Draft
Super Stretchy Cast On
A cast on with a lot of give, for cuffs that have to go over heels and hands.
7 min videoGood for sock cuffs, mitten cuffs
The super stretchy cast on is a slip knot cast on. It is a little unconventional: a row of slip knots, each tightened down right against the one before. It was popularized by the same knitter who created a well known super stretchy bind off, and it is the cast on to match that bind off.
The edge is very stretchy, so it is great for anything that needs a lot of give. It has a little of the look of the German twisted cast on, but with a small eyelet between stitches instead of a knot.
The practice is in closing the gap between the knots. Any gap you leave shows as a hole when the edge is stretched, and stretched too far the edge fans out a little. It is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
1 Make a slip knot
Make a slip knot and place it on the needle. Tighten it so it is snug on the needle but still moves easily. Too tight and it is hard to knit from.
2 Make a second slip knot
Make another slip knot, but do not tighten it much yet. Put it on the needle and let it slide down next to the first stitch.
3 Tighten it down next to the first
Pull down to tighten the knot, and pull on the yarn at the base of the stitch to bring the slack through. The aim is to close the gap so the two knots sit right on top of each other. A big gap leaves a little eyelet.
4 Then keep going
Make another slip knot and tighten it down right against the last one, rocking the yarn back and forth until it settles in the right spot. The practice in this cast on is all in closing the gap between the knots.
5 Close any gap
If a knot did not tighten enough and there is a gap, keep working the yarn back and forth and it closes up. You are not pulling hard, only putting a little pressure on the stitch.
6 Hold the knot with your finger
Press your index finger on the stitch right where the yarn comes through, so the knot cannot move, and tighten against it. The knot stays put and sits secured against the one before.