Knitting Essentials: Casting on and Binding off

By Claudia Ostrop

Knitting boils down to a few essential things: one of them is getting the stitches on to your needles, i.e. casting on. In the same way, getting your knitting off the needles, or binding off, is also an integral part of most knitting projects. This is reason enough to take a closer look at the various techniques!

Cast on Techniques

You would think that it is simply about getting the stitches on the needless and off you go, right? In fact, many knitters probably don’t even think about the cast-on but just get started. There are, however, several ways to do it.

Long Tail Cast-on
The Long Tail cast on is probably the stitch cast-on that most of us know and that is used as "the" stitch cast-on par excellence. Although it gives an even, stretchy edge it is not ideal for socks, for example.

That's how it's done:
Hold the needles with the tips together and parallel to each other on your right hand.

1 . Make a slipknot and slip it over your right-hand needle with the tail end closest to you and the ball end farthest from you, leaving a long tail of 3-4 times the width of the intended cast-on.

2 . Drape the yarn tail over your left index finger. Drape the working yarn over your left thumb.

3. Insert the needle to the "loop" made with the yarn in the thumb from down to up. Then, insert the needle to the "loop" made with the yarn in the index finger from up to down.

4. Pull the thumb and the index finger out and pull the yarn tight..

Repeat steps 3-5 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches you need to begin your project.

Norwegian cast on

It is quite similar to the Long Tail cast-on, only that there is an extra twist. This might be a bit fiddly the first time, but once you get the hang of it, the Norwegian cast-on is no more difficult than the Long Tail cast-on. Even though the result is a lot more stretchy, the edge is still very smooth. That's why we use it in many of our patterns.

That's how it's done:
Make a slipknot and slip it over your right-hand needle with the tail end closest to you and the ball end farthest from you.

Form a “V” or sling shot with your left index finger and thumb.

Take the tip of your needle and bring it under both strands of yarn on your thumb.

Bring the needle through the loop on your thumb.

Wrap the needle around the top strand of yarn on your index finger, going over and then under.

Pull the yarn through the small opening of the crossed strands on your thumb, Alternatively, you can untwist the yarn on your thumb by moving your thumb in a counter-clockwise motion and then over the needle.

Let go of the yarn from you thumb.

Pull the yarn tight and position your thumb and index finger in the “V” configuration for the next stitch.

Repeat steps 1 to 7 to cast on the desired number of stitches you need to begin your project.

(Simple) Italian Tubular Cast-on, 1x1-Rib Stitch 

(Simplified) Italian stop, 1x1 rib

This cast-on creates a nice, round and very elastic edge. Although it is often used for jerseys and cardigans, it is also good for hats because it does not create a stiff edge. It almost looks as if the stitches run seamlessly from the front to the back of the knitted fabric.

With the simple Italian cast-on only two preparatory rows are worked - with the classic Italian cast-on there are four or even six. The more preparation rows are knitted, the rounder the edge will appear. Just try what you like better.

That's how it's done:
Form a loop for the first stitch. In 1x1 rib, starting with a purl stitch, cast on more stitches:

Casting-on a purl stitch: Pass the needle from back to front under the working yarn and grab the yarn around the thumb from above bringing it to the back.

Casting-on a knit stitch: Pass the needle from front to back under the yarn around the thumb and grab the working yarn from above bringing it to the front.

Repeat the 1x1 rib and finish with a purl st. Twist the yarn clock-wise and, turn work around with the yarn held below the needles.

1. Preparation row: K 1 through the back loop, lift 1 off as if to P (with yarn in front of the work), turn work around

2. preparation row: K 1 through the front loop, lift 1 off as if to P, (with yarn in front of the work) turn work around

Now knit all the knit stitches as usual and purl the purl stitches. If necessary, close in the round and work in 1x1 rib pattern according to the instructions.

(Simple) Italian Tubular Cast-on, 2x2-Rib Stitch

Casting-on stitches for the Italian cast-on only works in direct alternation of knit and purl stitches. A 2x2 rib pattern can also be worked with an Italian cast-on without any problems. You only have to insert an additional row or round to rearrange the stitches.

That's how it's done:
Cast-on the stitches as described above. Instead of knitting the stitches as they appear laid out, they have to be rearranged for the transition to the 2x2 rib pattern.

Sorting row/round: * Knit 1 stitch, skip the following purl st and instead knit the next knit stitch over it. Leave it on the needle and now knit the purl stitch. Now let both stitches slide off the needle and P1. Repeat from * until all stitches have been rearranged. Knit the following row/round in 2x2 rib as usual.

Backward Loop Cast-on

This cast-on is not done when you begin knitting. It is a technique that is often used when extra stitches need to be picked up in the middle of the work – e.g. under the arms when knitting seamlessly from top to bottom, or to close necklines.

That's how it's done:
1. At the end of either a RS or WS row, wrap the yarn around your left thumb. 

2. Insert the right-hand needle under the strand of yarn at the front of your thumb. 

3. Repeat Steps 1–3 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches you need.

Provisional Cast-on

A stitch cast-on doesn´t always have to be permanent: It is used when you want to invisibly connect two knitted parts together at a later point in time - for example, shoulder seams. A provisional cast-on is a good idea when you want to knit first in one direction and then in the other direction. A provisional cast on allows you to keep the stitches “live” so that you can work with them at a later point in your knitting

That's how it's done:
Stitches are cast on directly on to the needle using waste yarn. You will need a crochet hook, a pair of knitting needles and some waste yarn. We use two colours of yarn, so you can better see how it is done.

1. Make a slip knot and slip it your hook.

2. Wrap the yarn over and around the needle.

3. Put it through the stitch on the hook. One stitch has been made around the needle.

4. * Wrap the yarn around the hook once again.

