Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The garter tab cast-on is an ingenious way to invisibly start a triangular shawl.
Learn The Secrets of Flawless Cast-Ons! knitfreedom.com/classes-cast-ons
Since most triangular shawls have a small garter-stitch border, you can use this cast-on to invisibly set up your stitches for knitting the triangle from the center-out.
1. Use a provisional cast-on to cast on two stitches with a piece of waste yarn.
2. Knit 7 rows in garter stitch with your working yarn.
3. Pick up and knit 3 stitches along the garter ridges.
4. Remove the provisional cast-on by pulling the loop of yarn you left hanging.
5. Put the saved stitches on your left-hand needle.
6. Knit across the stitches on your left-hand needle.
The final result can be seen after you work a few rows of your pattern. Can you spot the cast-on? I can't!
Tip: Remember that the number of stitches to cast on and the number of rows to knit will differ depending on your pattern.
I'm using the numbers from the Show Your Colors shawl, which is a great beginner lace shawl that looks good in sport or even worsted-weight yarn.
Other triangular lace shawls you can practice this on are The Age Of Brass And Steam shawl and the Holden Shawlette.
This cast-on is a small part of the upcoming video knitting course, The KNITFreedom Video Guide To Cast-Ons, coming out on May 10th. Subscribers to the KNITFreedom newsletter get discounts and a special pre-sale! Sign up at knitfreedom.com/newsletter
Leave a Comment
Have you had trouble understanding this cast-on before? Did I make it clearer? Leave a comment and let me know!
knitfreedom.com/cast-ons/garter-tab-cast-on#comments
youtube.com/watch?v=zNUvivtI1Ck
The garter tab cast-on is an ingenious way to invisibly start a triangular shawl.
Learn The Secrets of Flawless Cast-Ons! knitfreedom.com/classes-cast-ons
Since most triangular shawls have a small garter-stitch border, you can use this cast-on to invisibly set up your stitches for knitting the triangle from the center-out.
1. Use a provisional cast-on to cast on two stitches with a piece of waste yarn.
2. Knit 7 rows in garter stitch with your working yarn.
3. Pick up and knit 3 stitches along the garter ridges.
4. Remove the provisional cast-on by pulling the loop of yarn you left hanging.
5. Put the saved stitches on your left-hand needle.
6. Knit across the stitches on your left-hand needle.
The final result can be seen after you work a few rows of your pattern. Can you spot the cast-on? I can't!
Tip: Remember that the number of stitches to cast on and the number of rows to knit will differ depending on your pattern.
I'm using the numbers from the Show Your Colors shawl, which is a great beginner lace shawl that looks good in sport or even worsted-weight yarn.
Other triangular lace shawls you can practice this on are The Age Of Brass And Steam shawl and the Holden Shawlette.
This cast-on is a small part of the upcoming video knitting course, The KNITFreedom Video Guide To Cast-Ons, coming out on May 10th. Subscribers to the KNITFreedom newsletter get discounts and a special pre-sale! Sign up at knitfreedom.com/newsletter
Leave a Comment
Have you had trouble understanding this cast-on before? Did I make it clearer? Leave a comment and let me know!
knitfreedom.com/cast-ons/garter-tab-cast-on#comments
youtube.com/watch?v=zNUvivtI1Ck
