches, you'll see a line of regularly spaced loops. Knit into the first loop with your knitting needle, picking up a stitch of your sock yarn (main colour).  Wrap the yarn over the needle in a Yarn Over then pick up another stitch and make another Yarn Over. Continue picking up stitches and making Yarn Overs in pairs until you have 31 pairs for the Large size or 27 for the Small size.

Pick up one more stitch and then, instead of a YO, wrap the yarn around your thumb as if you were doing a regular long-tail cast-on but slip it onto the needle without knitting it).

It will look like this when it settles down onto the needle:

Next, arrange the stitches on 3 double-point needles. We like to start back at the first stitch we picked up and slip them deliberately....1 knit stitch, 1 YO, 1 knit stitch, 1 YO, etc.  Arrange them so there are 8 pairs of stitches on each of the first 2 needles. (1 knit stitch and 1 YO make a pair).

Join in a circle and start to knit in rounds.

Round 1: The first stitch you see is a knit stitch. Knit that stitch. Slip the next loop (which is a YO) WITH THE YARN HELD IN FRONT. We slip stitches purl-wise. Continue knitting each knit stitch and slipping the YO's with the yarn held in front all around.

Round 2: The first stitch you see is the knit stitch. This time, slip that stitch WITH THE YARN HELD IN BACK. We slip this stitch purl-wise. Purl the next stitch. Continue working your way around slipping the next stitch with the yarn in back and purling the following stitch.

Don't worry if there's a bit of a gap at the point where the rounds start. That will sort itself out later.

Repeat these 2 rounds once more.

Round 5: Now for the part where it gets interesting!! Knit the first stitch, drop the second stitch off the needle and knit the third stitch (OR as we like to do....knit the first stitch, insert the tip of your needle into the third stitch, ignoring the stitch in between. Knit that 3rd stitch and when you slide it off the needle, allow that unknit stitch to go, too.) Scoop up that dangling stitch with your left-hand needle and purl him. Purl the next stitch. Now you have 2 knit stitches followed by 2 purl stitches, in that order, on the right-hand needle. Continue all the way around re-grouping the knit and purl stitches. You'll have the start of a perfect K2P2 ribbing.

Work one round in K2P2 ribbing for insurance and then just remove the waste yarn. Sometimes it will slide right out once you unzip it correctly. Sometimes, you have to snip it out Very Carefully.

That's how you make a 2x2 Tubular Cast-On.

For the purposes of the Corduroy Roads Socks, we introduced the second colour in Round 5 where we separated out the 2 knit stitches from the 2 purl stitches but there is no real need to do that. You can start your corduroy ribbing in the next round. We just wanted to explain why our socks will look slightly different.

If you're like us ... and not exactly what you'd call a "quick study" ... you'll want to make up a cheat sheet and keep it in your knitting bag. We seem to need to refer to it each and every time we attempt a Tubular Cast-On but it is absolutely worth it.

So, that's enough for today. Tomorrow, we'll continue on with the corrugated ribbing. We hope you found this helpful.

~ Spreading Joy and Knitted Elegance throughout the Kingdom!

PS....You will have a total of 56 stitches on the needles for the small size or 64 stitches for the large size.

Guest blogger today

Hi! Cassie, here! And do I ever have a good project for you!!!

I have observed that you knitterly crafty types seem to have an inordinate fondness for project bags. You keep a skein of yarn in one, a sock in another. You seem to think this makes you organized. Well, that may be.......

The Little Lady keeps bringin' me bags and bags of treats. (I have her well trained.) Ever since I first saw these packages I knew they'd make a wonderful project bag for her. I've been doin' my darndest to empty those pretty little pouches. It's a dirty job but as they say, someone's gotta do it if you're gonna have a project bag. If you aren't lucky enough to be owned by a cat, you may not know what I'm talkin' about. They're foil and they're bright and shiny and generally have handsome cats printed on them. Inside, they're full of deliciousnesssss.

When I took an inventory this morning, I was pretty sure we had enough.

Yup!! Lots!!

Now, ya just have to arrange them for the front and back of the bag. This is pretty much what I like to call a grab and chomp operation. (You may know it by the term "slash and burn". To each species, his own lingo, I say.) I overlap the edges of the bags and then zig-zag them in place.

I use RED thread 'cuz I love red!!! Do what makes ya happy!

Gosh, this project smells great!!

Lookin' good!

Once I have the front and the back of the bag assembled, I ziggedy-zag over the top edge and don't forget the ribbon handles! I figure I ought to warn you, it's best to add the handles at this point when everything's flat.

The sides are next. Just overlap enough bags to get the right length. Easey-peasey!

Find the centre of the bottom of the bag and line it up with the middle of the side.  Stitch across the bottom of the side. Stitch the sides of the bag from the top down and, in true feline fashion!....don't worry if there's a bit of a gap. We cats don't sweat the small stuff!!

