Created by Judy Becker, the magical cast-on (often called ‘Judy’s Magical Cast-On’) creates a seamless bit of cast-on that can then be worked in the round. It’s a method often used in toe-up sock patterns, but we’ve used it for a few of our blanket patterns as well, including Oaken, Little Tern, and Tarn (coming soon!).
The Oaken blanket starts at the centre with Judy’s magical cast-on and is worked in the round to the outer edge.
Here’s how it’s done
I think it’s simplest to learn this particular technique from a video, so check out ours. We’ve also included photo and text instructions below the video, if you find those more helpful.
Judy’s Magical Cast-On in pictures
Setup: Take your circular needle and fold it in half, holding the two points in your right hand (they will be pointing to the left), with one needle on top of the other. Place a loop of yarn over your top needle. You want the working yarn to be at the bottom and the tail yarn to be at the top. The bit of yarn over your needle will have a twist underneath it. Next, pinch the thumb and index finger of your left hand together and put them through the middle of the 2 strands coming from your right-hand needle. The tail yarn will be over your index finger, and the working yarn will be under your thumb. Grab the yarn with your other 3 fingers to give a bit of tension and then separate your thumb and index finger.To cast a stitch onto the bottom needle, bring the bottom needle up over the yarn on your index finger and make a loop around the bottom needle.Now you have a stitch cast onto the bottom needle. To cast a stitch onto the top needle, bring the top needle over the yarn on your thumb, bringing it between the two needles and creating a loop on the top needle. Now you’re ready to keep casting on in this manner. First, stitch on the bottom and then add one on the top. Do this until you have the desired number of stitches cast on (usually the same number on the top and bottom needles). To begin knitting, move the needles to your right hand. Twist the tail and working yarn around each other to secure the last stitch cast-on. Next, pull the bottom needle through the stitches, so they’re sitting on the cord. Now you’re ready to work in the round in magic loop. Now you’re ready to knit the first stitch in magic loop. This is what your cast-on looks like after one full round has been knit.
That’s all there is to it! If knitting in the round using the magic loop technique is new for you, check out our Magic Loop Tutorial.
The explanation of casting on the sts is the clearest I’ve seen but then you only knitted the first stitch. Wish you would show knitting all the sts. Do you knit alternately from both needles or what ? Thanks
Hi Lorna – thanks for the feedback! First you are going to knit across all the sts on the one needle (the one we’ve shown knitting the first st), then it works like magic loop (check out our magic loop tutorial here:https://blog.tincanknits.com/2013/10/03/magic-loop/)
Dot
September 8, 2022 @
4:58 pm
Thanks for the clear explanation and great photos. You said “To begin knitting, move the needles to your right hand”. I think you meant to say “left hand”.
Mary G.
September 8, 2022 @
6:30 am
Excellent tutorials and use of this versatile center out cast on in your lovely patterns:) I’ve also used this cast on for a Musselburgh hat. It’s nice and smooth as a beginning. You just don’t get the star point look.
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September 11, 2022 @ 4:19 am
The explanation of casting on the sts is the clearest I’ve seen but then you only knitted the first stitch. Wish you would show knitting all the sts. Do you knit alternately from both needles or what ? Thanks
September 12, 2022 @ 2:22 pm
Hi Lorna – thanks for the feedback! First you are going to knit across all the sts on the one needle (the one we’ve shown knitting the first st), then it works like magic loop (check out our magic loop tutorial here:https://blog.tincanknits.com/2013/10/03/magic-loop/)
September 8, 2022 @ 4:58 pm
Thanks for the clear explanation and great photos. You said “To begin knitting, move the needles to your right hand”. I think you meant to say “left hand”.
September 8, 2022 @ 6:30 am
Excellent tutorials and use of this versatile center out cast on in your lovely patterns:) I’ve also used this cast on for a Musselburgh hat. It’s nice and smooth as a beginning. You just don’t get the star point look.