It’s not that the classic version of the Chinese waitress cast on is very difficult, but if we can make it easier, why not? It is a wonderful way to make an elegant fully-reversible edge, and when we simplify this method, we are more likely to use it when we start a project.
As a result, more of our projects will boast a beautiful quite elastic cast on edge as a subtle decorative detail that elevates the look of even the simplest knitting creation.
This version of the Chinese waitress cast on method was originally demonstrated by 2bunused in a video tutorial that she published years ago.
I simplified this approach a little bit, and now we can form this lovely cast on edge without crossing the hook and the needle, without maneuvering the yarn wrap through the stitch from underneath the needle, and without making and then unravelling a slip knot.
WATCH EVERY STEP IN THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL
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Let’s see how we can do it step by step.
Just as it is true for the classic way to make the Chinese waitress cast on, it is much easier to form new stitches with a knitting needle and a crochet hook.
To make an edge that is approximately as loose as the main fabric of the future project, use a hook that is two sizes smaller than the size of the needles you plan to use. For example, to cast on stitches for my swatch, I use a 10mm (US size 15) knitting needle and an 8mm (US size L11) crochet hook.
If you are after a looser more elastic edge, use a hook in the same size as the needles. For a tighter edge, use a much smaller hook.
SETUP
Place a crochet hook at the right-hand side of the knitting needle so that the head of the hook is facing up and its “nose” is facing you. Hold the hook and the needle in your left hand.
Place the working yarn in your left palm so that the yarn tail is running away from the head of the crochet hook, and the strand is at the back of the hook and the needle.
Hold the tools and the yarn tight in you left hand.
STEP 1
Take the working yarn in your right hand and wrap it around both tools from the back, to the right, to the front, to the left, and finally, to the back.
Repeat this sequence again to make the second wrap.
Make sure the wraps do not overlap. The second wrap should stay above the first one.
STEP 2
Take the crochet hook in your right hand, and pull it down until the nose of the hook catches the second yarn wrap.
Twist the hook a bit to the left.
Move it down pulling the second yarn wrap through the first one.
STEP 3
Return the crochet hook back to your left hand, and move the working yarn to the front undoing what’s left of the second wrap.
Then move the yarn to the back through the slot between the needle and the head of the hook.
Now we are back to the initial setup – the needle and the hook are aligned in our left hand, and the yarn is at the back of the work. But this time, we have one stitch on the knitting needle and one stitch on the crochet hook.
Repeat steps 1 through 3 to add one more stitch to the knitting needle.
When you work step 2 next time, pull the second yarn wrap through both the first yarn wrap and the stitch sitting on the crochet hook.
Work steps 1, 2 and 3 again and again until you your knitting needle hosts the number of stitches you need for your project minus one stitch. That last stitch is the one sitting on the crochet hook, and to finish off the cast on, we need to transfer it to the knitting needle.
First, we take the crochet hook in our right hand (make sure you performed step 3 and the yarn is moved through the space between the needle and the hook to the back of the work).
Then we insert the tip of the knitting needle from right to left into the stitch on the crochet hook.
Ease the crochet hook out of the stitch and pull the yarn to adjust the size of the last stitch.
No matter what project you will choose to decorate with this interesting (and easy!) cast on method, you may be confident that the edge looks neat on both sides of the fabric and has enough stretch to support the main fabric of our knitting creation in the best possible way.
HERE’S A VIDEO TUTORIAL THAT SHOWS EVERY STEP
Many thanks to Nori for sending me a link to the original video tutorial about this variation of the Chinese waitress cast on.
SAVE IT FOR LATER
This and 31 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #8.
