Dear Knit Nerd - Curious About Cast-Ons

DEAR KNIT NERD

“I’ve been hearing a lot about tubular cast-ons and bind-offs. Are they just a fancier edge, or is there a real reason to use them instead of something like a long-tail or a stretchy bind-off?”
— Thanks, Curious About Cast-Ons

DEAR CURIOUS ABOUT CAST-ONS

I absolutely love using a tubular cast-on and bind-off for 1x1 rib. The cast-on and bind-off are both very stretchy and create a “seamless” looking start and finish since the stitches don’t appear to terminate or constrict at the edge. This is great for hats and cowls when you don’t want any drawing in at the ends, but I also often use this when binding off sleeves (especially short sleeves), collars and sweater hems. It has no additional flair that you sometimes get with other stretchy bind-offs and looks very smooth and even.

The reason it is called “tubular” is because you have essentially created a horizontal tube of stitches (as if you were double knitting) that you then start working together like in regular knitting. The bind-off is similar, you are essentially dividing your stitches (knits to one side, purls to the other) and then grafting them together, creating a very small “tube”.

Tubular Cast-on

I’m not going to go into a detailed tutorial since so many great ones already exist, but I do have some tips. The tubular cast-on is usually worked flat to start and then joined in the round after a few rows with the gap being closed up during finishing. I often just work it in the round by tweaking the process slightly. There are multiple ways to start the tubular cast-on:

Long Tail
This method involves an intricate long tail style cast-on. You will usually cast-on the exact number of stitches you need or the exact number of stitches plus one.

·         Long Tail Tubular Cast-on Tutorial by Purl Soho (photos and video)

Waste Yarn
This method starts with a waste yarn provisional cast-on. You will usually cast-on half the number of stitches you require plus one.

·         Waste Yarn Tubular Cast-on Tutorial by Shibui Knits (photos)

·         Waste Yarn Tubular Cast-on Tutorial by Very Pink Knits (video)

Both the above methods involve knitting several set-up rows after the initial cast-on row before beginning to work in the round. I personally prefer the waste yarn method (even though it involves an extra step) because I find it less fiddly, however I work it slightly differently when working in the round. When I work the waste yarn method in the round I cast-on half the number of stitches I need without adding the extra stitch, then after working the first row (the knit 1, yarn over row), I join to work in the round. My next row will be worked as sl1 wyib, purl 1, ending with a purl, and the following row will be worked as knit 1, sl1 wyif, ending with a slipped stitch. It can be a bit fiddly to manage that last yarn over on the first row, but I prefer this method since I start working in the round right away instead of needing to join after the set-up rows.

Folded Hem
I have never worked this method, but I am including it anyway since it is useful when working other rib patterns such as 2x2 rib. This method also uses a provisional cast-on but instead of working yarn overs and slipped stitches, the setup rows are worked in stockinette and then slipped to the same need alternatingly before working together.

·         Folded Hem Tubular Cast-on Tutorial by Ysolda (photos)

·         Folded Hem Tubular Cast-on Tutorial by Very Pink Knits (video)

Tubular Bind-off

The bind-off can also be worked more than one way. 

Sewn Method (sometimes called Italian Tubular Bind-off)

The sewn method leaves all the stitches on one needle and working a sewn bind-off. The below tutorial by Shibui Knits is my go to tutorial when I’m binding off, and you can simply work the below bind-off with no set-up rows as shown, however I don’t love how this looks because it is a bit squished and not as stretchy as I like. Instead I work the set-up rows from the kitchener stitch method linked below (one row of knitting the knits and slipping the purls wyif and one row of slipping the knits wyib and purling the purls) which gives me the full tubular effect of the bind-off.

·         Tubular Bind-off Tutorial by Shibui Knits (photos)

·         Tubular Bind-off Tutorial by Brooklyn Tweed (video)

Kitchener Stitch Method (also sewn)

This method is essentially the same as the sewn bind-off except that you split your stitches between 2 needles (the back needle holds all the purls and the front needle holds all the knits) and then grafting them together via kitchener stitch. As with the first method, you can choose to either work the set-up rows or not depending on your preference, however it can be difficult to work the kitchener stitch without the set-up rows because the stitches have to stretch to be parallel to each other.

·         Tubular Bind-off Tutorial by Ysolda (photos)

·         Tubular Bind-off Tutorial by Roxanne Richardson (video)

I hope you find an opportunity to explore this cast-on and bind-off in your future knitting because it is a wonderfully versatile way to start and finish your knitting!

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighbourhood Knit Nerd