Cast-on methods compared
Long-tail for almost everything, German twisted for cuffs, cable for adding stitches mid-row, provisional when you'll knit from the edge later.
Updated August 13, 2026·4 min read
| Method | Stretch | Tail needed | Difficulty | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-tail | Medium | Yes — measured | Easy | Default start for flat pieces and sweaters |
| German twisted | High | Yes — extra long | Easy once long-tail is known | Sock cuffs, hat brims, mitten cuffs |
| Knitted | Medium | No | Easiest | First cast-on to learn, edges picked up later |
| Cable | Low | No | Easy | Buttonholes, adding stitches mid-row, firm hems |
| Backward loop | High but sloppy | No | Easiest | Adding a few stitches only, never a whole start |
| Tubular | High | Yes | Hard | Invisible rounded edge on 1x1 rib |
| Provisional (crochet) | N/A | No | Medium | Edges you'll unzip and knit from the other way |
| Judy's magic | N/A | Yes | Medium | Toe-up socks and other closed-end tubes |
How to choose in one question
Ask what the edge has to do. If it has to stretch over a body part, use German twisted. If it has to stay firm under load, use cable. If you'll knit from it later in the other direction, use provisional. Everything else is long-tail.
Tail length by method
| Method | Rough tail per stitch (worsted, US 8 / 5.0mm) |
|---|---|
| Long-tail | 0.5 in |
| German twisted | 0.65–0.75 in |
| Tubular | 0.6 in |
| Judy's magic | 0.5 in per stitch on the tail side |
| Knitted, cable, backward loop | None — 6 in to weave in |
Add six inches to every figure for weaving in. Thicker yarn wants more per stitch, laceweight less; the wrap method — one wrap around the needle per stitch — beats arithmetic on both counts.
What the pattern means when it doesn't say
"Cast on 96 stitches" with no method named means long-tail in almost every published pattern. Designers specify only when the method matters, so an unspecified cast-on is a signal that any medium-stretch edge will do.
One exception: mid-row instructions like "cast on 8 at the beginning of the next row" always mean a working-yarn method. Cable is the usual choice, backward loop if you only need two or three and don't mind loose stitches.