A provisional cast on for tubular knitting.
This is my slip-knot free version of Judy’s Magic Cast On, a two-directional provisional cast-on great for starting toe-up socks and other tubes with one closed end.
You can use two circular needles, or two double-pointed needles (dpns), as I did here.
Basic Principle:
You will be creating a series of loops alternating between two needles with an interwoven “purl bump” ridge on one side for stability.
Text included in the images is written out below each step to make this Low Vision Accessible. Instructions on the images are for right-handed people. Instructions in the written text is non-hand specific.
Hold two double-pointed needles in your dominant hand with a small gap between them. The needle furthest from you (or on the top) will be Needle One, and the one closest to you (or on the bottom) will be Needle Two.
Drape tail of yarn through the needles from the body side over Needle Two. Leave a longer tail than you normally would—about three times as long as your cast-on section will be, plus a few inches as buffer.
Grasp the tails of the yarn in your non-dominant hand, pressing them against your palm with your fourth and fifth fingers (ring finger and pinky finger) with the ends hanging toward your wrist. Insert your thumb and forefinger between the two yarn tails under the needle, then widen to form a U.
Keep yarn taut throughout using the fingers pressing the tails to your palm.
Move both needles tips toward your body, over the yarn hooked over your thumb. (The yarn is still only around Needle Two.)
Move the needle tips down and under the strand on the thumb so the yarn is coming up behind Needle One.
Then wrap the thumb yarn down between the two needles so it is around Needle One and sinking through the gap between the needles. (An alternative way to think of this is moving the needle tips so Needle One goes under and around the thumb strand, then up again, so the yarn wraps around Needle One and goes down into the gap between the needles.)
Tighten and return to starting position, with your non-dominant thumb and index finger separating the two strands of yarn coming from the needles.
There is now one stitch on each needle, and your yarn will be coming from Needle One.
Move both needles over yarn on forefinger, then move Needle Two under and up on the inside of the finger strand, wrapping the yarn over it and down between the two needles.
Time for an adventure!
Whether it’s the mountains calling or your current read, these socks are ready for action! Cast on one of three sizes from Youth to Adult Large, then work in the round from the toe up, using raglan toe shaping, waffle weave texture, and short row gusset heels, until you finish with one-by-one ribbing at the cuff. Perfect for solid and patterned yarns alike, this warm and cozy unisex sock design is perfect for tucking into hiking boots or propping your feet up by the fire. Start your adventure today!
PROJECT LEVEL: Intermediate
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Digital download includes:
Refer to “Accessibility” below for more information about file types.
Worked in the round from the toe up with raglan toe increases and a gusset heel. Slight negative ease.
When choosing a size, round up.
100-gram skein of plied light fingering-weight sock yarn with 423 metres in 100 grams (or 463 yards in 3.53 ounces).
Approximate yardages: 306 (364, 426) yards [or 280 (333, 390) metres]
Set of five 2.5 mm (US size 1 ½) double-pointed needles (or, optionally, two circular needles of this size or one very long circular needle for Magic Loop Method instead) OR size needed to obtain gauge.
Yarn needle, at least two stitch markers.
40 stitches and 53 rounds = 4 inches (or 10 cm) over stockinette in the round.
Earl Grey Fiber Co. Darjeeling Sock, a 75% Superwash Merino and 25% nylon 4-ply light fingering-weight yarn with 423 metres in 100 grams (or 463 yards in 3.53 ounces).
All other required stitches are explained.
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Most recent revision: n/a
Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing
Knitting pattern type: Single Design Option
Project type: Socks
Page Count (standard PDF): 7
Page Count (Large Print PDF): 36
ISBN (Standard PDF): 978-1-998164-09-7
ISBN (Large Print PDF): 978-1-998164-10-3
ISBN (EPUB): 978-1-998164-11-0
This pattern is copyright My Secret Wish Publishing. Your purchase of this pattern gives you the right to use it for personal, non-profit use only. To license the pattern to use for profit, please e-mail me for permission. You do NOT have the right to print the pattern for other people (unless they reside in your household) or to transfer the digital file to any other person. This pattern may not be sold, copied, or distributed in any way.
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Tighten up the stitch, but don’t pull it too close to the previous stitch. In general, a gap about the same width as your yarn is enough.
Repeat steps Three to Six until you have the desired number of stitches on each needle. Make sure there are the same number of stitches on each.
Starting at the beginning of Needle Two, knit your first round. When you get back to Needle One, knit into the back loops on your FIRST round only.
You should see a ridge of little purl bumps on the back of your cast-on round.
Hi! I’m Talena Winters (a.k.a. the Yarn Mermaid).
I started My Secret Wish Knitting in 2010 to empower and delight knitting heroes like you who want to elevate your knitting and make magic with yarn. When I’m not concocting new yarn potion recipes, I’m creating story magic as a fantasy and romance author and fiction editor (at talenawinters.com). I live with my family and pets in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, where sweater weather lasts at least nine months a year and my closest neighbours are bears and wood nymphs.
This website is a labour of love by a team of one (me!). If you found value here, please support the effort by purchasing a pattern. If you want more knitting magic, check out my community events and newsletter in the Knitting Circle. We’d love to have you!
