How To Knit: Two-Color Italian Tubular Cast On | Brooklyn Tweed

In this Brooklyn Tweed knitting tutorial we teach you to work a Two-Color Italian Tubular Cast On for 1x1 ribbing - a sturdy and stretchy cast on that creates a beautiful edge on your knitting with no need for waste yarn. This method works for flat or in-the-round knitting, and you can cast on an even or odd number of stitches.
Start with a circular needle 1-2 sizes smaller to cast on than you will be using to knit your ribbing.
1:00 Make a slip knot with MC and C1 held together, leaving an 8”/20 cm tail. Slip the slip knot onto the needle and hold in your R hand ready to knit. (Note: The slip knot will not be worked, and should not be included in your stitch count.)
1:26 With your index finger and thumb of your L hand extended to create an “L”, position the working MC (pink) and C1 (pale blue) yarns in your L hand, with the working yarns held against your palm and with the MC yarn draped over your index finger and the C1 yarn draped over your thumb in a diamond shape. Secure the tails from the slip knot by holding them against the needle with your R hand.
3:20 Step 1: Create a Knit Stitch with MC: Wrap the C1 yarn over the needle by moving the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your thumb and over the C1 yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the C1 yarn.
Step 1a: Move the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your index finger and over the MC yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the MC yarn.
Step 1b: The C1 yarn is crossed over the MC yarn across the top of the needle. Swing the needle toward you under both yarns to unwrap the C1 yarn, keeping the MC loop on the needle and maintaining an even tension ready to cast on a new stitch.
4:00 Step 2: Create a Purl Stitch with C1: Wrap the MC yarn over the needle by moving the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your index finger and under the MC yarn, then back to the center of the diamond.
Step 2a: Move the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your thumb and over the C1 yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the C1 yarn. The MC yarn is crossed over the C1 yarn across the top of the needle.
Step 2b: The MC yarn is crossed over the C1 yarn across the top of the needle. Swing the needle toward you under both yarns to unwrap the MC yarn, keeping the C1 loop on the needle and maintaining an even tension ready to cast on a new stitch.
5:27 Repeat Steps 1 & 2 until the desired number of stitches have been cast on, ending with a backwards loop cast on to secure your cast on row.
8:24 Your stitches are now ready to work in 1x1 or brioche rib! (Note: Jared says here that the pale blue stitches are purls and the pink stitches are knits - the stitches are actually facing the camera the other way around here since the work has been turned.)
To work the tubular rows:
(Note: In this video we are knitting the first and last stitch of each row as a selvedge stitch.)
9:48 Row 1: With your C1 yarn (pale blue), knit 1 (selvedge stitch). (Knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front) across. Knit 1 (selvedge stitch). Note that on this first row, your knit stitches will be mounted backwards on the needle, so you'll need to knit into the back loop to untwist them. (Don’t knit the slip knot, just let it fall off your needle. You can pull it out after you’ve worked a few rows.)
11:41 Row 2: Slide your stitches to the other end of your circular needle so that you can work with your MC yarn (pink). Knit 1 (selvedge stitch). (Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl 1) across. Knit 1 (selvedge stitch).
Brooklyn Tweed knitting pattern: Saurel (launches February 24, 2021)
Designer: Susanna Kaartinen
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Arbor
Shop yarn: brooklyntweed.com/products/arbor
See our How-To playlist for more technique videos: bit.ly/3ipXq4g
Visit our Resources page for more knitting tips: brooklyntweed.com/pages/resou...
If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support! Shop our breed-specific American wool yarns & thoughtfully designed patterns at BrooklynTweed.com.
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At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design.
We develop and manufacture breed-specific wool yarns that support domestic textile production. This means designing, sourcing, dyeing and spinning our yarns 100% within the USA.
We craft our knitwear designs with the same commitment to timeless quality that we apply to our yarns. Every pattern is meticulously drafted and edited to provide clear instructions that empower knitters to build new skills. Our design team explores the intersection of knitting traditions and contemporary style, to produce patterns that are a pleasure to knit and wear.
Learn more at: ‪@BrooklynTweed_Official‬
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com/

[@lolainma3218]

The #1 knitting channel for me. So clear and instructive. I’m so happy to have found you!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! We're glad you're here!

[@jninj57]

Clear, informative, and concise. Great tutorial video. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you for watching! Happy knitting!

[@michelemeehan4834]

So much clearer than the one where they were weaving the yarn over needles This is so clear Thanks!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@spahtucus]

That backwards loop idea is BRILLIANT. Thanks so much for this - I’ve done this cast on many times but learned a bunch of ways to improve!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! The backwards loop really saves the day!

[@redredwine1277]

Wow 👌🏽Thank you. Merry Christmas 🎄 2023

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! Happy knitting!

[@AlexShively]

Wow! Best explanation I have seen. You are a gifted teacher.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@mylittleflicka]

Ahh, clear and concise, thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@janievalgunn]

This is stunning!!! I can’t wait to make my own. Thank you for this video ~ super clear and details 💕

[@uchinawa70]

This was so helpful. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@DanielWSonntag]

Thanks for posting this, especially this year! Was able to focus on a lot more projects and try some new things. Going to try a 2-color brioche hat with this cast on.( Will also finish the top with flexiflips.)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You got this!

[@peaceandlove7704]

Fantastic instructor! Thank you! I am wondering what happened to the part where you begin the brioche.

[@drea3556]

I always like this cast on Nancy Marchant uses the backwardsloop too but nottbe Tubular Row I may try that looks nice finish. Thanks for the videos.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Drea! Thanks for watching! The tubular cast on really does give such a nice finish - well worth the effort!

