Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Learn to knit the German Twisted Cast On, also known as the Old Norwegian Cast On. This cast on method is similar to the Long-Tail Cast On, but incorporates an additional twist as you’re creating each stitch for a tidy, stretchy edge, great for hats and socks!
Set this cast on up the same way as for a Long-Tail Cast On, by measuring out a tail approximately 4 times the width of the piece being cast on, making a slip knot, and placing it on your needle. Position the needle in your right hand and both strands of yarn in your left hand, with the ball end of the yarn looped over your index finger, and the tail end over your thumb, in a “slingshot” shape.
Steps:
1:27 Step 1: Bring the needle under both strands of yarn that are around your thumb.
1:33 Step 2: Bring the needle up behind yarn strands, then down through the middle of the loop on your thumb.
1:44 Step 3: While pivoting your thumb, take the needle back over the thumb yarns towards your index finger.
1:53 Step 4: Take the needle over the top of the yarn on your index finger to catch it.
2:09 Step 5: Keeping the yarn caught on the tip of the needle, bring the needle back through the loop on your thumb.
2:27 Step 6: Drop the loop off your thumb and tighten up the stitch just formed (note the extra twist in the thumb loop strand, forming a bump at the base of the newly made stitch).
For ribbed or brioche patterns, you can also alternate casting on stitches using the Long Tail Cast On for knit stitches and German Twisted Cast On for purl stitches, for an edge that mimics the ribbing.
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If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support!
At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design. We craft our patterns with a commitment to timeless quality, publishing size-inclusive, stylish designs for all shapes, identities, and skill levels.
Contemporary design, superior craftsmanship, and clear instructions give knitters the opportunity to elevate their skills and explore the intersection of crafting traditions with current style and new techniques.
Our extensive library of educational resources and skill-building tutorials give crafters the tools to succeed and the confidence to make their projects their own.
Learn more at: @BrooklynTweed_Official
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com
Learn to knit the German Twisted Cast On, also known as the Old Norwegian Cast On. This cast on method is similar to the Long-Tail Cast On, but incorporates an additional twist as you’re creating each stitch for a tidy, stretchy edge, great for hats and socks!
Set this cast on up the same way as for a Long-Tail Cast On, by measuring out a tail approximately 4 times the width of the piece being cast on, making a slip knot, and placing it on your needle. Position the needle in your right hand and both strands of yarn in your left hand, with the ball end of the yarn looped over your index finger, and the tail end over your thumb, in a “slingshot” shape.
Steps:
1:27 Step 1: Bring the needle under both strands of yarn that are around your thumb.
1:33 Step 2: Bring the needle up behind yarn strands, then down through the middle of the loop on your thumb.
1:44 Step 3: While pivoting your thumb, take the needle back over the thumb yarns towards your index finger.
1:53 Step 4: Take the needle over the top of the yarn on your index finger to catch it.
2:09 Step 5: Keeping the yarn caught on the tip of the needle, bring the needle back through the loop on your thumb.
2:27 Step 6: Drop the loop off your thumb and tighten up the stitch just formed (note the extra twist in the thumb loop strand, forming a bump at the base of the newly made stitch).
For ribbed or brioche patterns, you can also alternate casting on stitches using the Long Tail Cast On for knit stitches and German Twisted Cast On for purl stitches, for an edge that mimics the ribbing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support!
At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design. We craft our patterns with a commitment to timeless quality, publishing size-inclusive, stylish designs for all shapes, identities, and skill levels.
Contemporary design, superior craftsmanship, and clear instructions give knitters the opportunity to elevate their skills and explore the intersection of crafting traditions with current style and new techniques.
Our extensive library of educational resources and skill-building tutorials give crafters the tools to succeed and the confidence to make their projects their own.
Learn more at: @BrooklynTweed_Official
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com
