19 comments on “Provisional Cast-On

  1. Stacy,
    I taught myself how to knit and have been knitting for over 50 yrs. mostly baby gifts, afgans, easy stuff. Now that I am retired and have found you I have learned so much, and now knitting whatever I see and like. Thanks. I made your ^learn to knit a womans tee^, and have made several other sweaters in the round. Even did a lace yoke on one! It is so versitile. Aganin thanks your vidios are so personal and easy I feel like I know you. Keep up the good work.

  2. Thank you thank you thank you! Your videos are so easy for self taught knitters like myself to understand. I have watched a ton of other videos on You Tube and I will only watch your videos from now on.

  3. Hi Staci!

    I recently purchased your Learn to Knit Socks and they came out great – my first pair ever! I used some left-over Wool of the Andes and even did a cute varsity strip around the foot of the sock using the famous Russian spit join and it worked like a charm! Loved your video on that, too.
    I’m planning out a cabled cowl for my daughter using probably Cascade’s Venezia merino/silk blend. She wants the cables to run horizontally once the cowl is on, so I’m thinking of doing a provisional cast-on, working the cables for the length desired and then joining at the “end” with the live stitches back at the bottom using a kitchener stitch (which I was finally successful with after following your video at the end of the sock pattern YAY!). Will that work like I imagine it will, and give my daughter a seamless cowl?
    Also – do you think a Russian join would work with that silk blend?
    Thank you sooooo much for your terrific patterns and videos. Everyone I know now has those cotton washcloths, too! I made a few in the log cabin pattern, but using smaller counts, of course. A great way to use up scrap cotton.
    Keep up the great work! :o)

  4. Stacy,

    your videos are fabulous. Would you at some time be able to demonstrate the magic cast on – The videos out are not very good – I look forward to Wednesday mornings. Thanks

    Tricia

  5. Stacy,

    Wow, this is way easier than another method I saw demonstrated.

    I’m knitting my first pair of socks (your Learn To Knit Socks pattern), and I really wanted tabi socks, with the big toe separated. I’m following instructions I found at the Ravelry and ended up using backward-loop cast-on for the additional big-toe stitches (because the other video made provisional cast-on look so scary). I should have looked for your video first :-/.

    I’ll try this on the second sock.

    Thanks, you’re my main knitting teacher so far, and I’m learning a lot and having fun!

  6. Another fantastic video, thanks. would you recommend using a larger crochet hook to make the chain so it is easier to knit into the bumps? Or is there a reason you shouldn’t?

  7. Amanda – I always find that a size G or H hook with worsted weight yarn is easy enough to maneuver, whether I’m knitting worsted weight socks, or sock yarn socks. I’ve actually never tried using a larger hook, but I don’t see why you couldn’t.

    S t a c i

  8. Hi! I’m sorry to bother you. But I was just wondering if this particular cast-on method would be good for mittens? If so, do you have any patterns for mittens that involve beginning with the provisional cast-on that I could purchase from you? By the way, you are a lovely instructor. You make learning to knit so very easy for self-taught knitters like me. Thank you! 🙂

  9. Hello Stacy:

    I’m having trouble picking up the live stitches after you remove the scrap yarn. I haven’t found a way to pick up all the stitches and 8’m always missing one or two. Could you do a follow up on this video about this? I believe my mistake was removing the scrap yarn without inserting the stitches into a needle. HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!

  10. Hi Stacie! I am in the planning stage of a 600 plus knit in the round cast on sweater. Instead of fighting the long tail cast on stitches to keep them untwisted, would it be possible to use a provisional chain cast on instead and in the end finish the live stitches with a crochet chain or some other simple edge treatment when the project is compleated? This seems too simple, what am I missing!

    Thanks!
    Mickey V

  11. Mickey – a provisional cast-on isn’t going to solve any twisting problems…you can do it, but don’t do it for that reason. Provisional COs are more work than regular (long-tail or knitted) COs.

    S t a c i

  12. after removing the scrap yarn? Do I insert needle first and if so how? Or do I try and catch all stitches after they just dangle there? I have seen a video on knit picks, she does this cast on differently, but I am knitting with fine yarn and I cannot wrap my head around which stitch to pick up? Argh..frustration city here.

  13. Thanks! I know I can always count on you. You make it understandable, and I really appreciate that.

  14. Hi Staci
    Hello from France !
    I am a new fan of yours !
    I am not used to do the provisional cast-on and i was wondering if there is a difference between picking up the stitches from the « V’s » of the crochet chain, or from the « hyphens » ? It seems to me that from the hyphens, I make my stitches a little too tight. Or does it make no difference at all which way it is done ?
    Thanks for all your good advice !

  15. Anne-Marie – thank you for the note. It is necessary to pick up from the “hyphens” (or “spine” of the crochet chain) so that it will un-zip properly to release the stitches. Picking up from the Vs won’t allow you to unzip the chain.

    S t a c i

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