Glossary / Cast on
COCast on
Putting the first row of stitches onto the needle.
How to work it
The long-tail cast on is the common all-rounder: leave a tail roughly three times the width of your project, make a slip knot, and use both the tail and working yarn to build stitches onto the needle. The cast-on count is where gauge and resize math start.
Common confusions
What does CO mean?
In knitting patterns, CO means Cast on. Putting the first row of stitches onto the needle.
Does CO mean cast on or cast off?
Cast on, always. Cast off is abbreviated BO in US patterns, for bind off. UK patterns say cast off in words more often than they abbreviate it, but when they do, the pairing is still CO to start and BO to finish.
How long a tail do I need?
For a long-tail cast on, roughly three times the width of the finished piece, plus a few inches. A faster rule is about one inch of tail per stitch in worsted weight. Running out two stitches from the end is the classic long-tail failure, so err generous.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Cast on | CO |
| Español | Montaje de puntos | mont. |
| Deutsch | Anschlag | anschl. |
| Français | Montage des mailles | no standard code |
| Italiano | Avvio delle maglie | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 作り目 | no standard code |
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted