After demonstrating how to use the addi FlexiFlip knitting needles last year, several friends and followers asked me to show them how to cast on with these needles. People were especially interested in a cast on that doesn't require holding the yarn in a "slingshot" position.
Before You Begin
The cable cast on works well for socks, the main thing that I knit with my addi FlexiFlips. The cast on has a fairly stretchy edge and is smooth and pretty.
There are two things I do differently when performing the cable cast on in the round, no matter what style of knitting needles I am using (dpns, circular or the FlexiFlips). First, even though this is technically not a long-tail type cast on, I cast on my stitches with the yarn tail instead of the working yarn. Second, instead of twisting my cast on stitches when transferring them to the left needle, I prefer to slip them over purlwise. I explain why both modifications are important in the video.
There are two things I do differently when performing the cable cast on in the round, no matter what style of knitting needles I am using (dpns, circular or the FlexiFlips). First, even though this is technically not a long-tail type cast on, I cast on my stitches with the yarn tail instead of the working yarn. Second, instead of twisting my cast on stitches when transferring them to the left needle, I prefer to slip them over purlwise. I explain why both modifications are important in the video.
Materials
Thanks to Skacel for providing the addi FlexiFlip Bamboo needles and Schoppel Admiral Cat Print yarn used in this tutorial. These products are available locally at many yarn shops and online at Makers' Mercantile.Cable Cast on in the round on addi FlexiFlips
Recommended Pattern
Ready to try this technique in a pattern? The Secret Admirer Socks Pattern shown in this lesson has video tutorials to help you learn and practice these skills:
- Cable Cast On with addi FlexiFlips
- The Meaning of 'No Stitch' on a Stitch Chart
- Knit 4 Together and Slip 4 Knit (k4tog/s4k)
- Right and Left Twists (t2r/t2l)
- Preventing Gusset Gaps
- How to Turn a Sock Heel
- Picking Up Stitches on a Garter Edged Heel Flap