Tubular (Italian) cast on

What is a tubular cast-on?

A tubular cast-on creates a beautiful, rounded edge where the ribbing appears to flow seamlessly from the right side to the wrong side. The edge looks just like a ready-to-wear, store-bought sweater. This technique goes by several names and is also known as the Italian cast-on — they're the same thing.

A tubular cast-on always starts a ribbing, and the technique can be used to begin either 1x1 ribbing or 2x2 ribbing. Both start the same way, but 2x2 ribbing requires an extra set-up row.

Besides ribbing, a tubular cast-on is also used for button bands as a way to start a tubular hem, since it creates a beautiful starting edge that looks seamless on both sides.

Below are instructions for different cast-ons and needs. You can also watch a video below. This is the beginning of both ribbings, 1x1 and 2x2.

Tubular cast-on for 1x1 ribbing

Make a slip knot in your yarn and place it on the right needle. This slip knot is counted in your final stitch count.

Move the tail end forward and the working yarn to the back. Slip your thumb and index finger between the two strands and tension them between your fingers, with your thumb in front of the needle and your index finger behind it.

Now start repeating two different stitches in turn. Stitch number 1 is a purl stitch, stitch number 2 is a knit stitch.

Stitch 1 = purl stitch: Take the needle over the back strand, scoop it up from under the strand picking up the yarn onto the needle, and return to the centre. Now scoop the needle from above, under the front strand, wrap it around the back strand once more, and return to the centre. You now have a purl stitch on the needle.

Stitch 2 = knit stitch: Take the needle from above, under the front strand, and come up through the centre over both strands. Scoop the needle around the back strand and the front strand from above, wrap under both strands, and return to the centre. You now have a knit stitch on the needle.

Alternate casting on stitch 1 and stitch 2 until you've cast on one stitch fewer than stated in the pattern, since the initial slip knot is included in the total count. So you'll usually cast on purl stitch 1 last, if you want an even number and also started with stitch number 1.

Hold onto the last stitch so it doesn't slip off, and turn your work.

Set-up row 1: *K1 (the right leg is at back of the needle), slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front*, repeat *-* to end. Turn.

Set-up row 2: *K1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front*, repeat *-* to end.

You can now join in the round, or continue as instructed in your pattern.

Tubular cast-on for a button band

If you need an odd number of stitches, or the pattern tells you to start casting on with the second stitch (for example, for a button band): follow the instructions above, but cast on stitch number 2 (the knit stitch) first, after your slip knot. From there, continue alternating stitch 1 and stitch 2 until you've cast on the total number of stitches you need.

Tubular cast-on for 2x2 ribbing

Cast on exactly as in the 1x1 ribbing instructions above, and work set-up rows 1 and 2. Then move on to the instructions below.

You'll need a third set-up row to convert the 1x1 ribbing into 2x2 ribbing.

Set-up row 3: *K1. Cross the next 2 stitches: insert the right needle into the 2nd stitch (a knit stitch) from the front purlwise, and lift it onto the right needle (the purl stitch between them drops off the needle to the back of the work). Return the dropped purl stitch to the left needle, slip the knit stitch you just lifted back onto the left needle, and knit it. P2*. Repeat from * to * to end.