Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
If you want a cast-on edge that is the same on both sides and looks great with ribbing, the alternating long-tail cast-on is the solution you need.
Instead of casting on a row of knit stitches, with the alternating long-tail cast-on, you’ll cast on both knit stitches and purl stitches. While my sample alternates one knit stitch with one purl stitch, you could alternate two knits with two purls, or whatever ribbing sequence works best with your pattern. Your ribbing will flow smoothly from the cast-on edge, without a row of purl bumps on the wrong side. The alternating long-tail cast-on will also stretch more than a standard long-tail cast-on because both strands of yarn travel around the needle to form stitches.
You can even work a two-color alternating long-tail cast-on, where the knits and purls are different colors.
Learn more and get step-by-step instructions: interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-work-alternating-long-tail-cast-on-one-or-two-colors
If you want a cast-on edge that is the same on both sides and looks great with ribbing, the alternating long-tail cast-on is the solution you need.
Instead of casting on a row of knit stitches, with the alternating long-tail cast-on, you’ll cast on both knit stitches and purl stitches. While my sample alternates one knit stitch with one purl stitch, you could alternate two knits with two purls, or whatever ribbing sequence works best with your pattern. Your ribbing will flow smoothly from the cast-on edge, without a row of purl bumps on the wrong side. The alternating long-tail cast-on will also stretch more than a standard long-tail cast-on because both strands of yarn travel around the needle to form stitches.
You can even work a two-color alternating long-tail cast-on, where the knits and purls are different colors.
Learn more and get step-by-step instructions: interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-work-alternating-long-tail-cast-on-one-or-two-colors
