Provisional cast on technique query

[Cathy]

I guess this must be a seriously inane question, but still I can't help asking it.

Why can't I do a provisional cast on by simply casting on with a different yarn and then starting the to-be-used yarn and then unpicking the cast-on row when necessary?

[psammeadred]

Technically, you could. However, it's way easier to rip out a crochet cast-on than to pick out a whole row of actually knitting!

[Ingrid]

The cast on end doesn't pop out like a regular knit row. You could knit a few rows, then cut it off and pick out the extra, but the crochet method is easier in the long run.

[knitqueen]

That's actually the provisional cast on technique that's described in the book "Weekend Knitting". It's what I usually do if I have to do a provisional because the other methods just do NOT work for me. You don't have to unpick the cast on row though. Just use a contrasting yarn that's kinda slippery, like some kind of cotton, and do a few rows with that before switching to your chosen yarn for the project, then when you need to undo it, just take a fine pointed scissors and cut the constrasting row of stitches just below where your regular yarn starts. Then you'll just have to pick away a few loose ends and carefully put the stitches back on your needle.