Provisional Cast On: A One-Step Method | Purl Soho

[@susanbaumgartner9112]

The video alone left me a bit confused, but thankful for the comments. If Purl Soho had just added the bit about it being waste yarn and after casting on the stitches, knit into as normal it would be much more helpful (perhaps its the obvious conclusion, but instructional videos are best when things are clearly stated, not implied).

[@virginiamorris7079]

I’m

[@moztovensky]

Could you explain/demonstrate how to then go on with the "set-up" row?

[@montishaya]

I never seem to remember how this goes, and every time I need it, this is the video I come back to ❤ thank you for this!

[@sarvichan5059]

I tried this with a small sample to see how it works. 1. Follow the steps above, using a scrap yarn. I used a bright contrast color to make it easy to see what I was doing. 2. Knit into the stitches on the knitting needle, just as if you'd cast them on using any other method. 3. tug on the 'chain a few' end gently to 'unzip' the provisional stitches. I had to be careful with the last one I was pulling out (where the 'make a slipknot' end was) to be sure I didn't pull too hard. 4. You now see a set of 'live' stitches that are hanging in the air. I used the smallest knitting need I had to pick these up. It only really matters what size needle you're knitting on to, not off of. Hope this helps others.

[@gardenvarietyfae]

I put a lifeline into the stitches when I'm making the first row so they're not just hanging out in the air so I don't lose any of them. It also helps me to be able to see where I need to pick up stitches.

[@verylikecheryl]

Yes and I also put a stitch marker in the first and last stitches of the row for good measure 😅

[@glad4music]

I don’t do provisional cast on enough to remember. Your video is clear and concise. Thank you!

[@mellemelmo]

So much easier than making a chain first! Thank you. For the questions-- this is your scrap yarn. Once you've cast on the provisional stitches, pick up your "real" yarn and just start knitting

[@PurlSoho]

Thanks for the help!

[@kwosilait2855]

Great video! So much simpler than the first method I tried, and I was able to switch it so that it was easier for me as a left-handed crocheter (who knits right handed).

[@8698gil]

how is that different from an ordinary cast on? Where are the live stitches? I don't get this.

[@jacky3671]

Worth mentioning that the scrap yarn is best being a smooth yarn, and not being a proper woolly yarn that will grip your project stitches.

[@PurlSoho]

That's a great tip! Thanks for mentioning it here!

[@robturner3850]

Simple, short, clearly explained. Perfect explanation.

[@dorothyrushforth888]

A lot easier than I expected. I am using it to cast on your Soho vest top in garter stitch ❤

[@alistewart3451]

Thanks for this! I've been struggling with the provisional CO for an hour, and this makes it so easy!

[@sallyrich8271]

This is the best way of doing provisional cast on EVER!!!! Thank you

[@joannecurrey860]

This is the absolute best tutorial for a provisional cast on, thank you!

[@msdraeneichick]

Super easy to follow, thank you!

[@KnottyKnitWits]

I've struggled with this ********* cast on for years! This has been the most helpful tutorial for me!

[@tinaogle]

Thanks for your great succinct videos they are so helpful

[@annblonston1137]

what's provisional about this? show us the rest!

[@dabristudio]

Unfortunately something is missing :( I'm following this but would be good to see what you are supposed to do next. I knit off the scrap yarn with my new yarn but that means that the scrap yarn is knit into my project and doesn't just come out :/

[@PurlSoho]

Hello! When you're ready to undo your provisional cast-on, you can "unzip" the scrap yarn stitches by undoing the final loop you created and tugging on that end of the scrap yarn. Hope this helps clarify things!

[@suellenmusewicz6879]

I finally got it but so confusing for a leftie

[@thistledownealli]

Do we use our working yarn for the project, or waste yarn for the provisional cast on? And do you have a video on how to pick up the stitches when you need to?

[@lindsypenney3064]

Allison Mosley After watching this video, working the cast on myself, and having used other scrap yarn provisional cast on methods, my assessment is that this is a "scrap yarn" method. Due to the fact that you're going to pull on the single chained stitches you make after you're finished casting on the correct amount of stitches, and reveal your "live" stitches to be worked when you're ready.

[@cherylwillis5365]

I would like to see how you remove the scrap yarn. And do you lose a stitch in this process?

[@PurlSoho]

To remove the scrap yarn you'll simply undo the loop created, and pull! There should be no stitches lost, but this will lead to your first row of stitches being "live" or open, allowing you to pick up and knit in the opposite direction, or using a closing stitch to complete the work. We also have a tutorial for a two-step method, here: www.purlsoho.com/create/provisional-cast-on/ which may also be useful for you! Thanks for writing in!

