The other night I decided I would cast on Barb’s Koigu Ruffles. It’s one of the ESK badge projects and I knew that casting on 648 stitches was something I should do when I was home alone . . no interruptions. I also knew it was going to take a good bit of time to do it but . . oh, my! That’s the most stitches I think I have ever cast on and I thought I would never get finished. I started a couple of hours before Vince got home, and when he walked in the door, I was still casting on. I used the cable cast on, which takes a bit longer than the long tail method I usually use but . . 648 is a heck of a lot of stitches.
Barb’s Koigu Ruffles
Once all the stitches are cast on, the pattern is a piece of cake and with all the single skeins of sock yarn that I have around here, I think I’ll be making more of these. One lady on Ravelry said she had made something like 24 of them. The whole time I was casting on, I was thinking . . that’s more than 15,000 stitches she’s cast on . . just for this pattern!
Seriously, it isn’t bad. As recommended in the pattern, I used stitch markers every 50 stitches so I didn’t have to keep going back to zero to count if I lost track of my stitches.
As always, I’ll share a photo of the finished scarf . . once it’s finished.
Tina in NJ says
I like to use the knitted cast-on. I think it’s similar to the cable cast-on, but you go through the actual stitch rather than between them. (Disclaimer: I’ve never done the cable cast-on. Can you tell?) the knitted cast-on goes really fast.
Diana in RR,TX says
I got the pattern last night along with beagle. I don’t think I will ever be a sock knitter and have yarn here that I should use. Saw your other posting and thought “great idea for gifts”. Now lets see if I actually get them done. Loved the beagle sweater pattern, yarn is ordered from Loopy-blue spruce.
Denise Russart says
Isn’t that one a bugger to cast on! It seems like you will never get there. I kept thinking after I made mine that I really would like one longer than the pattern calls for since for me that one is too short. I’d love one about twice as long but haven’t been crazy enough to cast that one on yet. All those stitches! LOL I started one of my Academy projects last night and that cast on of 540 was long enough. But I agree with you – cable cast on is the way to go rather than long tail when there’s that many stitches.
JudyL says
I wasn’t sure how much yarn I would have left over since I only had one skein so I didn’t make it any longer but I can see how making it longer would be nice.
Karen says
I just purchased the pattern. What a great project for using sock yarn – from my days of purchasing one skein at a time! Hopefully I get a few done for Christmas gifts.
Myra says
Wow! Casting on 648 stitches caught my eye in my reader! I think I need a nap just thinking about it! Casting on is my favorite part of knitting – pretty weird!
JudyL says
I don’t mind but casting on 648 with fingering weight yarn was a bit tedious.
Heidi says
Wow how smart to use the markers. The color is just beautiful, can’t wait to see it to see the finished scarf. I just may want to try it myself.
Viki says
Internet recently cast on 421 for Ethel Shawl and thought I’d croak before I got them all on. I once caught a mistake three rows back and he to I knit over 1200 stitches. Actually ore than once. Thank goodness I’m decreasing now!
Viki says
Not sure why autocorrect would change I to internet but it surely changes the meaning of that post