Workshop on Tubular Cast-on for Knotty Girls Retreat

Materials:
   * 4-5 yards of practice yarn that makes stitches easy to see.
   * Three short needles of a size appropriate for your yarn;
     dpns are convenient but not essential.
   * 1 yard of smooth waste yarn or string in a contrasting color,
     that is not fuzzy or splitty.  (Something suitable will be
     available at the workshop if needed.)
   * A large-ish crochet hook for the string, say around size 9
     (or you can borrow one).

1. Cast on about 10 st using any provisional cast-on method.  Note
   that this will be *HALF* of the final number that you end up with.
   Here is one method in detail:

     a. Make a slip knot near one end of the string, and loosely
        crochet a chain of about 25 st.  Enlarge the final loop
        a bit and remove it from the hook.  (If you don't know how
        to crochet a chain, no worries -- I'll bring a few pre-made.)

     b. Starting a few st back from the enlarged loop, insert your
        left needle through the bump on the back of a chain st and
        use your right needle to knit it with the practice yarn,
        leaving a short tail.

     c. Continue knitting through the crochet bumps until you have
        picked up 10 st on the needle.  (This is similar to picking up
        stitches for a sock gusset.)  If the bumps are too tight or
        too crowded, you can skip one now and then.

2. Knit 4 more rows in stockinette (purl on WS, knit on RS).

3. Remove the provisional string at the bottom edge, placing the live
   yarn loops on a second needle.  You should then have a rectangle
   with needles at the top and bottom, both pointed toward the edge
   where the working yarn is.

     a. Pull gently on the free tail of string to remove the enlarged
        loop and pop open the chain sts one by one.  As each live loop
        of yarn is freed, place it onto a second needle, being careful
        not to twist it.

     b. If you are using straights and the bottom needle ends up
        pointing toward the wrong edge, just transfer the bottom sts
        purlwise onto a third needle.

4. Fold the rectangle lengthwise into a narrow tube, with WS together.
   This will bring the two needles side by side.

5. Join the tube by using a third needle to work sts alternately from
   the front and back needles, starting with whichever needle does not
   have the working yarn.  Work this row in a 1x1 rib, by knitting the
   sts on the front needle and purling the ones on the back needle.
   (You may find it easier to work this row English style, even if
   you normally knit Continental.)

6. All of the sts are now on one needle, and the tubular cast-on is
   complete.  Continue working in 1x1 rib to the desired width of the
   cuff, collar, or waistband.

Variations are possible, e.g. 2x2 rib; see YouTube for details.  You
can also do this in the round on circulars, making a ring of stockinette
instead of a rectangle, and folding it lengthwise into a donut shape,
like a hula hoop.

Presented by Cathy Riemer                               Nov. 21, 2015