The Provisional Cast-On is used when a project requires the cast-on edge stitches to remain live, so they can later be picked up and worked in the other direction. This is especially helpful for projects like seamless garments, tubular edges, or anywhere flexibility is needed. There are two crochet hook methods we’ll cover here.
What You'll Need
- Scrap yarn in the same weight as your project yarn
- A crochet hook the same size (mm) as your knitting needles
- Scissors
There are two options for completing this cast-on.
Option 1: The One-Step Method
Step 1: Start the chain
Place a slip knot on your crochet hook and chain 5.
Step 2: Grab your needle
Keep the crochet hook in your right hand and hold the knitting needle in your left. Hold the working yarn behind the needle.
Step 3: Grab the yarn with your hook
Pass the crochet hook in front of the needle and grab the working yarn.
Step 4: Pull the yarn through
Pull the working yarn through the loop on your crochet hook.
Step 5: Reposition
Reposition the working yarn behind the needle. Repeat steps 3–5 until you have the required number of stitches.
Step 6: Finish the chain
Chain 5 more stitches off of the needle. Cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last loop. Tie a knot to mark the end of the chain where you will unravel from.
Step 7: Knit the first row
Using your project yarn, begin knitting the first row.
Step 8: Unravel the chain
When ready, locate the knotted end and begin unraveling the chain carefully.
Step 9: Pick up live stitches
As you unravel, place each live stitch onto your knitting needle.
Step 10: Knit in the other direction
With all the stitches on your needle, continue knitting in the opposite direction.
Option 2: Crochet Chain Method
Step 1: Crochet a chain
Using scrap yarn, crochet a chain with the number of required stitches plus 10. Knot the end to mark the unraveling side.
Step 2: Locate the bumps
Flip the chain over to find the horizontal bumps on the back side.
Step 3: Insert needle into a bump
Find the 6th bump from the end and insert your needle into it from bottom to top.
Step 4: Pull the working yarn through
Wrap your project yarn around the needle and pull it through the bump as if picking up a stitch.
Step 5: Repeat this process
Repeat this process for each of the bumps on the back of your crochet chain until you have the number of stitches required for your provisional cast on. You should have about 5 stitches left on the other side of your chain when finished. This will count as the first row of your work.
Step 6: Unraveling the provisional cast on
These process is the same as steps 8-10 in the one step method.
