Provisional Tubular Cast-On Knitting Tutorial

Need a smooth, nearly invisible cast-on for ribbing or seed stitch? Try the provisional tubular cast-on! As with many techniques, there are a few different ways to do it. With the yarn-over method shown in this knitting tutorial, there’s no need to pick up stitches!

This content is protected by copyright. See this Terms of Use / Copyright page for more information.

This post contains sponsored content and/or affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may get a commission.

What is Provisional Cast-On?

A Provisional cast-on uses waste yarn for the initial cast-on. The waste yarn can be cast on using any method. A crochet cast-on is most popular, because it’s easy to rip out. Later, the waste yarn is ripped out from the cast-on edge, exposing live stitches which can then be picked up and worked in a variety of ways.

In this method, yarn overs effectively act as the picked up stitches, so when you rip out the cast-on there are no stitches left to pick up!

What is a Tubular Cast-On?

A Tubular cast-on is any cast-on that “wraps around” the edge of the work to create a seamless looking cast-on edge. This usually involves double-knitting for several rows or rounds, creating a 2-layer “tube” of fabric at the edge.

Shown in the Video – Cassiope Hat

I used this cast-on for the Cassiope Hat pattern, which is shown near the end of the video. Get the pattern and give it a try!

How to Work the Provisional Tubular Cast-On

Abbreviations used in this tutorial:

k	knit
RS	right side
p	purl
sl	slip purlwise
st(s)	stitch(es)
WS	wrong side
wyib	with yarn in back
wyif	with yarn in front
yo	yarn over

Step 1: Cast-on half the stitches with waste yarn.

I recommend a crochet cast-on as it’s easiest to rip out, but any cast-on you prefer is fine.

For an odd number, cast on 1/2 the number of stitches needed, rounded up.
For an even number of total stitches, cast on 1/2 the number of stitches needed, plus 1.

Step 2: Add the other half of the stitches

Switch to the working yarn and work the first row.

For an odd number of stitches: Row 1 (RS): K1, (yo, k1) to end.
For an even number of total stitches: Row 1 (RS): K1, (yo, k1) to end, pass last yo over last k (to bind off 1 st)

Step 3: Double-knit

Slip the previously knit stitches (that look like purls), and knit the yarn overs.

For an odd number of stitches:
- Row 2: Sl1 wyif, (k1, sl1 wyif) to end.
- Row 3: K1, (sl1 wyib, k1) to end.
- Repeat rows 2 & 3 as many times as desired, ending after a repeat of row 2.
For an even number of total stitches:
- Row 2: (K1, sl1 wyif) to end.
- Row 3: (K1, sl1 wyib) to end.
- Repeat rows 2 & 3 as many times as desired, ending after a repeat of row 2.

Step 4: Remove the waste yarn

There’s no need to pick up any stitches, just remove the waste yarn and continue knitting! The yarn overs that were done in Row 1 act as those picked up stitches.

Other Stitch Patterns

You can also use this cast-on for seed stitch, moss stitch, or other stitch patterns. Just change up the stitches worked in the double-knit section (step 3 above). Remember that the RS rows and WS rows work together in pairs, with each one working half of the stitches.

To work seed stitch, for example, on rows 3 & 4, wherever you would normally knit, you would simply purl instead. So for an odd number of stitches that would look like:

Row 3: P1, (sl1 wyib, P1) to end.
Row 4: Sl1 wyif, (p1, sl1 wyif) to end.
Row 5: K1, (sl1 wyib, k1) to end.

Then you would repeat rows 2-5 as desired, again ending afer a WS row.

You can adjust the stitches in the same way to work any number of stitch patterns! It’s just a matter of working each stitch according to the pattern you would like to create.

Provisional Tubular Cast-On Video Tutorial

Embed not working? Watch this video on YouTube.

Want to jump to a specific section? Click on the timestamp below to go directly to that spot in the video! These links open on YouTube, in a new window or tab.