The Knitting Fiend

Here’s an extremely elastic cast on for 1 x 1 rib. One of the women in my knitting guild calls it a “no-cast on cast on.”

It’s not the nicest looking cast on in the world, but I use it when I want the edge to be able to spread a lot, for example, I’d use it for the neck on a balaclava knit from bottom to top.

In addition to the needles and yarn you plan to use for the rib, you will need a set of smaller diameter needles and finer gauge waste yarn.

Work as follows:

• With waste yarn and smaller diameter needles, cast on required number of stitches. Work 2 rows in stockinette. Break yarn. (See blue yarn in photo above.)
• Attach yarn for project. With smaller diameter needles, work 1 row 1 1 x 1 rib. Change to main needles; continue knitting in 1 x 1 rib for several rows. (Examine white yarn in photo above.)
• Use scissors to snip the edge stitch of the waste yarn as illustrated. Pull waste yarn off.
• Voila! You have the cast on shown to the right. I advise stretching the cast on laterally and marveling at its stretchiness and the fact this doesn’t ravel.