These socks by Sandi Rosner use the German twisted cast-on for a tidy, elastic edge. Photos by Matt Graves unless otherwise noted
As knitwear designer and frequent Farm & Fiber Knits contributor Sandi Rosner writes, “You can spoil top-down socks right out of the gate by using an inelastic cast-on.” While beginners are often advised to cast-on over two pairs of needles held together, this often results in an edge that is too sloppy, not to mention difficult to manage. Enter the German twisted cast-on (sometimes called Old Norwegian). It is a variation on the long-tail cast-on that results in a tidy, stretchy edge with no extra tools required.
An extra twist added during cast on makes the German twisted cast-on more elastic.
Instead of simply making the cast-on stitches looser, the German twisted cast-on adds a tiny bit of extra twist at the base of each stitch. This twist acts like elastic, stretching when needed and bouncing back into place when not in use. Remember to give yourself a little bit of extra yarn for this cast on—it might not seem like much, but the extra twist does use more yarn!
As I learned the German twisted cast-on, I found my muscle memory trying to trick me into using a plain long-tail cast-on. But as I practiced, the German twisted cast-on soon became second nature. Now that I have a tidy, stretchy edge in my cast-on library, I’m confident enough to cast-on for a new pair of socks! Watch my short how-to video below, and then try it on some of the sock patterns to follow.
—Pamela
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As knitwear designer and frequent Farm & Fiber Knits contributor Sandi Rosner writes, “You can spoil top-down socks right out of the gate by using an inelastic cast-on.” While beginners are often advised to cast-on over two pairs of needles held together, this often results in an edge that is too sloppy, not to mention difficult to manage. Enter the German twisted cast-on (sometimes called Old Norwegian). It is a variation on the long-tail cast-on that results in a tidy, stretchy edge with no extra tools required.
An extra twist added during cast on makes the German twisted cast-on more elastic.
Instead of simply making the cast-on stitches looser, the German twisted cast-on adds a tiny bit of extra twist at the base of each stitch. This twist acts like elastic, stretching when needed and bouncing back into place when not in use. Remember to give yourself a little bit of extra yarn for this cast on—it might not seem like much, but the extra twist does use more yarn!
As I learned the German twisted cast-on, I found my muscle memory trying to trick me into using a plain long-tail cast-on. But as I practiced, the German twisted cast-on soon became second nature. Now that I have a tidy, stretchy edge in my cast-on library, I’m confident enough to cast-on for a new pair of socks! Watch my short how-to video below, and then try it on some of the sock patterns to follow.
—Pamela[PAYWALL]
German Twisted Step Instructions
Begin with a slip knot or twisted loop on your needle. Hold your hands as you would for a long-tail cast on with the long tail over the thumb and working yarn over the index finger. To keep tension on both yarns, press them gently against the palm of your hand with the lower fingers.
Using your index finger of the needle hand to hold the slip knot in place, bring the needle tip toward you as you would for long-tail cast on, but here is where the German Twisted method diverges from typical long-tail.
Move the needle tip underneath both strands of the loop on your thumb, heading toward your index finger.
Move the needle tip over the back strand of yarn and downward. As the needle tip moves down your thumb, it is going into the loop.
Move the needle tip back toward you and over the loop on your thumb as it heads to the back and over the top of the yarn held on the index finger.
Scoop downward with the needle tip, grabbing the yarn from your index finger. (This will be the new stitch.)
The needle now needs to pull the new stitch back through the twisted loop on your thumb, so you might need to bend or relax your thumb to allow the needle to pass through. (This is the hardest bit.)
Remove your thumb from the twisted loop and tighten it by placing your thumb back under the yarn tail.
Reposition your hands and then repeat Steps 1 through 6 until you have the desired number of stitches on the needle.
Put your new skills to use!
The German twisted cast-on works great for any sock that’s worked cuff-down. Here are a few of our favorites from the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.
Photos 1–4 by Gale Zucker; photo 5 by Joe Coca.
Click on any name below to find the pattern in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library:
An extra twist added during cast on makes the German twisted cast-on more elastic. 
Photos 1–4 by Gale Zucker; photo 5 by Joe Coca.