Provisional cast-ons are important in knitting, especially when knitting toe-up socks. Here is an alternative to picking up stitches from a crochet chain, by creating stitches directly on the needle.
The Knitter’s Pride tools I use in this video are Symfonie Dreams Crochet Hooks, and Symfonie Dreamz Double-Pointed Needles from Knitter’s Pride Sock Needle Set.
You can find more information about Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Dreamz needles and hooks, as well as a retailer using these links:
Bryson Distributing
Accessories Unlimited
Knitter’s Pride Shop finder
The yarn I use for demonstration is Berroco Vintage.
My silver ring is actually a knitting needle gauge, and can be found here.
The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, and isn’t actually a color, but I like the way it looks. It’s a nail treatment, called Oxygen Nail Treatment. It seems to help my nails grow, and prevents chipping and peeling.
I can’t wait to try the provisional cast on. It looks so much easier than what I have been doing. Thank you so much.
I tried it tonight. I love it! So much easier. Thank u.
Thank you! Picking up those stitches from the spine of the crochet chain has always been the hardest part of knitting a sock for me. This is genius.
Started a project that called for a provisional cast on just as this video came out. So. Much. Easier. :o) Thank you!! Being able to knit the first row right on the needles instead of having to pick up stitches through the “spine”….Awesomeness!!
I’m really excited to try this technique. I have lived these dishcloths even since I saw them in your knitted version.
Excellent video, as usual.
I have a question. I just purchased a pattern that calls for a crochet provisional cast on and then it gives me a “set-up” row before I begin the pattern. Would I still need to knit the first row and then knit the “set-up” row??
Thanks!
Trish – that depends…does the pattern expect you to work this provoco this way (the way I demonstrate in the video) or the other way (to pick up stitches from the crochet chain)? If they expect you to do it the second way, you’ll want to work a WS row before the setup row. Regardless, just treat the setup row as you would any Row 1.
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