And remember.....it's all small stuff.  :)

Finally.......Voilà!  Here's the finished bag. Hope the Little Lady likes it. 

So, this is Cassie signing off....... Wishing you a day full of treats!!!

Oh, and while I have you here......Hi to Lulu and Lucy and Marissa. 

Hello to Polly. Yo, Mortimer! 

and a big cyber MeeeeYow to all my other feline friends, too numerous to list. 

Psst! Remember....Stay calm. Be brave.Wait for the signs. ;)

....... and Cassie, too!

Grandma Coco Gets the Scoop on… Machine Quilting With Monika Kinner-Whalen

Copyright © Cheryl Coville 2011

Grandma Coco’s been quilting for a long time. Up until now she’s  always been more of an old-school quilter.  However, as life speeds up and time runs out, she’s finally looking to kick it up a notch. She’s ready to machine quilt a whole quilt…. well, she’s starting with a baby quilt….and she’s gone looking for some advice.

Monika Kinner-Whalen

Monika Kinner-Whalen is a fellow Canadian who lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her family of 5. She maintains a visually beautiful and informative blog called My Sweet Prairie and if you click on that link and visit her, you’ll see that she does beautiful machine quilting.  Just like Grandma Coco would like to do. So, our intrepid reporter set out to get the scoop.

GC: First, tell us a little about yourself, Monika, and how you came to quilting.

 

MK-W:  I am an artist who has always loved to sew.  I began quilting just because I really wanted a quilt and didn't know anyone who made them.  So I'm completely self-taught (by internet and library).  I've never taken a class or had a live teacher.  It's a lot like trying to attain a correspondence degree!  The 'addiction' is my drive.  I've been quilting seriously, daily, for about 3 years, trying to learn as much as I can along the way.  About a year ago I discovered that you can sew art.  I've had two exhibits since that time, and have two upcoming this year as well!  I'm on a roll and loving it!

GC: How do you prepare your quilt top for machine quilting? Do you use spray starch?

MK-W: I press it really well with lots of steam.  I'm a perfectionist and I want NO ripples.  I press the backing too.  I typically use flannelette on the backs and low loft bamboo batt.  I spend a lot of time clipping every little thread, front and back, especially if I have white in my quilt top.  Stray colours show right through.

GC:  Where do you layer your quilt? Do you need to stretch the fabric taut?

MK-W:  I layer my quilt on our huge kitchen table.  I put the quilt top face down on the table first, then the batt, then the flannelette.  Why?  Because no one taught me how to do otherwise.  Lol. You know, books and magazines tell you how to make a quilt top and that's all.  They leave you with "quilt as desired".  From the centre out, I spread the backing flat and smooth with my hands. I go around the table a few times.  Then I grab one side of all layers with both hands, and pull and flip the whole thing over, top up.  I do the same thing to the top: smoothing, smoothing....  I flip again to smooth the back, and  layers seem to cling.  I've never had bunching or buckling on the backs of my quilts, so I'm happy with my technique.  I've done over 75 quilts this way.  

GC: You don’t use pins? or that spray basting glue? 

MK-W: I use quilting pins - they look like bent safety pins.  I bought cheap ones first, and the tips were rough and RIPPED holes in my quilt top AND left black grease stained holes at that!  ***Worst moment of my life.***

I don't spray baste.  We have birds and if they can die from it, then I don't want to breathe it.  I recently purchased fusible batting, but I still pin baste a bit - at least a couple per block.

GC:  How do you handle the bulk of the quilt as you move it through your machine?

 

MK-W: Haha!  I couldn't handle it.  It drove me crazy.  I now own a machine with an 11 inch throat.  Life is better.  I kind of fold the quilt over as I need to for straight line or ditch quilting.  With free motion, I bunch it out of the way.  I quilt on a big table space so nothing is ever falling off the table and pulling everything down.  That's too frustrating for me.  

GC:  What kind of needle, thread and tension settings? What machine foot do you prefer? Stitch length?

Daisy Daisy (Modern Dresden) 2010

MK-W:  For straight line/ditch quilting, I use the same weight/brand of thread in top and bottom.  I leave the tension as is, on auto unless there's a problem.  I use a quilting or sometimes a jeans needle.  I really prefer the stitch length of 3.5.  Smaller looks too small to me, and bigger looks too simple.  I have an even feed open toe foot.  That's my favourite.  Nothing shifts, and I can see where I'm stitching.  I tried a ditch foot, but didn't trust it.  That's just me.  The accufeed foot is so wide.  I like to use the side of it as a guide for straight line quilting.  Oh!  I also really like to use decorative stitches for straight or circle quilting, especially with variegated threads!!  : )  I did this on Daisy Daisy, and on the quilt that was in Quilter's Connection Magazine.

GC. I know you start with quilting in the ditch. How do you handle the thread tails when you start and stop?

