B-4 Bag Alternative Cast On for Seamless Bottom

Hey everyone here is my lastest cast on. The B4 Bag by Trish. I am using Noro Kureyon single stranded on US#10 1/2 (My favorite size of needles: A tad bigger then 10 but not as big as and 11). I started this bag yesterday afternoon before reading the pattern completely. What else is new for me.

On the first attempt with my circular needle, it was just too hard and the stitches were to stretched out. I started over and casted on using 10 1/2 DPN. I did this for a few rows realizing that I was going to have to later seam it. So I frogged this cast on and decided to do it using the Figure 8 Cast On which is explained Here at Knitty.com (half way down the page) or Here at Purlwise.

I started by casting on 24 stitches on each of the 2 DPN. I continued to work pattern as instructed on these 2 needles for a few rows. Until there was enough area (4 or 5 rows) to be branched onto 3 or 4 needles. I preferred to use 4 needles instead of 3 since I could easily put the stitches equally onto 4 needles and was able to do the increases always on the same needle.

I did this as follows:
Original Needle 1 & Original Needle 2 have the same stitch count. Work row as directed in pattern, 3/4th of the way around. Pick up a NEW DPN and stitch remaining stitches of row onto new DPN, Place Marker and work 1/4th of the stitches on the next needle onto this needle. Pick up New DPN and stitch 1/2 of the stitches from the Original Needle#1. Pick Up another New DPN, Stitch remaining stitches off of the Original Needle#1, Place Marker, stitch 1/4 of the stitches on the following DPN which is the Original Needle#2. You now have 4 working DPN's. Notice that the increase spots are now in the middle of the New DPN#1 and DPN#3. Also not that the stitch count on New DPN#2 and DPN#4 will never change.

Continue working pattern on these DPN's. Once you have completed the first 12 rows of pattern change over onto circular needles. HINT: When I do this bag again I will probably work the first 20 rows on DPN's and then switch over to the circular needle.

This is just my way I worked the pattern. I hope this helps anyone who is interested. Email me if you need further explaination.