Authors: Leslie Ann Bestor
Cast On, Bind Off (10 page)
Make a slip knot, leaving a short tail, and place it on a needle. Hold this needle in your left hand and an empty needle in your right hand.
Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the slip knot as if to knit, wrap the yarn around and pull through a new stitch. You probably need to hold both needles with your left hand as you wrap the yarn with your right hand.
Place this stitch on your left-hand needle. The stitch can be transferred in either of the two following ways:
Pass the stitch directly from the right tip to the left tip; the yarn going to the ball will be coming from the left leg of the new stitch.
Twist the right-hand needle so the two needles are side by side and insert the left needle tip into the new stitch; the yarn going to the ball will be coming from the right side of the new stitch.
Continue in this manner, knitting into the last stitch on the left-hand needle and transferring the new stitch back to the left-hand needle until you have the desired number of stitches.
Getting It Right
I prefer method 3B as it adds a twist that tightens up the edge, giving it a bit more resilience. I also like it because when you finish transferring the stitch, your needle is in the correct position to cast on the next stitch. It doesn't matter which method you choose, as long as you are consistent.
To tighten up the edge, knit into the back loops on the first row of knitting.
This is a purl variation
of the Knitted Cast On (
page 31
). The edge it produces is identical, so it works equally well in situations calling for that cast on. Some find the Purled Cast On to be faster because of the mechanics of how the stitches are created and transferred.
CHARACTERISTICS
⢠Somewhat elastic
⢠Edge can be pulled out of shape
GOOD FOR
⢠Beginners
⢠Adding stitches at ends of rows
Make a slip knot, leaving a short tail, and place on a needle.
