Yarn with initial looped portion to bypass need for casting-on

Abstract

A yarn includes a length of straight yarn with only a leading or end portion being loopy yarn including a number of substantially equally spaced loops. The remaining or trailing portion is straight yarn joined to the leading loopy portion at a transition point. The invention can be incorporated into a ball of straight yarn provided with an accessible portion of yarn at one end of the yarn formed with loops only beyond the transition point. A method of knitting using the yarn includes the steps of inserting a knitting needle through a required or desired number of loops up to and including a loop at the transition point to form a desired number of initial stitches, and subsequently knitting with the needle using the straight yarn. The yarn and method eliminate the need to initially cast on yarn onto a needle.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A yarn comprising a first leading portion of loopy yarn including a number of substantially equally spaced loops and a trailing portion of straight yarn joined to said first leading portion at a transition point. 
     
     
         2 . A yarn as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first leading portion has a predetermined length formed with “x” loops. 
     
     
         3 . A yarn as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined length is within an approximate range of 35-42 inches. 
     
     
         4 . A yarn as defined in  claim 3 , wherein x is selected to be within the approximate range of 49-62 loops. 
     
     
         5 . A yarn as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said loops are approximately 5 mm-13 mm in height for use with knitting needles US11 (8 mm), US13 (9 mm) and US15 (10 mm). 
     
     
         6 . A yarn as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said loops are spaced approximately 1.5 inches apart. 
     
     
         7 . A yarn as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said loops are less than 5 mm-13 mm in height for use with knitting needles US10 (6 mm) or smaller. 
     
     
         8 . A yarn as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said loops are greater than 5 mm-13 mm in height for use with knitting needles US17 (12 mm) or larger. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a yarn by forming a first leading portion of loopy yarn including a number of substantially equally spaced loops and forming a second trailing portion of straight yarn joined to said first leading portion at a transition point. 
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said first leading portion has a predetermined length formed with “x” loops. 
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said predetermined length is within an approximate range of 35-42 inches. 
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein x is selected within an approximate range of 49-62 loops. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said loops are approximately 5 mm-13 mm in height for use with knitting needles US11 (8 mm), US13 (9 mm) and US15 (10 mm). 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said loops are spaced approximately 1.5 inches apart. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said loops are less than 5 mm-13 mm in in height for use with knitting needles US10 (6 mm) or smaller. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said loops are greater than 5 mm-13 mm in height for use with knitting needles US17 (12 mm) or larger. 
     
     
         17 . A method of knitting using a yarn having a first leading portion of loopy yarn including a number of substantially equally spaced loops and a trailing portion of straight yarn joined to said first leading portion at a transition point comprising the steps of inserting a knitting needle through a predetermined number of loops up to and including a loop at said transition point; and knitting with the needle using the straight yarn portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined number of loops is less than said number of loops in said first leading portion, leaving a number of unused loops in said first portion through which the knitting needle has not been inserted forming a tail portion of unengaged loops. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said tail portion is removed by severing said tail portion from the loops through which the knitting needle has been inserted. 
     
     
         20 . A ball of yarn comprising straight yarn and an initial end accessible portion of the ball of yarn comprising loopy yarn formed with spaced loops that transitions to said straight yarn at a transition point.