Super-Stretchy Cast On

An elastic cast on that’s ideal for ribbed edges.

When you're casting on for a project that needs a deeply stretchy edge, the solution is to use the Super-Stretchy Cast On. This slip-knot cast on is perfect for the brims of ribbed hats, mittens, gloves, socks, sweater hems, neck edges, and any other one-by-one ribbed edge in knitting. Check out my easy-to-follow tutorial and start casting on ribbed edges like a pro today!

Note:

This cast on is amazing with a smooth yarn on any ribbed edge, but does not work well for nubby or boucle yarns.
It works best on one-by-one rib, okay on two-by-two rib, and it’s not recommended for three-by-three or larger ribs.

This cast on was invented by Jeny Staimon, and is also known as Jeny’s Stretchy Slip-Knot Cast On. (Link goes to original video on YouTube.)

How to Do It

Basic Principle:

You will be creating a series of successive slip knots to create a very stretchy edge.

Steps

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.

Step One

Hold the yarn tail and one double-pointed needle in your dominant hand. The yarn tail should be grasped between your fingers to keep it taut, leaving your thumb and fingers free to maneuver the needle.

Press the ball end of the yarn against the palm of your non-dominant hand with the fourth and fifth fingers. Shape the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand into a U. The yarn should come from your palm, below and around the nail of your thumb, and then wrap around your forefinger to create a loop before going to your dominant hand.

(In the video and many other tutorial videos, she has you start with a regular slip knot instead of this method. If you want to do that, you can see how to make a slip knot here.)

Step Two, Part A

Using dominant hand, insert needle through loop around index finger from thumb side. (Righties: left to right; Lefties: right to left.)

Move the needle tip toward you, over the yarn being held by thumb, then swing the needle tip down, then up and away from you under the yarn to catch it.

Step Two, Part B

Keep tension on the loop with the needle and your non-dominant finger-U to keep it open.

Step Three

Use the needle to pull the yarn back through the open loop. Keep good tension on the yarn that is over the thumb. Your non-dominant forefinger may twist around to hold the loop while you do this.

The loop will still be hooked around your forefinger, and the yarn tail will be held in your dominant hand while it grasps the needle, which now has a loop of yarn on it going back through the loop which is being held by your non-dominant forefinger.

Brennan Hat

On Sale

CAD9.00

CA$9.00

Added to cart

Meet winter with style in the classic and cozy Brennan Hat.

Inspired by a hat I saw on the show Bones, this beanie looks amazing on men, women, kids, and babies alike. Just imagine hitting the slopes—or the mall—with this classic toque. Knit in the round from the brim up, there is no seaming and minimal weaving-in of ends.

It’s so cute, you'll be saying, “Bring on the snow!”

PROJECT LEVEL: Intermediate

—

Digital download includes:

PDF (standard) - best for printing or for sighted knitters
PDF (Screen Reader Accessible Large-Print) - best for Print Challenged knitters and reading on phones
EPUB (eBook) - best for anyone who wants reflowable, resizable text

Refer to “Accessibility” below for more information about file types.

About Design

Construction

Hat is worked in the round from the bottom up.

Sizes

Measurements given are head circumference, not finished garment measurements. Age ranges are approximate.

Extra Small (Infant): 15 to 17 inches (or 38 to 43 cm)
Small (Toddler): 16 to 19 inches (or 40.5 to 48 cm)
Medium (Child): 18 to 21 inches (or 45.5 to 53.5 cm)
Large (Youth & Adult Small): 20 to 23 inches (or 51 to 58.5 cm)
Extra Large (Adult Large): 22 inches (or 56 cm and up)

Alteration instructions included.

Supplies

Yarn

1 (1, 1, 1*, 2) balls plied aran-weight (heavy worsted) yarn with 150 metres in 100 grams (or 164 yards in 3.53 ounces)

*For the Large size, you will need to unravel your gauge swatch to complete the hat unless you buy two balls.