[@cherylwillis5365]

@@PurlSoho is their a video of removing the scrap yarn and retrieving the live stitches?

[@cherylwillis5365]

@@PurlSoho undoing the loop created y pulling it…..will I have to pick up the live stitches as I do this?

[@PurlSoho]

@@cherylwillis5365 Hi Cheryl! We unfortunately don't have a video demonstrating that, but the easiest (and safest bet) would be to insert a knitting needle much smaller than your working needle into the stitches you intend to pickup, then undo your provisional cast on, and then move those stitches onto the appropriate needle for knitting. Doing this is a safe method of transferring those stitches back into a working order. It'll help to revisit the specific number of cast on stitches too, to make sure they are all accounted for before undoing the provision. Thanks for writing in and happy knitting!

[@jessicacollins8049]

Is there any way to show how to do this left handed? Im a left handed chrocheter but i am right handed

[@PurlSoho]

Hi Jessica! While we don't have a tutorial planned for the left hand, try following this tutorial but flipping the crochet hook into your left hand. The trick will be to just make sure you're passing the working yarn OVER your knitting needle, to keep the tutorial effective! Like a mirror image! Let us know if you run into any issues!

[@jillhannahd1539]

Perfect explanation. If you have a pattern that is ASKING OFR A PROVISIONAL CAST ON these are the instructions. If you're a beginner knitter, this kind of cast on would NOT be on your pattern! This is if you're going to do some sort of LACE edge AFER you've knit the entire piece (I.e. Shawl, scarf, skirt, etc). Anyway, it's perfect for what I needed as I am starting a LACE project that is LARGE and the patters asks for this type of cast on for the lace edging. Cheers!

[@kathybray7156]

Thankyou❤

[@jovettelandry4778]

Thanks for this! It is very useful and easy.

[@rebeccapresley4802]

There is a lot missing from this. I have never done a crochet chain provisional cast on and this doesn't cover how to pick up from the chain made and begin knitting/add in working yard, and then when done, unzip chain off of working yarn. I would like to use the one step method, and maybe after more understanding using VeryPinkKnits chain provisional cast on with the two step method I can make it work, but I just feel like this is half the video. Just my constructive opinion.

[@deborahlee7975]

I'm in a similar situation...if my first stitch is sl1wyif, how can I do that? I'm not sure how to start from this cast on. Maybe I need a different sort of provisional cast on.

[@Khamomil]

This method spares you the trouble of picking up stitches from the crochet chain. Everything else is the same as for the usual crochet prov. cast on. You can start your first row with your project yarn.

[@jaybeecee1949]

The same as with any other cast on. This is one of those things that sounds nonsensical until you just do it.

[@jaybeecee1949]

You don’t pick up--that is why it is called the ONE-STEP method! : )) The stitches on the needle are the carton--just start knitting.

[@cherylwillis5365]

@@jaybeecee1949 when you remove your scrap piece, won’t there be live stitches hanging there that need picked up with your knitting needle?

[@jaxcapful]

Great tutorial, my first time doing a provisional cast-on and this made it easy. As for the comments about how the video doesn't show you how to work the stitches later... obviously you just unravel the cast-on and put the stitches on your needle. I don't think they really needed to explain that....

[@PurlSoho]

Thanks Jaxcap! And we're always here to help - for any question!

[@penelopelike9148]

If it were obvious then no one would be asking the same question over and over.

[@ruthcooling3921]

Negver having done it before it is not obvious to me

[@susanmorrow]

DO you use the same size yarn? Or larger yarn?

[@PurlSoho]

We think it's helpful to stick with the same size yarn, but using a slightly smaller gauge won't have too big of an impact! Great question - thank you!

[@beethistlewinery6682]

This video is good as far as it goes, but it misses that you should be using waste yarn in a different colour and also gives no direction as to how to get the provisional off.

[@PurlSoho]

You're absolutely right and we're so sorry we weren't more specific! It's definitely easier to differentiate between the provisional cast on and the active yarn for your project if you use separate colors for both. We don't have a video that demonstrates removing the provisional cast on at this time, but you can do so by picking up the stitches of your main project with an available needle. Once your stitches are safely set aside on this needle, you can then unravel the crochetted edge like you would if regularly undoing your work. If you're in need of more assistance we're always happy to help further and would encourage you to reach out via email or a 1-On-1 Project Help session through this link: www.purlsoho.com/1-on-1-project-help.html

[@PamelaLaGioiaUSA]

What do we do with the live stitches if we end up not needing them?

