Channel Island Cast On Technique

Introduction

The Channel Island cast on is a decorative long tail cast on which creates a small knot every other stitch resulting in an edge resembling beads or picots. It provides a stretchy yet sturdy start to your knitting due to the multiple strands it is worked with. It looks beautiful with garter stitch, cables, reverse stocking stitch, and 1×1 rib and has the added advantage of creating 2 stitches at a time, which makes casting on large numbers of stitches much quicker! It is not as hard as it looks, so why not give it a try?

There are a few different ways to begin, my favorite is to use 3 separate strands of yarn as it requires no measuring of tail lengths. However, it is also possible to cast on using just one ball of yarn and that method is also given.

Method one

Step 1: With 3 strands of yarn make slip knot and place on needle (does not count as a st).
Step 2: Hold 2 strands in LH, 1 strand in RH.
Step 3: YO with RH strand.
Step 4: Wrap 2 LH strands counter clockwise around LH thumb twice.
Step 5: Insert point of needle from bottom to top under both strands on thumb
Step 6: Bring RH yarn around the needle to make a stitch.
Step 7: Bring needle back through loops on thumb.
Step 8: Take loops off thumb and tighten loops with LH until knot forms – 2 sts on needle.

Repeat Steps 3-8 placing marker every 50 sts to aid counting until you have desired number of sts (each repetition makes 2 sts). Leaving at least a 15 cm (6”) tail for weaving in cut both LH strands.

To join in the round

Lay work in a circle on a hard surface and move all “beads” to inside of circle (this helps to prevent twisting your sts). Slip starting slip knot off LH needle.
Place a unique marker for start of round and work first round as your pattern directs, removing all markers except start of round marker.

Method Two

Step 1: Measure out a tail allowing 1” for each stitch you will cast on. Add 10” to this length, make a slip knot at this point and place on needle (slip knot counts as a st).
Step 2: Fold tail in two placing end over working yarn (on right hand side of needle above). Leave at least 6” past this point for weaving in later.
Step 3: Wrap 2 LH strands counterclockwise around LH thumb twice.
Step 4: Insert point of needle from bottom to top under both strands on thumb.
Step 5: Bring RH yarn around the needle to make a stitch.
Step 6: Bring needle back through loops on thumb.
Step 7: Take loops off thumb and tighten loops with LH.
Step 7 contd: Tighten until knot forms – 2 sts on needle.
Step 8: YO with RH strand.

Repeat Steps 3-8 until, after completing Step 7, you have desired number of sts.

Each repetition makes 2 sts as in method 1 and begins with a YO, but because the initial slip knot counts as a st in this method the YO is shown as Step 8.

Leaving at least a 15 cm (6”) tail for weaving in cut both LH strands.

To join in the round work as shown at top of page 3 except do not remove slip knot from needle, work as first st.

If working 1×1 rib make sure to knit the “beads” and purl the yarnovers on the right side of your work. If working in rows you will purl the first st (“bead” st) and knit the yarnovers on the first row as this will be a wrong side row.

When followed by 4 rows of 1×1 rib it will look like this.
When followed by 4 garter st rounds it will look like this.