Approximate yardages: 117 (128, 139, 150, 164) metres [or 128 (140, 152, 164, 179) yards]

Needles

Set of five size 5.0 mm (US 8) double-pointed needles OR size needed to obtain gauge
5.0 mm (US 8) 29-inch (or 73 cm) circular needles (optional; the pattern could be completed only on double-pointed needles, or you could complete it only on a very long circular needle using the Magic Loop Method)

Notions

small cable needle
yarn needle
stitch marker

Gauge

20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches (or 10 cm) over stockinette stitch knit flat

About Samples

Both samples were knit in Knit Picks Andes del Campo (100% wool), a plied aran-weight yarn with 150 metres in 100 grams (or 164 yards in 3.53 ounces) that knits up to 16 to 18 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm) on size 4.5 to 5.5 mm (US size 7 to 9) needles. (Discontinued.)

When choosing a substitute, look for plied yarns with good stitch definition and a soft hand. Andes Del Campo was not too dense for an aran-weight yarn, so loftier wools or even aran-weight alpaca might be a good substitute.

Techniques & Resources

Skills you will need

knit
purl
make a gauge swatch in stockinette stitch

All other required stitches are explained.

Techniques used

knitting in the round using one or two circular needles and / or double-pointed needles
simple cables from written instructions or a chart
Super-Stretchy Cast On

Included resources

A comprehensive list of links to online tutorials on my website for necessary skills. Tutorials are screen-reader accessible, with instructions relayed fully in text, and also include videos and downloadable photo tutorials.
Full glossary
Schematic
Instructions for alterations
Written and charted cable instructions

Publishing Information

Release Date: November 2012

Most recent revision: July 2023

Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing

Knitting pattern type: Single Design Option

Project type: Hat, Beanie, Toque

Page Count (standard PDF): 7

Page Count (Large Print PDF): 35

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-989800-44-7

ISBN (Bookmarked PDF): 978-1-989800-45-4

ISBN (Large Print SRA PDF): 978-1-989800-46-1

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING NOTICE:

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.

Update History

September 2022: Revised formatting of PDF to align with current template style. Clarified language where necessary.

July 20, 2023:

Updated URLs for new store and social links.
Adjusted size labels to be a better description of the circumference and the crown height for that age group.
Fixed errors in decrease instructions.
Updated PDF to match current formatting style and allow use of bookmarked headers to navigate.
Created an abbreviation-free EPUB version and a screen reader accessible Large Print version.

You will get a ZIP (7MB) file

Visit product page

Step Four

Release the loop on your non-dominant forefinger, then tug on the ball end of the yarn to pull your new stitch tight around the needle. You have just created one slip knot, which is your first cast on stitch.

Step Five

Keep the knot part of the slip knot at the bottom of your needle by holding the yarn tail firmly between your dominant hand thumb and forefinger, and hold the needle parallel to this.

Step Six

Repeat steps one to four to create successive slip knots until you have created the desired number of stitches.

Keep stitch spacing even. If one tightens with too much of a gap, pull it off the needle and do it again. You want the distance of about a single stitch between each slip knot on your needle.

Try my patterns

Closeup of a mans hand wearing a size 8 The Honey Tree knit glove in Rooibos red with all-over 4-stitch honeycomb cables on the back and 2-stitch honeycomb cables on the long cuff. He holds a mug.

The Honey Tree Gloves, Mittens, and Glittens Set (Multi-Pattern Bundle)

CA$15.00

A spread of knit gloves of various sizes, yarn weights, and colours on a wooden tabletop. Gloves have ribbed cuffs and plain stockinette bodies, and are knit in bulky, worsted, and fingering weight.

Just Plain Gloves (Multi-Pattern Bundle)

CA$15.00

Brennan Hat

CA$9.00

View All

Talena Winters wears a textured scarf and smiles at the camera.

About My Secret Wish Knitting

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!