Provisional Cast on Help

holamiis · 02-09-2009, 12:06 PM

Can anyone share some tips for the provisional cast on? I've been watching Amy's video for about 10 minutes and just do NOT get it! Maybe because I don't understand the physics of what is happening?

Anyway, if anyone has some tips i'd appreciate it!

Erin

dustinac · 02-09-2009, 05:11 PM

This site may help you...it's also how I figured out how to do the cast on

holamiis · 02-09-2009, 05:13 PM

I'll try it but I also don't know how to crochet, so maybe not

MMario · 02-09-2009, 05:19 PM

The thing about a provisional cast on. What you want is a cast on you can "undo" later.....the very simplest way is to use some waste yarn and cast on with that, - even knit a few rows if you want. Then with your knitting established - you can start at row 1 with your working yarn.

The provisional cast on will normally be removed later (I just go ahead and cut them off) and the stitches picked up of the working yarn, either to bind or continue knitting in the other direction.

some people favour the crochet types because they can be xipped open easier then cutting or unpicking a waste yarn cast on ; but to me it 's not worth the extra hassle.

dustinac · 02-09-2009, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by holamiis

I'll try it but I also don't know how to crochet, so maybe not

I just know the very basics...the crochet hook is basically just used to grab the yarn and pull it over the needle...

I know other knitters that also do what MMario talks about it and they really like that way too

suzeeq · 02-09-2009, 05:36 PM

It's tricky to hold the 2 yarns out to the right, but the needle is moving in an over/under motion around the scrap yarn to pick up the working yarn so it's wound around the waste yarn. I found a couple more vids on Youtube, maybe that will help you out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXp8rUNxJtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rf121MG8gQ

holamiis · 02-09-2009, 05:42 PM

Thanks everyone! MMario, I think I'll give yours a try for now. Then move on to other types of videos, per suzeeq! Is it essentially the long-tail cast on but with a waste yarn take the place of the needle in the initial row? (does that even make any sense?)

Thanks!

suzeeq · 02-09-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Is it essentially the long-tail cast on but with a waste yarn take the place of the needle in the initial row?

You can also do it that way, but it's more like the mobius cast on. The trick is moving the needle over the back of the waste yarn, catching the working yarn, then moving the needle to the front of the waste yarn and catching the working yarn from underneath. Like I said, it can be tricky, but I did it yesterday to start a hood on a baby sweater because I wanted to do a 3 needle BO instead of a seam.

holamiis · 02-09-2009, 06:16 PM

The trick is moving the needle over the back of the waste yarn, catching the working yarn, then moving the needle to the front of the waste yarn and catching the working yarn from underneath.

Hmm... that is a good explanation.... let's see if my brain can work with that!

MAmaDawn · 02-09-2009, 06:44 PM

This is a GREAT video on the crochet one...

I did this before I knew how to crochet...