How to Knit the Crochet Cast-On

For large projects like shawls or blankets where many stitches have to be cast on, a good alternative to the normal cast-on is to cast on the stitches with a crochet hook. This way you don't have to measure the yarn beforehand and worry about how much yarn you need for the necessary stitch cast-on. Most of the time it happens that we have unwound too much yarn and it ends up hanging down. You don't have to do that with this technique and the stitches also look prettier. The result is a very even, beautiful edge that looks like it has been bound off. When you crochet the stitches, you get a nice solid edge, but not a hard one.

Cast-on stitches with a crochet hook

For this technique you need a suitable crochet hook in addition to the knitting needles you need for the project. This should be the same gauge as your knitting needles. This technique can also be used with a knitting needle. In this blog we will show you both methods, with a crochet hook and with a knitting needle.

To start, you need a starting stitch on the knitting needle in your left hand. The end thread only needs to be so long that it can be easily sewn up.

Now take the crochet hook in your right hand and insert it into the stitch from the front. Get yarn and pull the loop out of the stitch. Now we are ready for the next stitch. We get the thread over the hook and pull the loop through the stitch on the crochet hook. This forms the second stitch, but do not pull it too tight. It should later be easy to lift off the knitting needle.

In order to be able to crochet the next stitch, you must now bring the thread behind the needle again, i.e. guide the wool backwards under the knitting needle. Now comes the next stitch.

Bring the thread over the needle and pull it through the loop. This is how the third stitch is crocheted. Pass the thread back under the knitting needle. This is how you crochet stitch by stitch, as many as you need for your project. If you have a few stitches on the knitting needle, you will see that this technique creates a nice row of stitches as an edge.

Cast-on stitches with a knitting needle

If you don't have a crochet hook handy, you can also use a knitting needle to perform this technique. It also works really well with a knitting needle.

So instead of a crochet hook, take a second knitting needle in your hand. The first loop is stretched out on the right as when knitting on. The loop can be a bit larger, because now we push the thumb in between, get the thread like a right stitch and clamp it between the knitting needle and the thumb. And so the wool can easily be pulled through the loop. Here, too, after tightening the new stitch, the wool must be pulled backwards under the knitting needle in order to return to the starting position. The last stitch is the loop, this is simply hung on the left needle. In the first row, knit the loop to create a nice corner.

No matter which method you choose, you can find the best Crochet Hooks and Knitting Needles at Knitpro

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” -  Vincent Van Gogh

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