Chinese Waitress Cast On OFFICIAL VIDEO - KnitFreedom.com

[@daykasays2922]

Using a crochet hook in the back needle place makes this entire process SO SIMPLE. Then just do a front summersault with that crochet hook , and repeat. Love this method of cast on!

[@susanmorgan8286]

I was just trying this CO and hand major difficulties pulling the yarn through the V, so I, like you used a crochet hook and it was a breeze. Great CO!!

[@verahunt2993]

Rather than take the needle out of the completed stitch and re-insert it, I used a short dpn and just twisted it around to remove the twist and it's much faster. I checked to make sure that the ball yarn is pulling the right hand leg, and it is.

[@SilverDraco]

I was trying to think of a way to not remove the needle. Thank you!

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Use a crochet hook!

[@daykasays2922]

Thank you. I've not tried this yet, but knew there HAD to be a easier step than removing the needle. And wondered if one could twist that short needle. Thank you!

[@SilverDraco]

Thank you for this. I love your demos and your voice is so soothing. 😍

[@Knitfreedom]

Thank you so much!

[@PG-wz7by]

Your tutorial is terrifically helpful. I'm going to quote it on my Ravelry project page. Thank you so much!

[@Kumiko6]

This has to be one of the most useful tutorials I've ever found!!!! Thank you so much. This cast on will become my new favorite!

[@Knitfreedom]

Hooray! I'm so delighted. Thank you for your comment. -Liat

[@susanmorgan8286]

I have to agree!! Liat is a GREAT TEACHER!!!

[@daphnewright5110]

This is a beautiful stitch. What I wonder, have you changed the hand turning part to turn with only the knitting needle? I watched how you turned the yarn very carefully and tried with only the needlemaking sure the working yarn was on the outside. What kind of trouble will I get into by doing that? I always want to know why knitters do what they do. It makes me a better knitter for that. Thank you.

[@meg6394]

This appears to give the same edge as a crochet cast-on. It's much easier to do with a crochet hook, and no turning of stitches is needed.

[@shaynaformity1384]

I thought so, too, so I did a little swatch with chain CO and one with Chinese Waitress CO and tried stretching them out and back (like what would happen on the edge of a hat). The chain CO immediately pulled out of shape and looked sloppy, while the Chinese Waitress CO sprang back and stayed neat.

[@geekzgalore1]

I think the difference is that there's a yarn over in between the chains? The resulting stitch looks more like an hdc than a chain.

[@ShiftingSands57]

Easier [and quicker] to use the rh needle to just twist the stitch and replace on the lh needle ! It’s very very similar to a cable cast on.

[@lynnetaylor8974]

Really nice and clear instructions! Thanks so much.

[@lynnekelly5140]

Very good and clear instruction. Thank you!

[@ilenefordis2464]

love this video! can you share the name of the metal DPNs you're using? my bamboo ones are starting to drive me a little crazy.

[@aprilmorris3874]

This looks unnecessarily complicated. What is the benefit of using this cast-on over others? I'm just a beginner, so I really don't know.

[@Knitfreedom]

Hi there! The long tail cast on is a better beginner cast on. This one is a little fancier as it's double-sided, doesn't curl, and is nice and stretchy.

[@aprilmorris3874]

@@Knitfreedom Thank you!

[@theastewart6721]

Fantastic! Love learning new techniques! Thanks for sharing!

[@luellscott6268]

I have never heard of this but will certainly start using it. Does that happen to be a cast off? I can't find a cast off for toe up socks that looks neat and is equally stretchy.

[@dunderhead5664]

instead of removing needle and turning loop, just twist needle in stitch. Does same thing.

[@MtMomDesigns]

Do you know the *history* of the Chinese Waitress CO? Like, who developed it and why it’s called that?

[@Knitfreedom]

Hi! You can read all about the history of the Chinese Waitress Cast-on here. www.knitfreedom.com/blog/chinese-waitress/ It is great.

[@devinrooney]

I just went to the blog post about it. So, for those who didn't want to read through it: the person who introduced it to American audiences was a Chinese-American knitter who learned the technique from a Chinese server in a Hong Kong restaurant. So, it's named that in honor of that woman.

[@CalicoEyez65]

What is a good bind off for this?

[@galecadywilliams4078]

this is an epiphany! thank you!! holy cow

[@lindaalikhan7962]

Thank you…….I’m going to use this on a hat where the brim gets turned back……I think it’ll be a prettier edge than the backside of a long tail

[@Knitfreedom]

Hi Linda, You are welcome. That is a great idea!

[@kimgoss4567]

What can this be used for

[@Knitfreedom]

A cast-on for garter stitch or brioche knitting which is stretchy.

[@jonlilley2832]

Oh, my God! What a hoot! I love the name of course, but I like this method because you don't have to pre-calculate how much of a tail that is required. Thank you for the tips! I will be using this! So much fun! Oh yeah, my Mom loved the name too!

[@Knitfreedom]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@elainebos]

What is a good cast off that matches this?

[@Knitfreedom]

Hi Elaine! Here is the link to the Chinese Waitress Cast-off: www.knitfreedom.com/blog/chinese-waitress/#comment-243343

[@kimgoss4567]

What is continental

[@cbjones2212]

It's where the working yarn is used from (for right handers) the left side and the yarn is pulled through to make the stitch, rather than the yarn over method that takes the yarn from the right hand side. Watch the video again at 03:13 where she uses the yarn over method for a couple stitches. Then at 03:22 she switches to continental.

[@Knitfreedom]

Thank you for this!!

[@ccaatthheerriinnee]

Imagine trying to do this with a blunt needle

[@Knitfreedom]

You can actually do it with a crochet hook for added security 💪🏼🪝

[@kathleenwagner7444]

Two points. First, "officially sanctioned" by whom? Is there a Central Knitting Authority now? One of the great delights of knitting is that it gives so much scope for individual ingenuity and improvisation; what the great Elizabeth Zimmermann called "unvention". There is no official way to knit. Second, this is a very unwieldy cast-on; what's the purpose of slipping every single stitch off the left needle, turning it around BY HAND, and then slipping it back on the needle and readjusting the tension? It all looks very pointless and inconvenient, and produces a bulky beginning to the knitted piece. There has to be a simpler way, and there is - in fact, there are several of them.

[@bikrgran]

WOW!