Authors: Leslie Ann Bestor
Cast On, Bind Off (28 page)
Transfer the stitches to double-point needles (or circular needles if using either the Magic Loop or two-circulars method).
Join stitches into a round, being careful to not twist stitches, and then begin knitting.
Tighten the cast-on loop by pulling the tail. This hole tends to work itself open as you knit. You can tighten it again when you've completed your project, and then secure it by weaving in the end.
Getting It Right
⢠If you need an even number of stitches, make one more yarnover before joining into a round.
⢠When starting to knit, join the stitches into a round; otherwise, the cast-on row will look like purl bumps (although that could be a nice design element).
The next section of cast ons
presents techniques that are most commonly used for toe-up socks. They can be used, though, for any piece that starts with an enclosed end, such as the bottoms of bags and top-down hats or mittens. The construction of these cast ons creates two rows of stitches that are connected in the middle, allowing you to knit a tubelike piece with no hole in the center.
Although all of these double-sided cast ons can be worked on the double-point needles you'll most likely be using for your project, it is easiest to cast on with two same-size circular needles. (It's okay if they are different lengths; they just need to be the same diameter.) The benefit of circular needles is that after casting on you can slide the lower stitches onto the cable of the needle where they stay out of the way while you work on the upper stitches. This makes these cast ons considerably easier to maneuver.
Judy's Magic
page 84
Turkish
page 87
Figure 8
page 90
This wonderful cast on
is the invention of Judy Becker, who generously gave me permission to include it here. It is a way to cast on for an enclosed object, such as the toe of a sock or the bottom of a bag â invisibly! Therein lies the magic. I also find it neater than the Turkish and Figure 8 cast ons. It is possible to start this cast on with a slip knot on the top needle, though I've found that little knot bothers some people; it can be a bit looser than the surrounding stitches. But if it makes it easier or less confusing for you, go ahead and use a slip knot instead of wrapping the yarn as described here.
Extras
Two same-size circular needles
CHARACTERISTICS
⢠Neat “edge”
⢠Invisible on both sides
⢠No gap between first rows of knitting
GOOD FOR
⢠Toe-up socks
⢠Bags
⢠Top-down hats and mittens
Hold the two needles together with your right hand, tips pointing left.
