Casting On / Binding Off

In double knitting, there are two common approaches to the cast on and the bind off:

Use both yarns: Cast on / Bind off using both yarn strands held together using any cast on technique desired and needles that are one or two sizes smaller than the main body of the work.

Use only one of the yarns: Cast on / Bind off using only one of the yarn strands. This requires increasing in the first row after the cast on and decreasing in the bind off row.

We illustrate both methods below.

Cast on Using Both Yarns

Step 1: Using any cast on method desired, cast on holding both yarn strands held together using a needle that is one or two sizes smaller. You will cast on the amount of stitches desired for one side of the item you will be working.

For example: If you would like to create a double knit fabric with 26 sts on each side (52 sts total), cast on 26 sts with both strands.

Step 2: Work the first yarn strand of the cast on stitch (half the stitch!) individually with the facing yarn strand. In this example, we knit the facing stitch.

Review the Position of the Working Yarn tutorial as a reference for yarn positioning.

Step 3: Work the second yarn strand of the cast on stitch individually with the opposite yarn strand. In this example, we purl the opposite stitch.

Continue working the facing then the opposite stitches until the first row is complete.

Cast on Using One Yarn Only

Step 1: Using any cast on method desired, cast on with one yarn strand. You will cast on the amount of stitches desired for one side of the item you will be working.

For example: If you would like to create a double knit fabric with 26 sts on each side (52 sts total), cast on 26 sts with one strand.

Step 2: You will work 2 sts in each cast on stitch for the first row as follows: knit through the front loop of the first st with the facing (cast on) yarn strand, but do not drop the stitch from the left needle...

Review the Position of the Working Yarn tutorial as a reference for yarn positioning.

Step 3: ...Purl through the back loop of the same stitch with a newly-joined yarn strand that will become the opposite strand. Drop the stitch from the left needle.

Continue working each stitch, first knitting the facing strand through the front loop, then purling with the opposite strand through the back loop until the end of the row.

Binding Off Using Both Yarns

Bind off holding both yarn strands held together using a needle that is one or two sizes smaller. You will cast off working through both the facing and opposite strands of yarn. This means:

Where the facing and opposite yarns have been worked together, most frequently as edge stitches, work through both strands of the single stitch.

Where the facing and opposite yarns have been worked separately, bind off through both stitches: performing a decrease of 2 stitches to 1 stitch.

Appearance of bind of using 2 yarns.

Binding Off Using One Yarn Only

Bind off using only one yarn. You will cast off working through both the facing and opposite strands of yarn. This means:

Where the facing and opposite yarns have been worked together, most frequently as edge stitches, work through both strands of the single stitch.
Where the facing and opposite yarns have been worked separately, bind off through both stitches: performing a decrease of 2 stitches to 1 stitch.

Appearance of bind off using one yarn.