TUBULAR-CHAIN CAST ON
This cast on is similar to the tubular cast on version A on page 35, but uses a crochet chain to begin.
With contrasting yarn, crochet a chain that has half the desired number of stitches, plus 1. Cut the yarn and draw it through the last loop. With knitting needles smaller than the needles for your project and main yarn, *knit 1 stitch through the back bump of the next stitch in the chain, yo; repeat from * to the last chain stitch, and k1—the number of stitches to cast on is now on the needle.
Row 1 Knit the yarn overs, as shown.
Slip the purl stitches with yarn in front, as shown. Repeat row 1 three times more. Change to the needles for your project and continue in knit 1, purl 1 rib to the desired length. Remove the scrap-yarn chain.
1 Make a slip knot and place it on the needle. Holding the yarn in the left hand as for long-tail or double cast on, with the tail end around the thumb and the end coming from the ball around the index finger, bring the right-hand needle under both thumb strands.
2 Bring the needle over the top of the inside thumb strand, through the middle of the loop and under the outside strand to form a twist in the thumb loop.
3 Catch the strand around the index finger with the needle and bring it through the twisted part of the loop (nearest the needle), drop the loop from the thumb, and tighten the strands. Repeat from step 1 until the required number of stitches has been cast on.
GERMAN-TWISTED CAST ON
This cast on forms a decorative edge.
2 BASIC TEC HNI QUE S
T IP
IMPROVING YOUR CAST ON
• A cast-on edge should be firm, but not tight. If the cast on is too tight, it will eventually snap and unravel.
• If you tend to cast on too tightly, use a larger needle than the suggested size, or use two needles held together. After casting on, remember to switch back to the correct needle size.
• The cast on should not be too loose, or the edge will flare out unattractively. • To create a firmer edge, cast on with a double strand of yarn. • A firmer cast on should be used with yarns that have less resilience, such as cottons and silks. You can also use smaller needles or cast
on fewer stitches (increasing to required number after the last row of ribbing or edging) when using these yarns. • It is best to use longer needles when casting on a large number of stitches.
• Leave a 12–16-inch (30–40-cm) tail to use for sewing seams. To keep it out of the way, bundle up the tail while working on your piece.
• Use a stitch marker after every tenth stitch to help in counting.
contrasting color yarn/CC 158, 165
main color yarn/MC 158
stitch markers 24–25
crochet chain 258
slip knot 32
yarn overs 101, 168
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