A few weeks ago we discussed a stretchy cast on that is perfect for “knit 1, purl 1” ribbing. It is known as the “Italian cast on” or a “long tail tubular cast on”. The best part about this type of cast on is that it does not create a ridge. That makes it perfectly stretchy.
In addition to that, the stitches are cast on in a sequence of one knit and one purl stitches, so when we start working in a “knit 1, purl 1” ribbing pattern, the ribbing seems to grow from nowhere just like the ribbing you see on manufactured sweaters.
The only downside of this cast on is that it works great only with 1×1 ribbing. Though it is quite hard to adjust it to wide ribbing like 3×3, 4×4, 5×5 or more, there is a fairly easy way to make it work for a 2×2 ribbing.
WATCH EVERY STEP IN THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL
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HERE’S HOW:
The cast on itself is exactly the same as the cast on for 1×1 ribbing we’ve already discussed.
Click here to read the tutorial,
STEP 1
Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches. Use the Italian cast on described in this tutorial
I cast on 12 stitches to make the swatch shown in the photos.
STEP 2
Work two rows using “way #2” described in video above.
STEP 3
Now we are all set up for working in the “knit 1, purl 1” ribbing. But it’s not exactly what we want, right? We plan to work in the “knit 2, purl 2” ribbing, and in the next row, we’ll rearrange the stitches to build up a perfect 2×2 ribbing pattern.
3.1 Knit the first stitch.
3.2 Insert the tip of the right needle from left to right into the next two stitches as if you are going to knit them together, and slip them to the right needle.
Watch how to do it in the video above.
3.3 Insert the tip of the left needle from left to right into the slipped stitches and return them back to the left needle.
Watch how to do it in the video above.
3.4 Knit one stitch through the back loop.
Watch how to do it in the video above.
3.5 Purl one stitch through the back loop.
Watch how to do it in the video above.
3.6 Purl the next stitch normally (through the front loop).
Now repeat steps 3.1 through 3.6 till the end of the row to line up the rest of the stitches for working in the “knit 2, purl 2” ribbing. After you finish this row, work in the ribbing pattern.
HERE’S A VIDEO TUTORIAL THAT SHOWS EVERY STEP
No matter what kind of project you are making, the cast on edge will be stretchy and will look great.
SAVE FOR LATER:
This and 47 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #2.
