Casting On for Lace

The machine manual offers a cast on method that makes sense on paper, but in my humble opinion, is not practical.

When using the lace carriage, we cannot pull needles out past the "B" position. Most cast on methods are worked over needles in C or D position, so the manual offers a ravel cord version.

I have 2 objections to this method:

1. It is difficult to work over more than 40-60 stitches. If you are planning to knit a wider piece, holding down the ravel cord to secure the stitches doesn't work well
2. It is an open cast on and leaves a sloppy mess along the edge

Suggestions:

Use your preferred cast on and knit 2-3 rows with the regular knitting carriage

• position the lace carriage and continue knitting in lace (remember lace needs even weight for the stitches to form properly (not too much, but even weight)

Hang a Cast on Rag

• Hang a cast on rag
• Knit 1 row of ravel cord (by hand or with the lace carriage with no patterning)
• Make sure the needles are in "B" position
• Knit 1 plain row
• Continue knitting in lace