Woolly Rivals: Knitted and Cabled Cast-Ons

Working the I-cord edging in designer Sierra Kreun’s new Sandglass Cowl, I thought about the excellent choice of the knitted cast-on that the designer specifically mentioned. If this method were not called out, a knitter might have used a cable cast-on instead, which would have created a bulky join in what should be smooth I-cord bind-off edge.

I’ve always thought of the knitted and cable cast-ons as sisters, formed in almost the same way but with very different personalities. Many knitters I meet have strong opinions about these methods, so it’s good to understand how they are different and when to use them.

Sierra Kreun's Sandglass Cowl worked in cozy June Cashmere Fingering. Photo by Gale Zucker

In case these methods are new to you, I’ll show a quick step-by-step, and then we’ll take a close look at the results.

[PAYWALL]

Knitted Cast-on

To start a knitted cast-on, first create a slipknot.

Begin to knit into it as if it were a normal stitch. (I’m holding the working yarn in my right hand here, but the technique is just the same if you prefer using your left hand.

You will begin adding stitches to the left needle, so keep the slipknot on the needle and place the new loop on the left by inserting the left needle under the new loop as shown. This seats the new stitch correctly.

As you move the sitch over, keep the right needle under the left. This means that you are automatically ready to wrap the yarn for the next stitch.

Once you are comfortable, this is a very quick cast-on method. You can also use this method to cast on at the end of a row; simply omit the slipknot step.

Start with a slipknot. Knit into the slipknot. Place the new loop on the left needle. As you drop the stitch to the left, make sure the right needle tip is under the left. You are now ready to wrap the yarn as if to knit and create another stitch.

Cable Cast-on

Start with a slipknot once again, and create one knitted cast-on stitch.

Now, you are ready to cable: Insert the needle from front to back between the two stitches.

Wrap the yarn as if to knit, pull a loop through to the right side, and place the loop on the left needle as you would for the knitted cast-on.

To continue casting on, insert the needle between the last two stitches, and work as before. You can see a braid forming under the needle as you work.

To use this method at the end of a row, insert the needle between the last two stiches to form the first new loop.

Begin with a slipknot and one knitted cast-on stitch. To cable, insert the needle between the two stitches and wrap as if to knit. Pull a loop through to the front and place onto left needle. A braid forms under the needle.

What’s the Difference?

Take a close look at the image below. You can see a knitted cast-on to the left and a cable cast-on to the right. The only difference between the two when working is whether the needle is inserted in the stitch or between the stitches. This means that the new loop is wrapping around one strand of yarn (knitted) or two strands (cabled) before being placed on the left needle, and the results are very different!

A knitted cast-on is stretchy, low-profile, and allows stitches to spread out on the next row.

A cable cast-on is firm and robust, and the cabled edge it creates keeps stitches seated in place.

The knitted cast-on is great when you need a thin, adaptable edge. It’s a good fit for an edge that will be sewn, such as the I-cord edge on the Sandglass Cowl; lace that needs to stretch; or firmly knitted traditional fabrics.

The cable cast-on is great when you need a neat, firm edge. It can create a crisp hem on a sweater, a strong underarm when splitting the body from sleeves on a yoke sweater, and a decorative edge for mittens.

I sampled using Soft Donegal from Studio Donegal, a soft, woolly, and forgiving yarn that works well for both of these cast-on methods. If you’d like to explore these cast-ons and more, I suggest choosing a stretchy, bouncy wool like this that lets you play.

— Kate

Knitted cast-on (left) and cable cast-on (right).

Find the new Sandglass Cowl in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.