[@helensid6670]

Thank you! Reminder: slip knot should not be included in stitch count. It's in the video and in the description, but I counted it. Not next time!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Pesky slip knots! Thanks so much for watching!

[@vasiliskormas1275]

thank you for this video! I am new with brioche and i couldnt understant why you knitt the blue stitches since you said that they were set up as purls. which have a bump eventually? bacause you mentioned both... I got confused...

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Our apologies! At 8:24 Jared says that the pale blue stitches are purls and the pink stitches are knits - it's actually the other way around on the side that's facing the camera!

[@whitneyherriage908]

Thank you for this wonderful tutorial! I am knitting my first brioche project, and yours was the most helpful video I found! I am a little confused, though, about the selvages, because I am doing a hat in the round. So I’m a little unsure about how to treat those those first and last sts. Also, it would be great to see how and when you would join sts for the first round.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Whitney! Glad our video is helpful! Great question about the selvedge stitches, you can just ignore those completely, so you'd be working your tubular rows as: Row 1: (Knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front) across. Row 2: (Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl 1) across. We definitely should do a joining in the round tutorial - that's one of those really mystifying steps! For the tubular cast on, we like to work the tubular rows flat and then just start knitting in the round when those are done - there will be a little gap that's easy to sew up with your yarn tail when you're all finished with your project. Happy knitting!

[@whitneyherriage908]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Thank you so much for responding! Admittedly, I have tried and failed several times by now to go from this cast on through the transitions and into brioche itself! But now - hopefully! - I will be able to get it right! Thanks again!

[@whitneyherriage908]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Another quick question. I am casting on an even number of stitches. Does that change anything? Thanks again!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@whitneyherriage908 You'll be all set with an even number of stitches! (Just remember to NOT count the slipknot as a stitch since you'll be dropping it later.)

[@NiceLoki]

Awesome demonstration. I am just attempting my first brioche hat and started with my standard 1 colour tubular cast on, but I didn't like it. Your demonstration and explanation is so clear, thank you. 😀 What determines the MC? Would it be the first cast on stitch is always MC or is it the first knit stitch cast on? Or is the first stitch that gets cast on must always be knit stitch therefore that is the MC? Also when you have completed the cast on and started the tubular row, is there a specific reason why you worked the blue yarn first rather than the pink? How do I know which colour to work first? I won't be using a selvedge stitch because I will be joining in the round after the tubular row.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello, thank you for your questions! The MC is typically determined by the pattern you're working, as is the color you work with first after finishing the cast on. Typically the knit stitches will be worked in the MC and purl stitches in the CC.

[@audrey0588]

Hello, thank you for this very clear video, i'm a beginner in brioche and i have a question, do i make "my set-up row" of brioche normally right after this cast on ? Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Yes, exactly!

[@audrey0588]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Thank you, have a good day.

[@elaineflournoy5022]

If you are knitting a 3k 1p rib, would you cast on in this pattern too? Thanks!

[@elaineflournoy5022]

oh, I just heard you say it's for 1x1 ribbing only...I guess that's my answer?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Elaine! Great question! The Italian tubular cast on method works well for 1x1 or 2x2 ribbing (to use for 2x2, you cast on the same way and then rearrange your stitches as you knit your ribbing) - you could definitely experiment and see how it looks with a 3x1 rib! Ysolda has a great post on various tubular cast on methods that you might find helpful: ysolda.com/blogs/journal/tubular-cast-on

[@latitude1904]

Where should we have the main color - over your thumb or over your pointer finger to begin?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello! Your main color should be over your index finger to start.

[@whitneyherriage908]

After knitting the two tubular rows, you say your ready to go right into brioche, but other videos talk about set-up rows/rounds. Are your tubular rows the same as the setup rows? Or would there be setup rows after the two tubular rows? Thanks

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Whitney! For brioche, after casting on your stitches, you'd work your brioche setup rows instead of the tubular rows (the first row of both is the same). Happy knitting!

[@francinelavoie3173]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Je parle français e je ne comprends pas . Est-ce qu'on répète toujours le 2 premiers rangs? J'aurais aimé voir tricoter plusieurs rangs. Merci de votre attention.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@francinelavoie3173 Bonjour, Francine! Si vous tricotez au point brioche, ne répétez pas ces premiers rangs, après les rangs montés vous continuerez avec les instructions de votre modèle. Bon tricot! (Si jamais vous aurez encore de questions, n'hesitez-pas à nous contacter par mail à [e-mail])

[@francinelavoie3173]

Je ne veux pas un point brioche mais une maille end.(rouge) et une maille env. (rose).Avez-vous un écrit du patron pour m’aider à comprendre ou ajouter des rangs à votre tuto. Merci!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@francinelavoie3173 Bonjour Francine ! Vous procéderez de la même manière - tricotez les deux premiers rangs de montage puis commencez à tricoter vos côtes 1x1.

[@katerinaberghain5586]

How do you join this cast on in the round?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello, thank you for your question! To work in the round after using this cast on you'd simply use a backward loop for your last stitch as mentioned in the video, then bring the first stitches of the cast on row to the other end of the needle so that they're on the left needle tip, place a marker on the right needle for the BOR, and join for working in the round by working into the stitches on the left needle (making sure the ring of stitches is not twisted). If you chose to work the tubular rows, you'd work them as rounds instead by working the first as [knit 1, slip 1 wyif] around with the color used for the "knit" stitches, then the second as [slip 1 wyib, purl 1] around with the color used for the "purl" stitches.

[@lindapb6529]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official thanks. Maybe a good choice for a video.

[@markinsko1626]

Sadly those two colors are exactly the same for this color-blind knitter! Still, good technique to learn. Thanks!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Oh no! Thanks for pointing that out so we can do better in future tutorials!