Crochet Cast-On

The Crochet Cast-On or Crochet Edge Cast-On makes an edge that matches the standard bind-off. This cast-on can also be used as a provisional cast-on using a separate piece of yarn. It has the advantage of not needing to pick up stitches in the chain. With care it can be done using two knitting needles. It can also be done with a larger needle if a looser cast-on is needed.

The stitches are formed around the knitting needle using the crochet hook.

Use one knitting needle and one crochet hook of equivalent sizes.
Make a slip stitch and place it on the crochet hook.

Hold the crochet hook to the right of the knitting needle with the working yarn (the end coming from the ball) behind the needle.

Bring the crochet hook in front of the knitting needle, under the yarn, and grab the yarn with the hook.

Pull yarn through the loop on crochet hook and slip that first loop off the hook, leaving the new loop on the crochet hook. One stitch will have been formed on the knitting needle.

Move the working yarn between the hook and the needle and back behind the knitting needle. Bring the crochet hook in front of the needle ready to grab another loop of yarn.

Continue until you have one less stitch around the needle than you want. Slip the loop from the crochet hook onto the needle knitwise, checking that it is mounted correctly.

If you will use the cast-on as a provisional cast-on, using a separate piece of yarn, cast-on a few more stitches than you need to stabilize the tail end.

Comments

[MX]

Grat tutorial. I can't wait to come back and give it a try. This is just what I need.

thanks!

[Nancy]

I know this as a very late comment, but thank you for the great instructions about the crochet cast-on. I'm about to start a project and I'm pretty OCD about following the pattern. This pattern calls for the crochet cast-on and, by gum, that's what I'm going to do! Thanks again!

[Tallguy]

You can also watch an excellent video by Lucy Neatby (from her DVD series) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3J-sUx_whE&feature=related

[Mehlhouse]

great tutorial! thanks =]

[Patti]

I looked in all my books for crochet cast-on, none to be found. Found
yours, it is fantastic
thank you

[Patti]

I looked in all my books for crochet cast-on, none to be found. Found
yours, it is fantastic
thank you

[Michelle L.]

Hi...great instructions. Thank you. I totally couldn't figure out what I was meant to do until I stumbled on on your page. michelle

[Molly W.]

Great tutorial. I'm a lefty and your pictures and instructions were so good that I was able to reverse and cast on left handed. Thank you.

[Margaret Stelly]

Fantastic easy to follow instructions. I can't believe it. The pictures are great even better than a video. Many thanks.
Margaret S

[Margaret Thomas]

thank God for KarenJo. I bought a new shawl kit with beautiful yarn which called for a crochet cast-on. I searched high and low through my books, nothing found. I called the shop I bought the kit from and they did'nt really help. I was told to just cast on loosely. Thank you, Thank You SO MUCH!!!!

[Shirley Schmid]

Thank you sooooo much. I have told others about it, but couldn't remember how it is done. The pics are super! I'm showing my mother this evening. She is more of a crocheter, but it hard for her to cast on the regular way; she's 91 1/2. I looked everywhere; book, yarn shops,eyc. Thanks to signing on to Cafemoms.com I now have the answer. KarenJo, thank you 100's of more times.

[marianne]

thank you SO much! I'm knitting Lene Alve's Lilleput and it starts off with a crochet cast on and I'm so happy to have found yours :^)

[Karen]

Thanks for your help. I started a new project and never knew how to do this.

[Lynn]

I saw this on tv the other day and am going to be using it to cast on for a tunic I want to make. Thanks for making it very clear how to do it.

[fiddlewitch]

thank you so much for sharing this wonderful help post!

[elftea]

Wonderful instructions. I crochet most and knit very little because I hate to cast on. Thank you so much.

[Margaret]

reading your instructions for the second time and they are still just great and easy to follow. hope I can remember how to do it for the next time, if not I will be back.
Thanks again

[Maggie K.]

Great pictures! So much faster than trying to "pick up the bumps" and knit onto a needle AFTER making the crochet chain!

[HousiGirl]

Mille grazie for this tutorial which made it possible for me to do a crochet cast on! After a few awkward stitches, I caught the rhythm & oila!