Great Cast Ons for Ribbed Cuffs, Waistbands, and Beyond

Best Cast Ons for Ribbing

This week on Ask Me Monday I show two of the best cast ons for ribbing: the Alternating Cable Cast On and a version of the Tubular Cast on for 1×1 rib. Both great options when knitting cuffs, necklines and waist bands!

This episode of Ask Me Monday is sponsored by Knitter’s Pride/ KnitPro

See more KP products during “Vic’s Tips” segments of The Knit Show!

Featured Products: Knitter’s Pride Royale Set and Zing! Straight Needles

Best Cast Ons for Ribbing: Alternating Cable Cast On for 1×1 Rib

Set Up:

1. Leaving a tail for weaving in, tie a slip knot on needle. This is your first stitch. Counts as a P1.

2. Insert RH needle into first stitch on LH from front to back; yarn-over knitwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as K1. Now you’re set-up, and ready to begin the process!

3. With yarn in front, insert RH needle into space BETWEEN the two stitches closest to the tip, from back to front, yarn-over purlwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as p1.

4. With yarn in back, insert RH needle into space BETWEEN the two stitches closest to the tip, from front to back, yarn-over knitwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as k1.

Repeat Steps 3-4 for as many stitches as desired.

Alternating Cable Cast On for 2×2 Rib

Set Up:

1. Leaving a tail for weaving in, tie a slip knot on needle. This is your first stitch. Counts as a P1.

2. Insert RH needle into first stitch on LH from back to front; yarn-over purlwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as p1.Now you’re set-up, and ready to begin the process!

3. With yarn in back, insert RH needle into space BETWEEN the two stitches closest to the tip, from front to back, yarn-over knitwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as k1.

4. Repeat Step 3

5. With yarn in front, insert RH needle into space BETWEEN the two stitches closest to the tip, from back to front, yarn-over purlwise and pull through a loop; place loop on LH needle. Counts as p1.

6. Repeat Step 5

Repeat Steps 3-6 for as many stitches as desired.

Best Cast Ons for Ribbing: Tubular Cast On for 1×1 Rib

Using a long enough tail for desired number of stitches, tie a slip knot onto needle. Counts as p1.

1. Using your pointer finger and thumb, separate tail and working yarn, while holding those two strands together with your remaining three fingers. Bring needle down lower than the hand holding yarn so that you see a slingshot shape.

2. With the tip of the needle, swoop UNDER the strand around the centermost strand that’s wrapped around your thumb, then swoop OVER the centermost strand that’s wrapped around your pointer finger and grab loop. Counts as a k1.
(You’ll notice that your stitch will be improperly mounted. Don’t worry, we’ll fix that later!)

3. With the tip of the needle, swoop UNDER the strand around the centermost strand that’s wrapped around your pointer finger, then swoop OVER the centermost strand that’s wrapped around your thumb and grab loop. Counts as a p1.

Repeat Steps 2-3 for desired stitches.

Set-up knit rows:

Taking care to hold tail down so the last stitch cast on doesn’t fall off, work row as follows:

Set-up Row 1: *K1tbl (this will properly orient your knit stitches), wyif sl 1; rep to end.

Set-up Row 2: *K1, wyif sl 1; rep from * to end.

Proceed with regular pattern from here!

Ask Me Monday is the longest-running Facebook Live series in the needlecraft genre. It’s on hiatus until May 2019. Until then, though, you can find all past episodes of this series under the Ask Me Monday playlist on the Videos section of my Facebook page. Enjoy!