top of page

Solve Your Knitting Challenges with the Provisional Cast On


Ever wished you could try on your sweater before committing to the final bind off? Or wanted to add a perfectly integrated border to your shawl? The provisional cast on is the answer! This technique gives you the flexibility you need for professional-looking projects, and we'll show you how to do it.

The provisional cast on might sound intimidating, but it's a game-changer for knitters. It allows you to create a row of stitches that can be easily picked up and worked later, opening up a world of possibilities for seamless construction, intricate designs, and garment fitting.


Why Use a Provisional Cast On?

This versatile technique offers solutions to common knitting challenges:

  • Seamless Construction: Imagine knitting a sweater from the top down, or a cowl in the round, without any seams to sew. The provisional cast on makes it possible!

  • Perfect Borders and Edgings:  Achieve a polished, professional look by adding borders or edgings seamlessly to your projects.

  • Garment Fitting:  Especially helpful for garments, the provisional cast on allows you to try on your project as you go, ensuring a perfect fit before you finish.

  • Intricate Colorwork:  Some colorwork techniques benefit from a provisional cast on, allowing for cleaner and more precise designs.


What You'll Need:

  • Yarn: Choose a yarn that contrasts in color and/or texture from your project yarn. This makes it easier to see and pick up the stitches later. Smooth yarns work best.

  • Needles: Use the same size needles you'll be using for your project.

  • Crochet hook: Slightly smaller than your knitting needles.

  • Scissors: For snipping the crochet chain.


Let's Get Started!

  1. Create a slip knot: Place a slip knot onto your knitting needle, just like you would for a regular cast on.

  2. Crochet chain: Using your crochet hook and provisional yarn, create a chain that is a few stitches longer than the number of stitches you need for your project. For example, if you need 20 stitches, crochet a chain of about 25 stitches. This extra length gives you room to maneuver.

  3. Slip stitch onto needle: Slip the first loop of your crochet chain (the one furthest from the hook) onto your knitting needle. This is your first stitch.

  4. Knit into the chain: Now, using your project yarn, knit into the back bump of each stitch of the crochet chain. This is a little fiddly at first, but it gets easier with practice. Continue knitting until you have the required number of stitches on your needle.

  5. Secure the end: Cut the tail of your crochet chain, leaving a tail of a few inches. Pull this tail through the last loop on your crochet hook to secure it. This prevents your chain from unraveling.


You've Done It!

Congratulations! You've successfully completed a provisional cast on. Your stitches are now held securely on your needle, ready to be worked. You can now begin knitting your project as instructed.


Picking Up the Stitches:

When you're ready to work the provisional stitches, simply unravel the crochet chain, one stitch at a time, and place the resulting loop onto your knitting needle. Make sure you are picking up the correct leg of the stitch (usually the back leg).


Tips and Tricks:

  • Practice makes perfect: Don't get discouraged if your first attempt isn't perfect. Like any new technique, it takes practice.

  • Keep your tension even: Try to maintain even tension while crocheting the chain and knitting the stitches. This will make it easier to pick up the stitches later.

  • Use a stitch marker: Place a stitch marker at the beginning of your provisional cast on row to help you keep track.




e provisional cast on might seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, you'll be using it like a pro in no time. So grab your needles, yarn, and crochet hook, and give it a try! Happy knitting!

bottom of page