Springtime Bandit KAL- How to Conquer the Tricky Provisional Cast-on

Happy Wednesday and welcome to week 2 of the Springtime Bandit KAL!  We’ve had a few people on Ravelry discussing the ins and outs of the cast on since it’s a bit of a unique technique.  It’s a provisional cast on and that can be a bit tricky if you haven’t done it before.  I’ve put together a picture tutorial here that I hope will help!

First, you need to chain 4 crochet with some waste yarn.  I like to make sure that this it a big contrast from the actual yarn I’m going to knit with so that I can see it really well.  Also, I like mine to be a bit thicker than the gauge I’m knitting with (bigger loops to work with). :)

After you chain 4, take your knitting needle and your shawl yarn and pick up 2 sts in the back loops of the chain (these aren’t the front loops that form a “v” when you look at them, they're the little bumps on the backside).

Knit 6 rows in garter stitch with the 2 sts you cast on.  I know it seems weird, but it is creating the top ribbing on the edge of the shawl.  You’ll see what I mean when you get there. :)

Now, pick up 3 sts in the little ridges along one side.  This part is really important. There should be 3 little bumps that are easy to knit into.  Also, be very careful that you don’t twist the piece.  This is super easy to do so just double check as you go to make sure that it doesn’t twist on you...that sneaky little bugger. :)

Finally, remove the waste yarn.  You should be able to undo the end of the chain and just pull. It will come out easily.  If it doesn’t, you might have tried the wrong end.  Just do the other one.

Put those last 2 sts on the other end of your needle, and knit them.  You now have 7 sts on the needle and you are ready to start the set up chart!

One quick thing about the chart:  Remember that you start out reading it from right to left and the last stitch on the left is actually the middle stitch.  You must repeat it from the center stitch from left to right.  So basically each chart row you yo-yo.  Your even rows are all the same and are outlined pretty clearly in the pattern.

I hope this helps!  Please let me know if you have any questions!  Also, it’s not too late to join the KAL!  Feel free to join us at any time! Check in on the Ravelry group as well for more support, or e-mail me at: Kristen(at)jimmybeanswool(dot)com.

Also, Amber, Shevawn and I are heading to the Interweave Knitting Lab this weekend!  I hope to see some of you there!  Please feel free to stop by booths 15 & 16 and show off your KAL WIP!  :)

Happy knitting!

Kristen

Beans for Brains 2012 Scholarship Program! Don't just apply- Donate!
JBW and 9 other sponsors will be matching YOUR donations dollar for dollar during the month of November (each sponsor will be matching up to $1,000 each, for a total of $10,000) to the Beans for Brains Scholarship fund. We will be accepting donations here and in our retail store with the targeted goal of raising $10,000 from all of YOU for a total of $20,000 in awards!! Together, we can help Craft a Higher Education! Track your donations on our Beans for Brains Facebook page!!