a photo tutorial from the First Ziggurat Book
note: in all Ziggurat patterns using the crochet cast on, the pattern instructs you to cast on one more stitch than is required. This extra stitch is decreased on the next round or row.
Most Ziggurat crochet cast ons start with the last knitted stitch at the end of a RS Row or for an underarm cast on where Sleeve Cap begins.
1. Turn work over to WS.
Place a marker two stitches in from tip of LN (arrow).
Using a crochet hook, borrow the first stitch (= last worked stitch).
Take yarn to back (behind LN).
This is your basic position: hook in front, yarn in back.
1a. To start a crochet cast from scratch and not an extension of knitted fabric:
in place of borrowing a stitch, make a slipknot.
2. Fetch yarn and pull it through the loop (the borrowed stitch).
The yarn runs over and around LN .
3. Take yarn to back again.
Tighten the cast-on stitch around LN.
Keep the hook-loop long – this makes it easier to cast on the next stitch.
4. Cast on as may stitches as instructed.
After final stitch, leave yarn in front.
5. Make a chain stitch but not around LN.
6. Place the final loop on LN. You have now replaced the loop you borrowed at the start.
Done.
From above.
CROCHET CAST ON: CLOSING THE GAPS (ON NEXT ROUND OR ROW)
1. Next round: knit to marker, remove marker.
2. ssk (to close the first gap).
Gap gone.
3. Knit to end of cast on.
4. Make a loop of the bar between last cast-on stitch and next stitch. If there is much slack, twist the loop.
5. k2tog (the loop you just made and the next stitch) to close the gap.
Gap at the far end of cast gone.
WORKING FLAT
If working flat, your next row will likely be a WS row.
WS: purl to 1 stitch before cast on, sl1, make a twisted loop and place on LN, sl1 back to LN, p2tog, purl to 2 stitches before marker, ssp.
