How to Knit a Yarnover-Method Tubular Cast-on

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Tubular cast-ons are useful, versatile, and beautiful, and there are so many ways to work them! In the first part of this tubular cast-on series from Larissa Gibson, we covered tubular cast-ons using the folded method. Here in Part 2, we’ll make swatches using a yarnover technique for a very similar result to the folded method. Coming up next are the make-one method and the Italian method, also called the long-tail method.

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Learn the Yarnover Method for Tubular Cast-Ons

To calculate the initial number of chain stitches to place on the needle for both the yarnover and make-one methods, add one to the final number of working-yarn stitches desired (an odd number) and divide that number by two.

Yarnover-Method Tubular Cast-on for K1, P1 Rib (odd number of sts)

With a double-pointed needle, and calculating the chain-stitch count as described above, work a chain onto the needle as for working the chain-edge provisional cast-on. However, instead of knitting one row with working yarn to complete the cast-on, work that row as directed in the set-up row below.

• Set-up row K1, *yo, k1; rep from * to end (see photo below).
• Row 1 (RS) *K1, sl 1 pwise wyf; rep from * to last st, k1.
• Row 2 (WS) *Sl 1 pwise wyf, k1; rep from * to last st, sl 1 pwise wyf.

You’ve now completed the cast-on and can safely remove the waste yarn chain by unzipping the chain and sliding out the straightened strand.

The stitches are now set up perfectly for k1, p1 rib. But before proceeding, extend the “tube” (as we did in Part 1) by repeating Rows 1 and 2 three more times so that you can really see the structure of the cast-on. If you’re familiar with double knitting, you might recognize what is happening. Two layers of stockinette-stitch fabric are forming, back to back, with the right side of each layer facing out.

From the needle, you can follow the knitted face down to the cast-on edge, around the edge, and back up the other side to the needle. Now work six rows in k1, p1 rib and bind off all stitches (for the swatch).

The Yarnover Method Explained

To see how this cast-on works, consider how a strand of yarn traverses a row of knitting. In any row of knitting, the tops of the stitches (shown in light red) sit on the needle, and the valleys between the stitches (shown in dark red) are secured, either by the stitches of the preceding row or by the cast-on row.

In the set-up row of the yarnover method, the valleys between the stitches are elongated (by working the yarnovers) and brought up and onto the needle.

After the set-up row, the tops of the stitches are worked on right-side rows and the yarnovers (the elongated valleys) are slipped; on wrongside rows, the yarnovers are worked and the tops are slipped.

Comparing the Folded and Yarnover Methods

Compare the swatch for the yarnover method to the swatch for k1, p1 rib using the folded method from Part 1.

In the folded-method swatch, because the stockinette-stitch fabric was knitted flat and then folded, there is an opening at the selvedges that does not occur in the yarnover version. Other than that, the two techniques achieve the same end result. You might find one is a little looser or stretchier than the other, but the stitch structure is the same.

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In the next installments in this series, we look at yet more ways to work a tubular cast-on. They use different techniques but produce virtually the same cast-on edge as the folded method. Next up is the make-one method, and then we finish up with the Italian or long-tail method. You can also go back and learn the folded method in Part 1.

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Larissa Gibson explores her interest in the details of textile construction as a technical editor for Interweave Knits and other knitting publications.

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Originally published in Interweave Knits Spring 2017. Published to web 2/6/2018.

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