Tutorial Series: The Provisional Cast-On Method

Posted in January 2025, The Provisional Cast-On Method by

The provisional cast-on is a temporary cast on method. With this technique, the “live” stitches on the waste yarn are picked up later. They are then knit in the opposite direction. A common way to make a provisional cast on is to make a crochet chain from waste yarn first. Then, with the project yarn, make stitches using the purl bumps of the crochet chain. Later, remove the crochet chain waste yarn by picking up the “live” stitches and knitting them in the opposite direction. For example, I use provisional cast on to start a top down sweater. Once the body of the sweater is finished, I pick up the “live” stitches. Then, I knit the collar in the opposite direction. There are several different kinds of knitting projects that use the provisional cast on method. The written instructions and video on how to do the provisional cast on is shown below for right handed knitting.

The Provisional Cast-On Method:


The Provisional Cast-On Stitches:


The Steps for the Provisional Cast-On Method:

  1. Using a waste yarn (or a yarn different from the knitting project yarn), make a crochet chain (Tutorial Series: How to Crochet Chain) with the number of stitches specific for a project
  2. [Tip: chain a few extra stitches than needed for the project]
  3. Turn the crochet chain so that the purl bumps are facing you (image below)
  4. Insert a knitting needle into the purl bump (image below)
  5. Make a loop with the project yarn and slide it onto the knitting needle
  6. Tighten and secure the project (working) yarn as needed
  7. Bring the project yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  8. Insert the knitting needle into the next purl bump
  9. Bring the project (working) yarn around the knitting needle (counterclockwise), catch and pull the yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 till you have all the stitches needed for a knitting project

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

The Light Unexpected Find Wrap Pattern

Posted in December 2024, The Light Unexpected Find Wrap Pattern by


The Light Unexpected Find Wrap pattern is mostly based on the The Unexpected Find Wrap Pattern. The Light Unexpected Find Wrap is also a triangular shaped shawl. It is knit bottom up. The shawl features a two row repeat brioche honeycomb stitch pattern. However, nine stitches instead of seven are cast on for this shawl. It is also knit with a merino wool blend DK weight yarn (Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend). This yarn is lighter yet warm, making it suitable for this winter season. The yarn is also budget friendly and can be purchased at Michaels store.

The Light Unexpected Find Wrap Pattern (text and images for personal use only)

Materials Needed:

Yarn: Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend Colorway: Blue Dawn
Knitting Needles: US #6 (4.0 mm) long circular needle
Gauge: 4.5 stitches / inch after blocking

Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • RS: right side
  • WS: wrong side
  • Pfb: Purl front and back – purl one stitch first in the front and then purl the same stitch in the back before slipping it off the left needle (Tutorial Series: Pfb (Purl front and back))
  • K2tog: Knit two stitches together on the left needle (Tutorial Series: K2tog and P2tog)
  • Ktbl: knit one stitch through the back loop
  • pm: place marker
  • rm: remove marker
  • sm: slip marker
  • S1: slip yarn purlwise
  • yo: yarn over – bring the working yarn under and over the right needle clockwise and to the back before knitting the next stitch (Tutorial Series: Yarn Over (YO) with Knit Stitches)
  • yo backward: for bind off only – knit one stitch then wrap the working yarn anticlockwise over and under the right hand knitting needle bringing the yarn to the back before knitting the next stitch
  • […]: pattern repeat


Knitting Skill level: Advanced Beginner (increasing and decreasing stitches, cable cast on)

Cast on 9 stitches with US #6 (4.0 mm) long circular knitting needles using the cable cast method (Tutorial Series: The Cable Cast-on Method)

  • Row 1 (RS): K1, pm, Pfb, [P1,K1] 2x, P1, Pfb, pm, K1 (11 stitches)
  • Row 2 (WS): K1, sm, [P1,K1] 4x, P1, sm. K1    
  • Row 3: K1, sm, Pfb, [K1,P1] 3x, K1, Pfb, sm, K1 (13 stitches) 
  • Row 4: K1, sm, Ktbl, [P1,K1] 5x, sm, K1   
  • Row 5: K1, sm, Pfb, [P1,K1] 4x, P1, Pfb, sm, K1 (15 stitches)
  • Row 6: K1, sm, [P1,K1] 6x, P1, sm, K1
  • Row 7: K1, sm, Pfb, [K1,P1] 5x, K1, Pfb, sm, K1 (17 stitches)
  • Row 8: K1, sm, Ktbl, [P1,K1] 7x, sm, K1 
  • Row 9: K1, sm, Pfb, [P1,K1] 6x, P1, Pfb, sm, K1 (19 stitches)
  • Row 10: K1, sm, [P1,K1] 8x, P1, sm, K1 
  • Row 11 (RS): K1, rm, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, pm, yo, K5, yo, pm, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, rm, K1 (21 stitches)
  • Row 12 (WS): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, sm, K1, Ktbl, [yo, S1, K1] 2x, K1, sm, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1
  • Row 13 (RS): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, Ktbl, sm, yo, K1, [K1, K2tog] 2x, K2, yo, sm, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1  (23 stitches)
  • Row 14 (WS): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, sm, K1, Ktbl, [yo, S1, K1] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1
  • Row 15 (RS): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, Ktbl, sm, yo, K1, [K1, K2tog] till 2 stitches before marker, K2, yo, sm, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 (25 stitches)

[Repeat Rows 14 and 15] until you have 175 stitches on the needle. End with the RS side row. You can continue with the row repeats till preferred length is reached.

Bind Off Row (WS): K1, yo backward, K1, pass the yo and first knit stitch on the right hand needle over the second knit stitch on the right hand needle. (Several video tutorials for other stretchy bind off are available on YouTube). I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off method in knit stitch pattern for binding off this wrap.

