Ive only ever knitted a couple of longnets,..but what i did to start was atatch a looped cable tie to a swivel and then let that act has a ring. It was then big enough for my fully loaded large needle to pass through. It was also easy to cut when i wanted to remove it.
Ok,.my first row of meshes may of been a little bigger,but at the end of the day it dont realy matter being at the end of the finished longnet anyway.
I realy envy you guys who knit 100yrds of mesh....I start off real keen...but then end up deciding maybe a stop net is a better idea..
Lamps