MK-W: I start by stitching between all rows and columns in the ditch, between each block.  Then I remove all pins.  The stitching begins and ends at the very edge of the quilt, so the threads get trimmed when I square the quilt and bind it.  When I quilt after this point, I pull up both threads to the top and stitch on the spot before moving on.  Those ends get clipped.  When I'm done that line, I knot off and trim from the back.  

GC:  How much quilting is enough?

MK-W: That's a great question!  I love the look of lots of pretty quilting, but too much makes quilts so stiff and flat.  I prefer those techniques for wall hangings.  I like the quilt I cuddle with to be supple, so I don't overquilt.  I could quilt more on mine.  I stop when I get scared that I'm going to wreck it.  Does that happen to you?  (Oops- here I am asking the questions.  lol)  I also like the quilting to enhance and embellish the quilt top.  People are always surprised how different a quilt looks after it's been quilted.  Personally, I'm tired of seeing flat unquilted tops on the internet!  lol  Quilt it, decorate it, use coloured threads...

St. Niklolaus Quilt 2010

GC: Any other tips?

MK-W: TIP 1 - Sometimes if I'm not sure about how to quilt next, I'll lay out some thread on the top so I can visualize how it would change the quilt.  Lay white thread in lines, or loop a bunch of variegated pink, lay parallel lines of red... Audition first to avoid having to pull out the seam ripper. 

TIP 2 - If you are regretting what you've just quilted, then STOP and take it out.  It's not going to change just because you chose to quilt more.  I learned that one the hard way.  lol

TIP 3 - Clean your machine before quilting, and half way through if you are using flannelette.  The one class I did take was "Machine Maintenance".  Best money I ever spent.  Don't use canned forced air.  Use a vacuum attachment to suck out all the lint.  You can get these at a sewing store.  Your quilting will be so much smoother.

TIP 4 - I always wear my quilting gloves with grippy fingers when I quilt.  They aren't just for free motion.  They give you so much control for precision straight-line or ditch quilting.  I won't quilt without them!

GC: Monika this has been a terrific help. Thank you. You’re always so busy on your blog with lots going on. Care to share what’s coming up for you?

MK-W - My fibre art will be exhibited at the Gardenscapes 2011 Art Show & Sale in Saskatoon and I have 2 quilts with the Saskatoon Quilt Guild on display for sale at McNally Robinson's Booksellers in Saskatoon Feb 23 to mid-May 2011.

My second quilt pattern will be published in the Summer 2011 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine.  That quilt will be displayed at their booth at the Spring CreativFestival in Toronto, Ontario, too!  

My Sweet Prairie Postcard 2010

I have my etsy store as well.  http://www.mysweetprairie.etsy.com  It's very minimal.  I am putting more patterns up for sale there along with a few quilts.  From it, I always seem to have a fibre art commission on the go.  I blog daily though!  My blog is the heart of My Sweet Prairie.  There are links to all my photos, all my work, and some tutorials as well.  A fun feature has been "Tips on Tuesdays" where there is a weekly topic.  People are welcome to chime in and leave their own tips on that topic.  It's become a great learning circle for everyone!

GC: Well, it seems like you’ve come a very long way in 3 years! It will be fun to see where you go from here. Thanks for taking the time to share your machine quilting knowledge with us. I know Grandma Coco is feeling a little more comfortable about tackling that baby quilt.

(All colour photos on this blog post were generously provided by Monika and belong to her.)

Pillow Gift Box Tutorial

Some of the people on Grandma Coco’s list this year are getting gift cards. I hope they’ll like them but they do look a little boring in their plain white envelopes. I was inspired by some gift boxes that Karen (of Sew Karen-ly Created) made. If you haven’t seen her tutorial, you can find it here: http://sewkaren-lycreated.blogspot.com/2010/10/applique-outside-box-literally.html You really should look. I’ll bet you’ll be inspired, too.

I decided to follow her lead but put my own Grandma Coco spin on things (as usual).

If you’d like to make some Pillow Gift Boxes, too, click here to download the template. 

First, we'll make the base box. Cut a rectangle out of card stock or lightweight cardboard the same size as the downloaded template. Make a separate scoring template out of cereal box cardboard. 

Using a knitting needle, trace around the cereal box template to score the card stock, scoring the curved lines and the straight lines that connect the points. 

  

Crease all these fold lines ...

 

... then smooth the card out and apply fabric using Wonder Under or some other fusible web to the  back side of the card stock. 

Trim the extra fabric close to the edge of the card stock all around EXCEPT for one of the straight edges (an edge without the curves) where you should leave ¾ inch of extra fabric and web. This is the glue that will hold the box closed. 

 Fold the 2 sections over and iron all 3 layers making a good bond with the fabric flap. 

When that’s cool, bend the end flaps down on their scored lines. 

That’s it! Pillow gift boxes. Fill ‘em up and ship ‘em out!