Italian cast on – knit 2 / purl 2 ribbing

In this DROPS video we show one way of Italian cast on, with knit 2, purl 2 ribbing. Start with a long thread end, the length depends on how many stitches are to be cast on. Hold the thread over the thumb and left index finger, insert the needle on the inside and from the back so that there is a cross = 1st stitch (= K). Take the needle over the back thread, up in the middle, under the front thread and up = 2nd stich (P).

Next stitch: Insert needle under first thread and up in the middle, over back thread and up (2nd K stitch). Continue like this with P and K to desired number of stitches, but should be able to divisible by 4 (+ 2 if required). Turn the piece and twist the threads twice. Work K over K and P over P, turn.

Now start working the rib into K2, P2 as follows: * knit 1, slip the next 2 stitches to the right needle as to knit them together, then put them back on the left needle slipping the purl stitch first then the knit stitch (so that they are now “reversed), knit the next stitch, and purl the next 2 stitches *, and repeat from *-* to the end of the row.

The method gives a very elastic result. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video.