Alternating Cable Cast On
A Beautiful Cast On Edge for 1×1 Ribbing
The alternating cable cast-on creates a beautiful, stretchy edge for 1×1 ribbing, with a neat zigzag finish that looks similar to a tubular cast-on but is much easier to work! It's a great choice for sweater cuffs, collars, and hat brims, and works with both regular and twisted ribbing.
In this tutorial, designer Alexis Winslow will show you how to work the cast-on, recognize and fix mistakes, and join your stitches in the round for a nearly seamless finish.
For a matching finished edge, check out the Alternating Cable Bind-Off tutorial: https://www.knitdarling.com/videos/alternating-cable-bind-off
Written Instructions
Setup:
1. Make a slip knot and place it on the left needle. This counts as your first purl stitch.
2. Knit into the slip knot without dropping it from the left needle.
3. Transfer the new stitch to the left needle by inserting the left needle into the front leg of the stitch from right to left, giving it a twist.
Repeat the following two steps:
Purl stitch: Insert the right needle between the first two stitches on the left needle, from back to front. Wrap the yarn and pull through a new loop. Transfer the new stitch to the left needle, picking up its front leg from right to left.
Knit stitch: Insert the right needle between the first two stitches on the left needle, from front to back. Wrap the yarn and pull through a new loop. Transfer the new stitch to the left needle in the same way.
Repeat until you've cast on the desired number of stitches, alternating purl and knit stitches.
Working in the round: For the neatest join, work one row of 1×1 ribbing before joining in the round. When weaving in the cast-on tail, use it to close the small gap at the join, mimicking the path of the yarn between neighboring stitches.
Video Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and finished edge
01:08 – Slip knot and setup stitch
02:30 – Alternating purl and knit cast-on stitches
04:43 – How to check your work
06:02 – How to fix mistakes and identify the next stitch
08:13 – Working the first row of ribbing
09:15 – Joining in the round
10:17 – Closing the gap and weaving in the tail
11:52 – Matching alternating cable bind-off