5. Bring the yarn through the loop.

6. Rep from * until the desired number of stitches have been cast on.

7. Mark the end of the chain with a knot so that you know where to start undoing the stitches. 8. Knit on as long as you need and bind off.

9. Undo the knot you made, unravel the yarn carefully and place the stitches back on the needle. Continue knitting as per the instructions on your pattern.

CBinding off Techniques

When you have finished knitting, the stitches must of course be secured somehow, the knitted piece needs a finish and has to come off the needles; this is known as “binding off”. As with casting-on techniques, there are a variety of ways to secure the final row or round of stitches.

This is probably how many knitters learned it: Two stitches are knitted (in the respective pattern, i.e. right or left). Then the first knitted stitch is lifted over the second stitch. Knit the next stitch, slip over the previous one and so on. The result is a clean finish that is fairly firm and not very stretchy.

Elastic Bind Off

The method of binding off with twisted stitches is just a little more time-consuming, but anything but complicated. It gives a smooth and relatively elastic edge.

That's how it's done:
Knit 2, * slip both stitches back onto the left needle. Knit the two stitches together through the back loop. Knit the next stitch. Repeat from * until all stitches are cast off.

Stretchy Bind-off in 1x1-Rib Stitch

A nice rib finish, which also has good elasticity, can be achieved by binding off with yarn overs: Before each purl stitch, a yarn over is worked, which is then lifted over the purl stitch together with the stitch previously knitted.

That's how it's done:
Start with a knit stitch:

Slip the stitch as if to purl, make 1 yarn over, purl 1. Slip the slipped stitch and yarn over over the purl stitch. * Knit 1 stitch, pass the stitch worked before over it. 1 yarn over, purl 1. Slip the yarn over and previous stitch over the purl stitch. Repeat from *.

Italian Tubular Bind-off, 1x1 Rib Stitch

As with the Italian cast-on, there is no “hard” edge with Italian binding off. Here, too, the stitches seem to wander over the rounded edge. It is also very stretchy. While the "correct" Italian binding off (as with the cast-on) is preceded by four preparatory rows, it also works in the simplified variant with only two preparatory rows: the right stitches are knitted, the purl stitches are slipped with the yarn held before work.

Note: If you are knitting in rounds, in the 1st round the purl stitches are slipped with the yarn in front of the work, in the 2nd round the knit stitches (with the yarn behind the work) are slipped and the purl stitches are knitted. The more preparation rows/rounds are knitted, the rounder the finishing edge will be.

After the preparation rows/rounds, the stitches are then cast off with the help of a tapestry needle.

That's how it's done:
Preparation for rows 1 & 2: Knit the right sts and slip the left stitches with the thread before work. Cut off thread. The end of the thread should be 3-4 times as long as the edge to be cast off.

1. With your yarn threaded through a tapestry needle, insert the needle into the first stitch on your knitting needle purlwise and pull all the way through.

2. Drop the stitch from the knitting needle.

(If the first stitch is a purl stitch, insert the needle through the first two stitches and drop them both.)

3. Insert your tapestry needle in the next purl stitch on your knitting needle knitwise and pull tight. (It should be the first stitch on your knitting needle). Leave this stitch on the main needle

4. Insert your tapestry needle into the dropped knit stitch, purlwise, and through the next knit stitch on your knitting needle (it should be the second stitch on your knitting needle) and pull tight.

5. Insert your tapestry needle into the purl stitch on your knitting needle again, this time going purlwise. Pull tight.

6. Drop both the purl and knit stitch from your knitting needle.

Repeat steps 4 – 6 until you have bound off all your stitches.

Italian Tubular Bind-off, 2x2 Rib Stitch

While the actual Italian binding off only works with the 1x1 rib stitch, you can also do it with 2x2 rib stitch by rearranging the stitches as described for the Italian stitch cast-on:

Sorting row/round: * Knit 1 stitch, skip the following knit st and instead purl the next purl stitch over it. Leave it on the needle and knit the knit stitch. Now let both slide off the needle. P1 st. Repeat the from * until all stitches have been rearranged and are in 1x1 alternation on the needle.

Binding off with a Tapestry Needle

This finish creates a beautiful, round and very stretchy edge. With a tapestry needle, the end is worked optically according to the stitches. Even without a preparation row, this results in a pretty, elastic finish.

That's how it's done:
Cut the yarn three times the length of the edge to be cast off and thread it through a tapestry needle. Hold the left knitting needle on the left hand, and the tapestry needle on the right.

Binding off knit stitch:
1. Pull the tapestry needle from back to front between the first two stitches.

2. Pull the tapestry needle from front to back through the 2nd stitch as if to knit.

3. Pull the needle through the 1st stitch from front to back, as if to knit. Let the stitch slide off the knitting needle.

Binding off purl stitch:
1. Pull the tapestry through the 2nd stitch from right to left, as if to purl.

2. Pull the tapestry needle through the 1st stitch from right to left, as if to purl. Let the stitch slide off the needle.

Bind off knit and purl stitches alternately according to the pattern.

I-Cord Bind-off

Binding off with an i-cord results in a pretty rounded edge of stitches that appear to be lying across. Admittedly, it is a bit time-consuming, but the result is impressive. The i-cord is a particularly nice way for knitting the end of a shawl.

That's how it's done:
CO three additional stitches at the beginning of the last row. * K 2 sts, K2 st together through backloop, slip the 3 stitches back to the left hand needle *. Repeat from * and bind off the final two stitches.

Of course, our compilation only gives a small insight into how to cast on and bind off. There are so many possibilities and also variants of “our” methods.

Just try out what you like best - and what goes best with your project!

And feel free to have a look at our YouTube-Channel. There you will find many more tutorials that will (hopefully) make your knitting life easier!