Disappearing Loop Cast-On (Emily Ocker)
About this stitch
A circular cast-on for top-down hats and toe-up socks; produces a closed, invisible centre.
Worked at cast-on, bind-off, or along the side edge to finish flat pieces. Most edgings can be paired with any ground stitch.
Further reading A primer on swatching Edgings & Borders for accurate gauge.
Stitch chart
Read RS rows right-to-left, WS rows left-to-right. The bottom-right cell is row 1, stitch 1.
knit on RS, purl on WS
•
purl on RS, knit on WS
Row-by-row written instructions
- Cast on a multiple of 1 sts.
- Work the edging as described above.
- Continue with the body of the project.
Abbreviations used
- k knit
- p purl
Knitter's tips
- A swatch of the edging in the actual yarn is the only reliable way to predict its dimensions.
- Most edgings stretch slightly less than the body fabric — adjust stitch counts at the join.
Editor's pick Why every knitter should keep a swatch journal.
Recommended materials
This stitch is most flattering in Worsted-weight yarn on 7 (4.5 mm) needles, at a working gauge near 18 stitches and 24 rows over four inches in stockinette. Open the yarn weight reference or the needle conversion chart for substitutions.