[@PamelaLaGioiaUSA]

+PurlSoho Okay, so it's safe to assume that this type of cast on should only be used if a pattern calls for it, or if I know I'll need to knit in the other direction. (Unlike, say just another option for casting on...)

[@jaybeecee1949]

Just bind them off.

[@jaybeecee1949]

@@PamelaLaGioiaUSA Or bind them off. : )

[@Zalamita]

This is not informative enough-- there should be mention about doing the provisional cast on with a different yarn, not the yarn you'll be using for your project. After you cast on the stitches you need, you must start knitting with a different yarn, not the yarn you used for the cast on.

[@PurlSoho]

Thanks for filling in the blanks, Zalamita!

[@ep.e4939]

@@PurlSoho I also felt like, so what's next? Perhaps an updated /edited video to fill in those blanks would be handy to show new knitters how you continue to knit your work and then unzip the provisional cast on to use for a fold up brim or whatever else you need would make it more complete

[@PurlSoho]

@@ep.e4939 Thank you for the feedback - We're always brainstorming ways of making our tutorials more helpful!

[@kiyanasalkeld8336]

How do you undo this cast on when the time comes?

[@PurlSoho]

All you'll need to do to remove this cast-on is tug gently on the end of the scrap yarn (the side with the chain), and the provisional stitches will undo themselves!

[@kiyanasalkeld8336]

@@PurlSoho When I try to do that, my stitches get bunched up/stuck. Do you happen to know what I might be doing wrong?

[@PurlSoho]

@@kiyanasalkeld8336 It's hard to tell exactly what's going wrong without seeing your work, but feel free to send us a photo at [e-mail]! We'll be able to troubleshoot from there.

[@Goldenretriever-k8m]

this is so weird i literally had made this up a long time ago because i like to crochet and was learning to knit so i wanted to just cast on with the crochet hook, and i did this same thing. i didn't know it was a real thing

[@PurlSoho]

Necessity is the mother of invention! What a happy exploration! Thanks for sharing!

[@lunasmum6869]

Difficult trying this left handed!

[@PurlSoho]

I'm so sorry that you're running into difficulty trying this technique! I'd recommend booking a 1-On-1 Help appointment with us, and we'd be happy to walk you through it left handed. If you're interested in that, you can sign up here: www.purlsoho.com/1-on-1-help.html.

[@lunasmum6869]

Thankyou so much for your offer of help. I have mastered this technique now after much trying though I am slow yet. I used to do this by knitting a few rows with waste yarn and then the main yarn with a row in between of nylon yarn, not fishing line, which would pull out easily to reveal the stitches. I wanted a better way as I had 300 stitches to cast on! Thanks again!

[@Katie-tt3ji]

I just used real yarn because I didn’t realize this wasn’t the full cast on….

[@ImCarolB]

I'm missing my right index finger, so I don't think this will work!

[@sheilasmidt427]

???? What is this for??

[@PurlSoho]

Hello! This is a method of provisional cast-on. This technique is used if you need live stitches on your cast-on edge so that you can graft them seamlessly to other stitches later on in the project.

[@gh60956]

Yes and then i will trash what I did? all the yarn i used? ok thank you

[@PurlSoho]

Hello! You definitely don't need to throw away the yarn used in this cast-on. The scrap yarn will be super useful to keep on hand for other crafting purposes such as putting stitches on hold, or if you ever need to work a provisional cast-on again!

[@gh60956]

@@PurlSoho what I meant was I wanted to know how should I continue knitting, was ver confusing to cut the yarn

[@PurlSoho]

@@gh60956 Thank you for clarifying! Yes, you will cut the scrap yarn you used to create the provisional cast-on. Then, you will start knitting with the actual yarn you are using for your project.

[@gh60956]

@@PurlSoho oh many thanks for this ! ❤❤❤❤

[@demelzabunny6632]

The past of “to cast” is “cast,” not “casted.”

[@PurlSoho]

Thanks!

[@demelzabunny6632]

@@PurlSoho You are very welcome! (From an ESL teacher. ;)

[@erikanardi1755]

This is a terrible example. Doesn’t specify that you should use a different piece of scrap yarn and NOT the yarn that you are knitting your piece with, doesn’t explain not to use a “sticky” yarn, doesn’t even explain how to go back and rip it out, which is the entire point of casting on with this method. Read the comments and don’t be like me and knit an entire hat then have to start over because you can’t undo your cast on from following this video.