Weave in the ends, wash and block The Light Unexpected Find Wrap

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Thumb Method Cast-on

Posted in The Thumb Method Cast-on, Tutorial Series by

The Thumb method cast-on is a commonly used long tail cast-on technique. A long tail of yarn is set aside on one side of the slip knot. The working yarn is on the other side of the slip knot. The thumb is used to form the loop that is used to make a new stitch on the knitting needle. Another example of a long tail cast-on technique is the slingshot method. In this method, the thumb and the index finger create a new stitch. The thumb method is beginner-friendly and a quick cast-on method. I use the thumb method cast-on mostly for knitting projects with few stitches (dishcloths, etc.). The written instructions and video below on how to do the thumb method cast-on are shown for right-handed knitting.

The Thumb Method Cast-On:



The Steps for the Thumb Method Cast-On:

  1. Make a slip knot (Tutorial Series: How to Slip Knot) with a yarn tail that will be enough for the number of stitches for a specific knitting project
  2. Insert the slip knot onto a knitting needle
  3. Holding the yarn tail with some tension in the left fist, wrap the left thumb under and over the yarn tail to make a loop
  4. Insert the right hand needle into the front strand of the loop on the thumb
  5. Bring the working yarn around the top of the right needle and wrap it between the thumb and the right knitting needle
  6. Catch and pick up the working yarn loop (a new stitch) with the right needle
  7. Repeat Steps 3 – 6 to cast-on the required number of stitches needed for a knitting project

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

The Berry Bunches Scarf Pattern

Posted in November 2024, The Berry Bunches Scarf Pattern by


The Berry Bunches Scarf is a flat rectangular scarf in the crochet suzette stitch pattern. It’s a fun and quick project that is a combination of single and double crochet. Fringes are also added to the scarf. The yarn used for the project is Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend I purchased at Michaels. This soft and warm yarn is perfect for this time of year. The Berry Bunches Scarf, after washing, is about seven inches wide and eighty-three inches in length. The length and width can be customized, making the scarf more versatile.

The Berry Bunches Scarf Pattern (text and images for personal use only)

Materials Needed:
Yarn: Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend in the Raindrops colorway (2 skeins needed for this project)
Tapestry needle to weave in ends
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in the crochet suzette stitch pattern
Crochet hook: US size G6 or 4.00 mm

Abbreviations:
sc: single crochet (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet)
dc: double crochet (Tutorial Series: How to Double Crochet)
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
[…]: pattern repeat

Crochet Skill Level: Basic level with chain stitches, single crochet and double crochet


With one strand of Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend in the Raindrops colorway and US size G6 or 4.00 mm crochet hook, make a slip knot and chain 34 stitches (Tutorial Series: How to Slip Knot; Tutorial Series: How to Crochet Chain) 

Single Crochet in the back purl bump of the second chain from the hook

crochethook_insertpurlbump

CrochetChaincrochetpurlbumps

Row 1 (RS): sc in the purl bumps all across the row till the last stitch. In the last stitch sc, chain 1 and turn

Row 2 (WS): sc, chain 1, [skip a stitch, (sc and then dc in the next stitch)], repeat […] till last 2 stitches in the row, sc, chain 1 and turn

Repeat Row 2 for the crochet suzette stitch till desired length reached

crochetsuzettestitch

Last Row (RS): sc all across the last row. In the last stitch, sc and cut six inches of working yarn and pull yarn the loop on the crochet hook

Adding Fringes (Optional):
Fringes were made with 4 strands (about 10 inches long) of Raindrops yarn colorway. There are several helpful video tutorials on YouTube on how to add fringes. For the Berry Bunches Scarf, nine fringes were added to each of two ends.

Trim the fringes to preferred length

Weave in the yarn, wash and block the Berry Bunches Scarf

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Knitted Cast-On Method

Posted in The Knitted Cast-On Method, Tutorial Series by

The Knitted Cast-On is one of many cast-on techniques in knitting. Other cast-on methods include the long tail cast-on, cable cast-on, provisional cast-on, the thumb method, picot cast-on, stretchy cast-on etc. The Knitted cast-on method is ideal for large projects. Use it when a large number of stitches are required for cast-on. This is typical for a blanket or shawl pattern. This method like the cable cast-on does not need a long yarn tail. The Knitted Cast-On is also a great beginner friendly cast-on method since it is basically the knit stitch. I usually use the knitted cast-on for knitting projects where all the edge stitches are later picked up for a more decorative border. The knitted cast-on begins with a slip knot and each additional stitch is then knitted on. The written instructions and video below on how to do the knitted cast-on is shown for right-handed knitting.

The Knitted Cast-On:


The Knitted Cast-on Steps:

  1. Make a slip knot (How To Slip Knot)
  2. Transfer the slip knot loop onto the left knitting needle
  3. Insert the right knitting needle into the slip knot and bring working yarn around and in between the two needles as if to knit (Knit and Tink)
  4. Catch and pull the working yarn loop onto the right knitting needle
  5. Transfer the new stitch loop from the right knitting needle onto the left knitting needle by inserting the left knitting needle under the front strand of the new stitch loop
  6. Tug the working yarn to tighten the new stitch loop on the left knitting needle
  7. Insert the right knitting needle into the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  8. Catch and pull the working yarn loop with the right knitting needle
  9. Move the new stitch loop from the right knitting needle to the left knitting needle by inserting the left knitting needle under the front strand of the new stitch loop
  10. Tug the working yarn to tighten the new stitch loop on the left knitting needle
  11. Repeat steps 7 – 10 till the desired number of stitch count is reached for a knitting project

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.