Cast On, Bind Off (12 page)
Authors: Leslie Ann Bestor
Insert the needle between the 2 stitches on the left-hand needle and wrap yarn around.
Pull a new stitch through.
Slip this new stitch to the left-hand needle knitwise.
Continue casting on, reaching between the top 2 stitches on the left-hand needle to pull through the new stitch. Always slip that new stitch to the left-hand needle knitwise.
Getting It Right
⢠Work stitches loosely to facilitate inserting the needle in between the stitches.
⢠To neaten the last stitch: Before transferring the last stitch to the left-hand needle, pass the yarn between the needle tips to the front of the work, then slip the last stitch to the left-hand needle. This makes it neater and prevents the last stitch from slanting across the next-to-last stitch.
The Chained Cast On
can be worked both as a provisional cast on and as a regular cast on. (I have included a variation in the section of provisional cast ons; see Provisional Crochet 1 Cast On,
page 113
). The nice thing about the Chained Cast On is that it exactly matches the Traditional Bind Off, so if you are doing a project that calls for matched ends, such as a scarf or shawl, this is the perfect cast on for it. It is neat and attractive and looks good on both sides. It is not stretchy, however, and takes some skill with a crochet hook to complete.
Extras
Crochet hook (same or a size bigger than project needles)
CHARACTERISTICS
⢠Firm, tight edge
GOOD FOR
⢠Matching edges, with the Traditional Bind Off (
page 148
)
⢠Afghans and scarves
Getting It Right
If the cast-on edge pulls in, go up a size or two in the crochet hook.
Make a slip knot, leaving a short tail, and place it on the crochet hook.
Holding the knitting needle in your left hand and the crochet hook in your right, bring the working yarn behind the needle.