A Little Lesson on Provisional Cast On.....

Hi there everybody! Koryn here again ;) So lately I’ve had quite a few people come up to me a say “what the heck is a provisional cast on!” There have also been quite a few people that know what it is but feel very confused on how it works, or feel like they can’t do it! Don’t let something like a cast on hold you back.....you can do it! Today, I thought I would share with you a quick tutorial on how this is done. Its actually fairly simple...I promise! 

Before I start, let me give you a quick desciption on what a “Provisional Cast On” is. Provisional cast on is a temporary cast on using a “waste yarn” or spare smooth yarn, which is later removed leaving “live” (loops to be worked) stitches. These “live” stitches are then used to either graft together to other stitches or can then be bound off so both ends of your work match up. I’ve used this technique many times to make many different things, like the ever popular Churchmouse “Mohair Bias Loop”...

and this beautiful cowl I made by Tiny Owl Knits, “Ships and Seaside”....

This is a great technique to have and you will feel so clever after you do it. There are a few different ways to do this but I’m gonna show you my favorite way which is called a “Crochet Cast On”. Ready? Ok here we go....

First thing you want to do is find yourself some smooth “waste yarn”. I like to use cotton because it comes out easier than other yarns. Do not use the yarn that will be knitted in your project, use something that is a contrast in color so it is easily visible. Make sure it is somewhat similar in size to the yarn your project is gonna be knitted with. Now, get out a crochet hook similar in size to the knitting needle you will be using or what your pattern says to use. Don’t freak out if you can’t crochet you will only be making a chain, anybody can make a chain! To make a chain start with a slip knot and put it on your hook like so....

Now, hold your hook in your right hand with your ball end of yarn over your left index finger. With your hook reach under your ball end of yarn, slide it through the loop on your hook like this...

Continue making your chain until you have the required amount of stitches. I usually chain like 4-6 more stiches than needed to knit your item. Once you have chained the required amount, cut the yarn, leaving a tail, and fasten off your chain by putting the tail through the last loop and pulling. Tie a little knot or bow in this end so you know what end to come back to later. Do you have your chain? Ok, so here you see the front side of the chain looks like little “v’s”.....

if you flip it over, you can see there is little horizontal bars or bumps. These little bars are where you are gonna pick up and create stitches using your “main” yarn. Here you can see me poking my knitting needle under one and I’m also pointing to one....

Ok. Now we are ready to pick up stitches! Grab your knitting needle and your “main” yarn. Starting with the second chain from the edge, (working right to left) poke your needle under the little bar I showed you. Using your “main” yarn and leaving a tail, wrap the yarn around the needle like you are knitting. Now pull the yarn back through the bar. You have created one stitch....

Poke under the next bar, wrap yarn around the needle as if to knit, pull new stitch through.....

Repeat this process, picking up and creating stiches under those little bars until you have picked up all the stiches required in your pattern. It will look like this....

At this point you would knit your item, following your instructions. When your knitting is done, you will now be ready to pick outyour Provisional cast on. First lay your knitting on a smooth, hard surface. 

The stitches you were just knitting can stay on your needles, or put them on a holder if you don’t have a spare needle. Turn your knitting around so the provisional side is on the top. Remember the side of the chain that comes undone? The one that has the knot or loop I had you tie? 

Yup that one. Now carefully un-fasten your chain....

Grab a knitting needle to be ready to catch those stiches! Now, if you have picked up correctly, when you pull on the tail the chain should easily undo. You want it to be un-zipping from left to right. Gently pull until you have released a stitch....don’t panic, just take your knitting needle and put that little stitch on it from front to back....

Once that stitch is safely on the needle gently pull on your chain again, releasing another stitch (do one at a time, you will be a lot happier) put that on your needle. Repeat until you have successfully removed your chain and you have all your stitches on your needle (the last one sometimes looks weird but yes, that goes on the needle too) you should have the same amount you picked up at the beginning, Make sure you count them so you can adjust your stitches accordingly. 

Whew! You have now experienced provisional cast on! These new stitches you have can now be used to graft to the stitches at the other end, or maybe bound off in some special way, or a cool edge can be done! See...didn’t I tell ya it’s not that hard?! Go give it a shot....you can do it!! I hope my little tutorial was helpful to you :) If you are still confused come on by and we will show you. Until next week yarn pals! Enjoy your weekend!!