In this Brooklyn Tweed knitting tutorial we teach you to work a Two-Color Italian Tubular Cast On for 1x1 ribbing – a sturdy and stretchy cast on that creates a beautiful edge on your knitting with no need for waste yarn.
If working the pattern Saurel, begin with step 3 and alternate steps 2 & 3, ending with step 3.
Written Steps
Step 1a: Make a slip knot with MC and C1 held together, leaving an 8”/20 cm tail. Slip the slip knot onto the needle and hold in your R hand ready to knit. (Note: The slip knot will not be worked, and should not be included in your stitch count.)
Step 1b: With your index finger and thumb of your L hand extended to create an “L”, position the working MC (pink) and C1 (pale blue) yarns in your L hand, with the working yarns held against your palm and with the MC yarn draped over your index finger and the C1 yarn draped over your thumb in a diamond shape. Secure the tails from the slip knot by holding them against the needle with your R hand.
Step 2a: Create a Knit Stitch with MC: Wrap the C1 yarn over the needle by moving the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your thumb and over the C1 yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the C1 yarn.
Step 2b: Move the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your index finger and over the MC yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the MC yarn.
Step 2c: The C1 yarn is crossed over the MC yarn across the top of the needle. Unwrap the C1 yarn, keeping the MC loop on the needle and maintaining an even tension ready to cast on a new stitch.
Step 3a: Create a Purl Stitch with C1: Wrap the MC yarn over the needle by moving the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your index finger and under the MC yarn, then back to the center of the diamond.
Step 3b: Move the needle tip outside of the diamond toward your thumb and over the C1 yarn, then back to the center of the diamond under the C1 yarn. The MC yarn is crossed over the C1 yarn across the top of the needle.
Step 3c: Unwrap the MC yarn by repositioning the MC yarn under the needle, keeping the C1 loop on the needle and maintaining an even tension, ready to cast on a new stitch.
Repeat Steps 2 & 3 until the desired number of stitches have been cast on, ending with Step 2.
Your stitches are now ready to work in 1x1 or brioche rib!
To work the optional tubular rows:
(Note: In this video we are knitting the first and last stitch of each row as a selvedge stitch.)
Row 1: With your C1 yarn (pale blue), knit 1 (selvedge stitch). (Knit 1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front) across. Knit 1 (selvedge stitch). Note that on this first row, your knit stitches will be mounted backwards on the needle, so you'll need to knit into the back loop to untwist them. (Don’t knit the slip knot, just let it fall off your needle. You can pull it out after you’ve worked a few rows.)
Row 2: Slide your stitches to the other end of your circular needle so that you can work with your MC yarn (pink). Knit 1 (selvedge stitch). (Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, purl 1) across. Knit 1 (selvedge stitch).