Tubular cast on 101

The knitting of my mummy's stole is done. What a close shave, I had just enough yarn to finish the border. The parquet floor of our flat serves as a good measuring device as each square is exactly one foot long. Everytime I want to know how far I've progressed, I just put the stole on the floor to measure. The end product is a good few inches over 4 feet. All it needs now is a decent block which Terry, my colleague, has kindly agreed to do for me as there just isn't space to block the stole in my own tiny flat.

I've been feeling heavy hearted this week. My husband's boss is ill, so ill that he has to leave Hong Kong immediately to seek treatment. It's so distressing to hear that, we were just at his home last Thursday for dinner and I could sense there's something different. We knew of his illness but didn't expect things to turn for the worse so quickly. He's a great guy, not the type of great guy on the surface but you'll know he's someone with a big heart deep down when you get to know him. Whenever he invited us to his place, we puzzled over what to bring him and usually ended up bringing him books or wine. It has been my intention to make him some felted home décor stuff, like a felted bowl or something in Kureyon but I've always worried how odd it will look in his tres chic home and he might not like it. Then it occurs to me that I could knit him the Kaffe Fassett Tumbling Blocks cushion. I have it planned for the coming Christmas or Chinese New Year but now I'm going to start knitting it right away and hope he'll get better soonest.

While I go fiddling with the intarsia and the accompanied dingle-dangling balls of yarn, let me present to you K1, P1 tubular cast on 101 that I used to cast on the Tweedy Aran Cardigan. Just click on the extended post.

This is the version taught in the Japanese knitting magazines and it will produce a cast on for K1, P1 rib with an additional K1 edge stitch on each side. This example is for a 10-stitch sample.

Crochet a chain and pick up the stitches with your knitting needle on the back of the chain. The number of stitches to pick up will be the required number divided by 2 plus 1. For instance, if you need 10 stitches, you’ll have to pick up 6. Pick up the first 2 stitches, *skip one space and pick the next. Repeat until you have 6 stitches.

Work two rows stocking stitch, starting with a purl row.

See the vertical stitch (red yarn) on the bottom right hand corner? Pick up that stitch with your right hand needle, slip the first stitch on the left hand needle knitwise onto the right hand needle. Now there are 2 stitches on the right hand needle.

Return the 2 stitches now on the right hand needle to the left hand needle such that the picked up stitch is on the left side. Purl these 2 stitches together.

Pick up the horizontal bar (red yarn) lying in the midst of the beige crochet chain. Put it on the left hand needle and knit it. *Purl the next stitch on the left hand needle. Pick up the next bar and knit it. Repeat from * until there are 2 stitches left on the left hand needle and 1 bar left to be picked.

Pick up this last bar, slip the next stitch on the left hand needle knitwise, slip these 2 stitches back onto the left hand needle so that the picked up stitch is on the left side. Purl these 2 stitches together. Purl the last stitch.

There should be 10 stitches now on the needle. Pull off the crochet chain and remove waste yarn to reveal the tubular cast on. (This photo shows the wrong side. Notice the 2 purls at the end.)

My stitches are wonky in this swatch, they could be twitched a bit to make them more even. Please let me know if any part is unclear.

Comments

[nona]

Thank you for the clear description of the K1, P1 tubular cast on -- I cannot wait to give it a try tonight after work! I think the Kaffe Fasset cushion is a wonderful idea for a gift -- a beautiful addition to any home

[jody]

GREAT post. This is a version I've never seen before. And the pics are so clear. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[karen]

that's amazing! It really makes a beautiful edging when casted on that way. Thanks for so clear and good instructions, I'm definitely going to try that! And what a sweet idea to make that cushion - I couldn't imagine anyone not liking such a gift!

[Laura]

I am so sorry to hear of your friend's illness. With the medical help he is seeking hopefully he will have a full recovery. You seem so soft hearted. I imagine that he would be honored that you would make a gift for him. Especially that cushion!

Hope things go well.

Laura

[Purly Whites]

Those are great pictures! Thanks for posting this, it is very interesting.

[Andrea]

Thanks for the description and the good pictures!
Greetings
Andrea

[Mariko]

Great tutorial! Thanks so much. The tubular cast-on I've tried is pretty different from that one. I will definitely try yours.

[Tracy]

That was beautifully explained, thank you.

[joy]

I've always wanted to try the tubular cast on so the tutorial is perfect for me. The cushion would make a tres chic gift!

[Eva Shiu]

This is the tubular cast on method I learnt from Cheer Wool. I always use it for K1P1 rib cast on. Looking forward to see your intersia cushion. You have to show me how to do in our next meet up.

[wendy]

I wish the best for your friend.

[Lois]

This the Tubular cast on tutorial i've waiting for!!! i gonna bookmark this. Thanks!!!

[Jenni]

You read my mind. Finally, now I know how to do a Tubular cast on. Thank you very much for sharing again. You're the best. :)

[marjorie]

Thanks for this detailed tubular cast on demonstration! I'll definitely try it on my next project.

[erin]

The last time I tried the tubular cast on I failed so miserably. I'm going to reference your tutorial for the next time I try it, thanks so much for taking the trouble!

[lauray]

oo Thanks for the tut! I'm sorry to hear bout ur hubby's boss. Hope he gets better soon.

[Janet]

Thanks for taking the time to give us such a clear tutorial! I printed it out to try-looks so easy compared to others I've tried.

[Peggy]

Wow! You make it seem so easy... I gotta try it sometime.

[mimi]

Thank you for the tubular cast on, it's so well explained and the pictures are so clear!
Your hand knitted cushion will be a great gift for your friend.

[Donna]

Thanks for that clear description of the tubular cast on. Can't wait to try it.

[Judy Tergis]

This is fantastic! I always use this now when starting a Knit, Purl rib. There is one mistake though.
The third to last instruction, "Pick up this last bar, slip the next stitch on the left hand needle knitwise, slip these 2 stitches back onto the left hand needle so that the picked up stitch is on the left side. Purl these 2 stitches together. Purl the last stitch" seems to be incorrect.
I believe it should be "Knit these 2 stitches together." Then it works out in the knit, purl rib pattern.