The Provisional Cast On Wimp's Way Out

I really do not like to cast on provisionally. I mean, really don't like to. The twisty-turny, eency weency spider, long-tail provisional cast on method seems to fall apart on me--it twists around the needle, is hard to count, and makes stitches that are not reliably standard when you prepare to work with them.

The crochet chain method is also a difficult one for me--if I make a chain that is the appropriate gauge for my knitting, I find it hard to locate the exact spot where the knitted stitch should be created.

Now, I agree with those of you who think I just need to practice more or try this or that method. Perhaps if I were a better person I would not have this BLOCK. I don't care--some things are worth learning to do well (pie crust, driving, Fair Isle knitting) and some things are not worth fussing with. Traditional provisional cast on, in my opinion, falls in the latter category.  

That said, there are many times that I need a provisional cast on. Here is how I go about it. Maybe this will work well for you. I've taken photos of my current project--a top-down yoke sweater--to show how I do it:

In this case, I need to provisionally cast on 27 stitches for each underarm. I've knit two little 27-stitch wide swatches (one for each armpit) using Tahki Cotton Classic. Simple: cast on, knit one row, purl one row, knit one row. Do not cast off! I like to have a little HEFT to this piece because I am usually working with large numbers of small stitches; thus, the 3-row structure. Here you see the two pieces on the needle (put on your sunglasses to protect against the glare of the flash).

When I hit the marker for the underarm, I put the sleeve stitches on a holder and begin knitting on one of the 27-stitch swatches.

 

Knit up to sleeve marker

 

Sleeve stitches on yarn holder

 

Start knitting on provisional swatch

 

Knit across provisional swatch and start knitting on the body

When I am ready to pick up for the sleeve, I pull the holding swatch yarn out (that's why I use a very silky yarn--it WANTS to slide out!) and pick up the waiting stitch, which is docile and perfectly shaped.

  

Pulling out provisional stitches--see the waiting stitches ready to be picked up?

Comments

[Judith in Ottawa]

I like Eunny Jang's method "Invisible Crochet Cast On I" here:
http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/03/majoring_in_lace_part_iv.html

She takes the pain out of finding the right bump on the crochet chain by forming it right on the knitting needle. Afterwards it just zips right off.

[Colleen]

Although the crochet on the needle method works perfectly for me, I hate forming it. I use the one with a waste yarn that you dip the needle back and forth (knitting help calls it invisible). I can do it in my sleep and behaves for me.

I love how many choices we have as knitters!

[Gail]

Oh. I am stunned. This is simplicity---in the most complimentary, Quaker-like way.

With my last crocheted provisional cast-on I swear I only knit onto the bumps, which took a couple of hours. And I took another hour delicately snipping the bits out, since the crochet didn't unravel properly.

You are Super Woman.

[Christy]

It's like COWYAK, only you cast on before you get ready for it. (COWYAK is Cast On Waste Yarn And Knit, btw. Check out what Techknitter says about it... )

I've suggested for people casting on provisionally for shawls, etc. to try Judy's Magic Cast-On and leave the one needle in the work while waiting to get back to those stitches. I really hate the crochet cast-on, but it's slightly easier to crochet right onto the needle.

I figure whatever works is the 'right way' to do it, as long as you get the result you're looking for. :)

[M-H]

You even used a complementary colour for your provisional swatch. I am *sooo* impressed! I don't find provisional caston such a terrible pain. I use the one that's called looped caston, and I use a slippery silky yarn for the waste yarn (I have a collection of small balls of these in different weights) and it pulls straight out when I need to pick up the stitches. It's not bad if you already know how to do the longtail caston - similar movements. I guess we each do what we feel most comfortable with, and what works for us.

[Caroline]

I crochet over the needle, like Judith. I picked this up from Meg Swansen's 'Knitting' book.

[gayle]

Isn't it wonderful that there's a solution for everyone? I think each person's brain is wired differently, so the method that works for one isn't necessarily a good method for another.
The best part is that ALL these techniques are Right. 8)
One of the many reasons I love knitting!

[Rachael]

That's genius.

[Sylvia]

Since I usually knit by feel, not sight, provisional is my downfall, especially when I'm knitting lace because it is tricky to get consistent gauge in the first few rows. Sometimes I will knit the second half of a lace repeat in the project yarn as the provisional foundation, use a permanent marker to change the color of a length long enough for one row, do that row, break the yarn, then start the lace pattern as writ. Did that make sense or do I need more caffeine?

[Becca]

I like your way much better than the other two. You're right--they're both extremely fiddly.

I still have not grafted the second underarm of my Faux-lopi sweater, or redone the first one, because I cannot for the life of me figure out what I did or what I'm supposed to do.

[vanessa]

you are so wise :-)