Mastering the Alternative Cable Cast On
Are you interested in creating more polished knitting projects?
The Alternative Cable Cast-On is a great alternative to the Tubular Cast-On, (and my all-time favourite cast-on!). It gives a lovely rounded edge, and though it can feel a little tricky at first to keep track of if you are knitting or purling (at least it did for me!), it’s definitely worth figuring out. Check out the video above, to see me work it, or take a look at the written instructions below if your’re still struggling!
Written Instructions:
Make a slip knot on your left working needle.
First stitch only: Insert the right needle into the stitch knitwise and wrap the yarn around the needle as if to knit.
Pull the yarn through to create the new stitch and then place the new stitch back onto the left-hand needle.
Next, insert the right-hand needle between the last two stitches from back to front.
Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle as if to purl and pull the loop through to place it onto the left-hand needle – you have just created a purl stitch.
To make a knit stitch, insert the right-hand needle between the last two stitches from front to back.
Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle as if to knit, pull the loop through and place it onto the left-hand needle – you have just created a knit stitch.
Repeat steps 4 to 7, creating alternate knit and purl stitches until you have the desired number of stitches. As you need an even number of sts for 1x1 rib, you'll end after a knit stitch and ready to knit your first right side row. If you are working in the round, I suggest working the first round before joining your work.
Have you tried this cast on? Let me know you thoughts in the comments below!