How to work the Italian cast-off method
The Italian cast-off is also known as the Italian sewn cast-off, the Italian tubular cast-off, the K1, P1 cast-off, or Kitchener stitch cast-off. To work this method, you use a sewing needle to cast off your stitches. It gives a stretchy edge which is ideal for sweater necks, hat and sock cuffs - anywhere you want a decent amount of ‘give’. This technique is used for 1x1 ribbing (K1, P1 rib).
How to work the Italian cast-off: step-by-step instructions
The Italian cast-off involves four repeated steps (after the initial set-up); each stitch is worked twice before being dropped off the needle, and you work on the first pair of knit stitches on your needle, followed by the first pair of purl stitches, as we explain below. You can work this technique over a piece of flat knitting, and also for ribbing in the round.
Our walkthrough assumes you will be starting with a knit stitch as the first stitch of your 1x1 ribbing. When you are ready to work your cast-off, cut the working yarn, leaving a tail at least three times the length of the piece of knitting to be cast off. Thread this tail onto a tapestry needle.
How to work the Italian cast-off: Set-up
Step 1
Pass the tapestry needle purlwise through the first knit stitch on your knitting needle, and pull the yarn through. Leave this stitch on the knitting needle.
Step 2
For the second stitch on the knitting needle – a purl stitch – we want to pass the tapestry needle through this stitch knitwise, BUT we need to bring the yarn from the back of the work in order to do this. Take your tapestry needle round to the back of the work, and pass it between the first two stitches on the knitting needle from back to front…
Step 3
…before going into the purl stitch knitwise and pulling the yarn through to the back of the work.
Following the set-up, each stitch will be worked twice before it is dropped off the knitting needle, and you’ll alternate between working the first pair of knit stitches, then the second pair of purl stitches.
***
Step 4
First K stitch on knitting needle:
Pass yarn through knitwise.
Drop stitch off needle.
(Note that this stitch has now been worked twice, as the yarn had been passed through it purlwise as part of the set-up.)
Step 5
Second K stitch on knitting needle:
Ignoring the first purl stitch on the needle, now pass the yarn through the second knit stitch purlwise.
Leave stitch on needle.
Step 6
First P stitch on knitting needle:
Pass yarn through purlwise.
Drop stitch off needle.
(Note that this stitch has now been worked twice, as the yarn had been passed through it knitwise as part of the set-up.)
Step 7
Second P stitch on knitting needle:
Ignoring the first purl stitch on the needle, pass the yarn through the second purl stitch knitwise (bringing yarn from back to front between the sts, as before).
Leave stitch on needle.
Repeat these steps from *** until you have two stitches left. These will be a K and a
P stitch, and both will have already been worked once as part of the four-step sequence above.
Step 8
For the final K stitch: pass the yarn through knitwise, and drop it off the needle.
Step 9
For the final P stitch: pass the yarn through purlwise, and drop it off the needle.
How to work the Italian cast-off: Finishing
Weave in the yarn tail, and your cast-off is complete!
If you’ve been working in the round, you can use the yarn tail to close the gap between the end and the start of your cast-off – pass it through your initial cast-off stitch knitwise to join the columns of stitches and close the gap, then weave in the end.
Create super-stretchy edges with the Italian cast-off method
Now you’ve mastered this technique, you can use it on all sorts of knitting projects where you don’t want your cast-off edges to be too tight – such as sweater and cardigan necks, the cuffs on your toe-up socks and top-down sleeves, and so much more.
Boost your knitting skills with Gathered!
Inspired to learn more knitting techniques and get great results? Explore our expert guides on Gathered! Useful tutorials include Judy’s Magic Cast-on and the German Twisted Cast-on.
