Knitting Provisional Cast On

I'm currently working on a lovely pink tunic sweater for my daughter and the pattern said to do a provisional cast on, which I had heard of but had never done before.  Thanks to the wonderful world of YouTube I found this very helpful tutorial and I thought others may be helped by this as well.

The provisional cast on method is helpful when you want to have live stitches left at the bottom of your work so you can add some kind of edging later.  You cast on the needles with some scrap yarn and knit your work onto that.  Then when you're ready to have those stitches available to work on you simply remove the scrap yarn and you have your live stitches, rather than having to pick up stitches later.  You'll need your knitting needles, some scrap yarn and a crochet hook to do this method of casting on.

All-Over Cable Mittens

I've had several requests for the pattern for these mittens that I made recently, so here it is!  This is a pretty basic mitten pattern and is a good way to practice doing cables.  I could have condensed the directions somewhat, but I like to be able to check off the rows as I go so each row is written out separately.  That way, if you have to set the work down in the middle of the project you know where you left off when you pick it up again.  If you have any questions or find any errors please contact me.

Size: Adult Medium (Fits the average-sized lady’s hands)

Materials: Vanna’s Choice Yarn (or other medium worsted weight yarn)  1 ball (3.5 oz/100g/170 yds/156m)  Color shown is #151 Charcoal Grey

Double-Pointed Knitting Needles Sizes US 5 & 7

Cable Needle or extra DPN

Stitch Holder

Stitch Markers

Yarn Needle

Gauge: 18 sts = 4” in Stockinette Stitch

Special Stitches:

·         K1, P1 Rib: K1, P1 around

·         C4B: Slip next 2 sts onto CN and hold in back of work, K2, K2 from CN (This creates a right-leaning cable)

·         C4F: Slip next 2 sts onto CN and hold in front of work, K2, K2 from CN (This creates a left-leaning cable)

·         K2tog: Knit 2 sts at the same time (decreases 1 sts)

·         Inc 1: Knit in front and back of stitch (increases 1 st)

Mittens (Make 2)

Cuff: With smaller needles cast on 36 sts.  Divide evenly between 3 DPNs, being careful not to twist sts.  Place marker for beginning of round.  Do K1, P1 Rib until piece measures approx. 3” from beginning.  (It took me 16 rounds to get to this point.)

__  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __

Change to larger needles and begin cable pattern

□ Rnd 1: K around

□ Rnd 2: K around

□ Rnd 3: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 4: K around

□ Rnd 5: K17, inc 1 in next st, K to end of round (37 sts)

□ Rnd 6: K17, place marker, K3, place marker, K to end of rnd

□ Rnd 7: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K1, slip marker, inc 1 in each of next 2 sts, K1, slip marker, K5, C4F, K4, C4F (5 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 8: K around

□ Rnd 9: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K2, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (7 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 10: K around

□ Rnd 11: C4B, K4, C4B, K5, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K4, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K1, C4B, K4, C4B, K4 (9 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 12: K around

□ Rnd 13: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K6, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (11 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 14: K around

□ Rnd 15: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K1, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K8, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K5, C4F, K4, C4F (13 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 16: K around

□ Rnd 17: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K10, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (15 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 18: K to 1^st marker, remove marker, K1, slip next 13 sts to a stitch holder, K1, remove marker, K to end

□ Rnd 19: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4 C4B, K4

□ Rnd 20: K around

□ Rnd 21: K around

□ Rnd 22: K around

□ Rnd 23: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K8, C4F, K4, C4F

□ Rnd 24: K around

□ Rnd 25: K around

□ Rnd 26: K around

□ Rnd 27: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 28: K around

□ Rnd 29: K around

□ Rnd 30: K around

□ Rnd 31: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K8, C4F, K4, C4F

□ Rnd 32: K around

□ Rnd 33: K around

□ Rnd 34: K around

□ Rnd 35: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 36: K around

□ Rnd 37: K around

□ Rnd 38: K around

□ Begin shaping top of mitten ~ Rnd 39: *K4, K2tog; repeat from * around. (30 sts)

□ Rnd 40: K around

□ Rnd 41: *K3, K2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

□ Rnd 42: K around

□ Rnd 43: *K2, K2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sts)

□ Rnd 44: K around

□ Rnd 45: *K1, K2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

□ Rnd 46: K around

□ Rnd 47: K2tog around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a 5 or 6” tail.  Draw tail through remaining sts and pull tightly to secure.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Thumb: Divide sts from holder evenly onto 3 DPNs (larger needles), From right side, join yarn to mitten.  Pick up & K 3 sts along top of thumb hole, then K remaining sts. (16 sts)  Place marker for beginning of round.

Next Rnd: K2tog, K2 tog, K to end of rnd (14 sts)

Next Rnds: K around until thumb measures approx 2 ¼” from join. (It took me 10 rounds to get to this point).

__  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __

Next Rnd: K2tog around – 7 sts remain.  Cut yarn, leaving a 5-6” tail.  Draw tail through remaining sts and pull tightly to secure.  Fasten off  and weave in ends.

 

Kaitlyn's Soon-To-Be-Made Tunic Sweater

I think I have a future crafter on my hands here.:o)  While on a recent trip to Michaels to buy some yarn for another project, my daughter Kaitlyn just had to feel pretty much every skein of yarn in the yarn aisles.  Then she found the Caron Simply Soft.  Yes, it's as soft and wonderful as the name sounds.  She fell in love with this bright pink (Color Watermelon 9501) and pretty much begged me to buy it and make something for her.  Since it was on sale for $2.50 for a 7 oz skein I gave in and bought it.

In today's Caron email newsletter was the perfect project for this yarn.  It's called the Girl's Smocked Tunic and the pattern is available for free from the Caron website here.  As soon as I finish the project I'm currently working on, this will be cast on my needles next.  I'll post pictures as I get more finished.