Casting On: E-wrap cast-on

One of the most common ways to cast on is called an E-wrap cast on. This cast on method gives a nice even edge.

It is a simple cast on method where the knitter winds the yarn around the needles. By winding loosely, tightly or somewhere in between you have some control over the tightness of the finished edge. If you have a garment that needs to stretch then you can do a loose wrap.

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The e-wrap cast on is a good cast on edge for beginners

• Pro: This method produces a nice even edge to your garment and can be quick once you have got the knack of getting an even wrap. You can make the wrap looser if you want a more stretch edge.
• Con: It can be tricky to knit first row if wrap is too tight or too loose. Need to put into holding position or use weaving brushes on first few rows.

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Instructions:

I like to start with my needles in hold position.

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Create a slip knot.

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Put the slip knot onto the first needle. I wrap from left to right so I put it on the first needle on the left. Pull down some yarn and catch it on the mast so that you have enough loose yarn to wrap around all the needles.

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(If you are wrapping from right to left, then follow the instructions but do the opposite as if you were looking in a mirror.)

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Pull down some yarn for wrapping and catch rest of yarn in mast so that there is no tension on it.

Hold back the knot with a finger on your left hand.

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With your other hand, take the yarn under the next (2nd) needle and then up between the 2nd and 3rd needle and back over the 2nd needle and down. You have now wrapped around the 2nd needle.

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Hold back the wraps

Hold back the wraps with your finger. Continue by going under the 3rd needle, up between 3rd and 4th and back across the top of the 3rd needle and down.

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This diagram shows how each needle is wrapped.

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Keep going until you have wrapped around all the needles. Move your finger along to hold back the wraps as you continue across all the needles.

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Pull down more yarn if you need it.

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When you have wrapped all the needles, put the yarn into the carriage and un-catch from the mast. Pull back yarn any loose yarn at back of mast so that the tension is set again.

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Knitting after cast on

Set up the carriage for knitting and knit a few rows. Don’t forget to switch on your row counter. I use my weaving brushes to help knit. If you do not have any you will need to keep putting the needles into hold and knit each row carefully until you can add weights.

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You need to knit at least 4 rows before adding weights. I like to knit 6 rows to make sure that I do not damage the carriage as I knit.

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And that is an e-wrap cast on. With practice you will be able to do this quickly and learn how loose or tight you need to make it for your particular garment.

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Happy Knitting!

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Carol

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