Provisional Cast On Question

Hi Everyone.

I've only done 2 projects that required a provisional cast on and both times I found the process a complete pain in the neck. I was working circularly and found it difficult to make sure my stitches were not twisted when I joined the circle. I used a knitted cast on, alternating the cast on stitches in front and in back of the auxiliary yarn.

I am about to begin another project which calls for a provisional cast on and I thought I'd try a crocheted version this time. My question is, would anyone please weigh in on the pros and cons of a crocheted provisional cast on versus a knitted one, as previously described? Are there any problems with the crocheted version I should be aware of? It seems so much easier and clearer to do it this way.

TIA

Hesira

Reply to
hesira
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One of the easiest provisional castons is to CO however and knit a row or two with scrap yarn. Then when you're ready to pick up the sts, cut the CO or pick it out and unravel the row or two.

sue

Reply to
suzee

Hello Hesira I did the crochet provisional caston for the Ice Queen. You are on ravelry. If you go to the Ice Queen group there is lots of discussion about various cast ons. It was my first time and it worked exceptionally well.

Louise - stonemoon

Reply to
stonemoon

Thanks Sue. My problem with the cast on is the fact that I'm working circularly, and a CO around an auxiliary piece of yarn makes it difficult to tell whether my stitches are twisted. I think your idea is really good and I see how I could apply it to circular knitting. It would probably make it easier if I knit a couple rows flat with the waste yarn and then joined the circle.

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

Thanks for the tip Louise, I check it out.

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

Well, thanks for the tips and comments. I went ahead and casted on using a method that involves crocheting the cast on directly onto the knitting needle. Everything went just fine. My only problem was I used the same kind of yarn for my cast on (baby alpaca) as my knitted hat. The alpaca was difficult to unzip. I think next time I'll try a smooth cotton.

Can you believe I went nuts and practically finished the hat over the weekend? I've just got a little bit of the lining to knit, then tacking it down and weaving in ends. I may finish it tonight, or by tomorrow for sure. It's for my DH, and he actually requested it. That's all the incentive I needed!

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

With the method I used you can also unzip it like a bag of dog food, but I don't know about picking up the stitches first and unzipping, because I just would unzip a few and put them on my needle, repeat. My problem with the in-the-bumps method was I sometimes split the bumps, making it impossible to unzip properly. I'm guessing both methods are similar in outcome. You're right, there are so many ways to go about it.

Hesira

Reply to
hesira

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