Two-Color Italian Cast On

The Two-Color Italian Cast On is a great way to start a project where two colors of yarn will be used. Projects that have techniques using multiple colors, like two-color Brioche or corrugated ribbing are perfect for using this cast on method. In this video, Mary Beth Temple explains how to work the Two-Color Italian Cast On.

To begin, Mary Beth makes a slip knot using both colors held together. She notes that this slip knot does not count as a stitch. It will be removed from the knitting needle after the first row of the pattern is worked. Once the slip knot is in place, she holds the yarn in the same orientation as a long tail cast on, with one yarn going over the forefinger and one over the thumb. They are pulled apart to make a V-shape. She then follows these steps to cast on:

1. 1. From the top down, bring the right needle under both yarns.
2. 2. Bring needle up and over the yarn on the thumb.
3. 3. Bring needle down in between the “V” and under the yarn on the forefinger to bring stitch onto the needle.
4. 4. Bring needle under the yarn on the thumb and up in between the “V.”
5. 5. Bring needle around the yarn on the forefinger.
6. 6. Bring needle under both strands of yarn to bring stitch onto the needle.

Steps 1 through 6 are repeated to continue adding stitches to the needle. These steps allow the colors to alternate on the knitting needle. Mary Beth uses a gray and a blue yarn and she notes that the colors are alternating on the knitting needle. The stitches are also orientated on the needle such that they appear as alternating knit and purl stitches, making this the perfect cast on for two-color ribbing projects, like two-color Brioche. Once the cast on is complete, the first row of the pattern can be worked, and the slip knot can be dropped off the needle.