The Knitting Fiend

This article shows how to use a crochet chain to work a provisional cast on which can be removed to pick up stitches later on. A provisional cast on must be used used when working toe up socks with short row toes. I usually prefer a knitted cheater’s provisional cast on, but many people like this one.

Here’s how to work it:

• Using waste yarn and a crochet chaing, make a crochet chain with at least as many stitches as you will need to cast on — lots more is better than just a few more. Put a safety pin in the final chain loop and break the yarn. It’s best to make the chain loose and it’s best to use a smooth yarn that doesn’t split easily with about the same thickness as your sock yarn. (I used what I had handy; it’s not all that smooth, it tends to split and I made my chain a tighter than convenient.)
   
• If you examine my chain, you will see the “top” side has a series of chain loops. Above left I inserted a needle to help you see the shape.
   
• On the underside of the chain, you will see a series of bars. Above center, I also inserted a needle to help you see the bars.
   
• Using sock yarn, pick up stitches by either knitting or purling through the bars on the underside of the chain. (The pattern will instruct you to either knit or purl.) Whether you knit or purl, the yarn should pass between the “top” and “bottom” the way the needles do in the pictures above. The yarn should not go down through the hole in one of those top chains.

  Do not twist the chain as you do this. If the bars are tightening up as you do this, it’s ok to occasionally skip a bars in the crochet chain; that’s why you crochet extra chains! If you are having a lots of trouble, start over and work a looser chain! You’ll then find it easier to see the little holes and pick up the stitches.

  (By the way, this is the part I hate. I have poor eyesight, and I have trouble seeing the loops. That’s why I use my knitted cheater’s provisional cast on. That also has the advantage of not requiring a crochet hook.)
   

• When you finish, you should be able to see chains on the underside of the stitches. Above, I purled a row with red sock yarn, the flipped the work over to show the chain.
   
• After working this cast on, you knit following your pattern directions. Eventually, you will be instructed to unzip the provisional cast on and pick up the stitches. When working a sock, you will unzip the cast on after shaping the toe.

  To do this, flip the work so the cast on is up facing you. Remove the safety pin from the loop of the crochet chain and pull; the chain will unravel. Unravel until you reach the sock stitches. Then, unravel slowly, pulling in the direction of the arrow in the photo to the right. Pick up stitches on a needle as you unravel.

  The chain should unravel easily. If you have any difficulty unraveling, you can snip the waste yarn with scissors and then continue to unravel. As you do this, notice why you had difficulty so it will be easier next time. Did you pick up through the center of one of those top chains? Did your split your waste yarn and pull a knit stitch through an actual strand of yarn?
   

You can now knit the stitches you picked up. This is pretty easy, doesn’t waste much yarn, and lots of people who have better eyes than I prefer this method to my “cheater’s provisional cast on.”