Provisional Cast-On...

[rileybear67]

I have tried a couple different ways and the most successful of the failures was the crochet hook version.

But, I still cannot get it to work right! I cannot see the live stitches that I am supposed to have available to me for when I get back around to them. I detest having to pick up stitches (part of the reason I am not a heel flap fan on socks - I prefer the short row method there) and I want a couple of my projects to be seamless.

I am making an ear warmer and a cowl and I don't want to do a three needle bind off.

Anyone have suggestions on how to "get" a provisional cast-on?
Thanks.

Comments

Try this as a substitute

[sedge]

Cast on normally with contrasting waste yarn and knit a row or two that way. Then start knitting with the project yarn. When you're ready to start knitting in the other direction, take a thinner knitting needle and pick up the bottom row of project yarn stitches (pick up every other vertical bar of yarn). Then cut off the contrasting waste yarn and you're good to go. I think TECHKnitter has more about this on her blog, along with her usual excellent diagrams.

Re: Try this as a substitute

[rileybear67]

I'll look through her stuff....
Thanks.

[synecdochic]

One technique I have seen done: use two circular needles and Judy's Magic Cast-On, then keep knitting with one set of needles. when you're done, instead of having to undo the provisional cast-on and pick up stitches, just go back to the other set of needles.

[rileybear67]

I watched this. The toe up cast-on finally makes sense to me. I'll see how it will work for my provisional.
Thanks.

[kauricat]

Seconding this: when I do a provisional cast on, I use a circular needle cable. It helps keep the structure of the cast on, where a piece of yarn can get pulled and twisted and get confusing.

[lannamichaels]

Oooh, that sounds like an interesting idea! I was thinking about going for a provisional cast-on, which I've had problems with before, to add a border to something after the fact, so instead of having to pick up from the cast-on edge, I would just use the provisional cast on. Do you think that this would work for that?

[synecdochic]

That is the other thing I would suggest! Except that I find provisional cast-ons annoying. *g*

[momijizukamori]

Have you tried to figure-8 cast-on? I've had the most luck with that, in part because there's no extra yarn or anything to pull out when you go back to the other end.

[hugh_mannity]

Here's a video that shows the easiest way (IMHO) to do a crochet chain provisional cast on. By making the chain right onto the needle, you eliminate the problem of finding the *%((^^&$$* loops to pick up.



(Here's the link if the video doesn't show up for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPSZVlI05-4 )

I do this all the time for short row sock toes. It's a bit fiddly until you get the hang of it.

[rileybear67]

I found a youtube video from VeryPinkKnits that showed an easy way to do this and, yes, I think this is the way I will go. It avoids the twisted stitches at the end and seems easy enough for even my brain to handle...

[hugh_mannity]

I was so happy when I found this method -- picking up the loops used to drive me crazy, but I like the effect and figured I'd just have to live with it.

It's so much easier to cast on straight onto the needle.