Tubular cast-on
The tubular cast-on is without a doubt the best cast-on method for ribbing (specifically for 1x1 and 2x2 ribbing). That is, if you consider the absolute perfection of the end result. It provides an edge that is invisible, in the sense that it blends seamless with the fabric, and is perfectly elastic. However, if you consider the work done in order to obtain such perfection, you may feel that this cast-on is too much trouble and other elastic cast-ons are good enough and much easier and faster to execute. This is the reason I have not so far bothered to learn it.
Quite paradoxically, considering how common ribbed edges are, it is not a cast-on that I have found much use for. This is because I usually like knitting hats top-down, socks toe-up and sweaters top-down. For the latter, this is the perfect cast-on for the collar, but I find that collars that have been worked in one piece with the rest of the sweater tend to stretch too much and deform the sweater. Hence, for best results, I usually prefer to pick stitches and work the collar bottom-up. In all these cases, I end up using a tubular bind-off for equally perfect results (or the JSSB when I do not think the trouble is worth it).
Thus this cast-on is going to be useful for: bottom-up sweaters or top-down ones with the collar worked together with the rest of the sweater, cuff-down socks and gloves, bottom-up hats, etc. And, in the end, whether to use this cast-on or not is a lot a matter of how much a perfectionist you are, but also how visible your cast-on edge is going to be.
Ysolda Teague has written a very nice tutorial on the tubular cast-on. She describes two techniques that provide the exact same result, so which one you choose to use is a matter of personal preference. Her written explanations are quite scanty, specifically for the first technique, but the video tutorial totally makes up for that.
Quite paradoxically, considering how common ribbed edges are, it is not a cast-on that I have found much use for. This is because I usually like knitting hats top-down, socks toe-up and sweaters top-down. For the latter, this is the perfect cast-on for the collar, but I find that collars that have been worked in one piece with the rest of the sweater tend to stretch too much and deform the sweater. Hence, for best results, I usually prefer to pick stitches and work the collar bottom-up. In all these cases, I end up using a tubular bind-off for equally perfect results (or the JSSB when I do not think the trouble is worth it).
Thus this cast-on is going to be useful for: bottom-up sweaters or top-down ones with the collar worked together with the rest of the sweater, cuff-down socks and gloves, bottom-up hats, etc. And, in the end, whether to use this cast-on or not is a lot a matter of how much a perfectionist you are, but also how visible your cast-on edge is going to be.
Ysolda Teague has written a very nice tutorial on the tubular cast-on. She describes two techniques that provide the exact same result, so which one you choose to use is a matter of personal preference. Her written explanations are quite scanty, specifically for the first technique, but the video tutorial totally makes up for that.
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