Long-Tail Cast-on Estimate

When you cast-on with a finger cast-on like the long-tail cast-on, you have to estimate how much yarn to leave in the tail.  There is nothing worse than casting-on and getting to the last few stitches and running out of tail yarn!

Here is a good way to estimate how much allowance to leave for your project:

1. Begin by tying a slip knot about 1 to 2 feet away from the end of the yarn
2. Cast on 10 stitches
3. Pinch the tail of the yarn with your thumb and forefinger where it emerges from the last stitch you cast on
4. Slide all 10 stitches off of the needle, leaving your slip knot on the needle
5. measure the length of yarn between your fingers and the needle, this will be the amount of tail yarn you need for 10 stitches
6. Multiply your measurement by 0ne-tenth of the amount of stitches you need for your cast-on stitches

Here is an example:

1. I have a project that requires 60 stitches
2. The measurement of my yarn from my fingers to the needle is 5 inches
3. 1/10 of 60 (the total number of stitches I want to cast on) is 6
4. 5 inches (x) 6 = 30 inches
5. My cast-on tail allowance should be 30 inches

I hope this helps when you are casting on for your next project!  Please enjoy my Long-Tail Cast-On video: