Simply Decorative: The Eyelet Cast on Border
Sometimes a project calls for a little something special on the edge, a fancy cast on that will take the finished item out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. The Eyelet Cast on Border is just such a cast-on, a very simple single row pattern is worked to create a long chain with clearly defined eyelets on either side. These eyelets are then picked up into for the live stitches needed in the knitted piece. This border pushes out vertically when worked (horizontally when picked up from) and is extremely stretchy, making it ideal for a lace project. When the picked up stitches are worked with a narrowing pattern such as ribbing this cast on makes for a pretty edge that will ruffle.
How to Work it
Begin by casting on 2 stitches in any fashion you choose.
Step 1: Bring the yarn behind the right needle and then over the top of the right needle towards you.
Step 2: Insert the right needle tip into the 2 stitches on the left tip through the back loop.
Step 3: Wrap yarn and knit 2 together through the back loop.
Step 4: Turn the work around, the knit 2 tog should be the first stitch on the needle, and the yarn-over is the second.
Repeat Steps 1-4 until there is one less eyelet on each side than the required stitches four your cast on.
Next Row: Knit 2 together through the back loop.
Turn work a quarter turn to the right.
Pickup a single stitch into each eyelet along the side of the work, you will have 1 additional stitch remaining from the k2tog.
Once you have all the stitches picked up continue with your pattern as written.
As you can see this cast on will push out horizontally especially when the picked up stitches are worked with a ribbing.
Since this cast on is so stretchy is it also ideal for use with lace patterns with a waving horizontal edge like this sample of Feather and Fan.
Want to try this pretty edging on a project? The Armeria Shawl is worked from the bottom up and cast on along the scalloped edge. This cast on would be PERFECT to create an extra special edge on this pretty shawl.
Helen Rodriguez
Very pretty, but looks a little confusing. I would like to see it in motion.