Cast-On/Setup
⚠️ Caution! DO NOT turn the crank with no knitting on the needles. It is highly likely that the yarn carrier will make contact with the needle latch and bend it. Static build-up from cranking (or even dry air) can magnetize a needle and cause this to happen. Knitting on the needle will help to hold the latch open/down. A bent/sticking latch will either not knit or will drop stitches.
Just like hand knitting, one needs to cast-on in order to commence knitting. On a circular sock machine, a weight is needed to be attached to the knitting for it to work properly. This is usually accomplished by using a tool to cast on with, and then waste yarn is used for the initial cast on until the knitting is uniform and long enough to attach a weight to it. Once everything is knitting properly with no dropped or skipped stitches, then the user will commence with making a sock.
There are many ways/tools that can be used to cast on. However, most of them only use every other needle for the initial set-up (either ignoring every other needle, or adding them later if a ribber is to be used).
#10 Crochet cotton is an excellent choice for casting on. It is inexpensive, readily available, and can be reused many times. It is used by many CSM cranker and they are familiar with how it should look, this makes it much easier when asking for help in troubleshooting cast-on problems.
Some of the links below only show how to make the cast-on tool, or are a link for where to purchase the tool, but all of these methods work on the same principle. Here is a link to an excellent video available on Facebook “Circular Sock Machine Knitters 2.0” group. This video shows some different cast-on/set-up tools and demonstrates a basic set-up.
Methods/Tools for Casting-On
Emergency Cast On Trick by Kathy Roletter. A great way to cast on if you don’t have a tool. Here is a link to a video showing this trick/technique.
Mary's Cast on Beret. A crocheted option for making this cast-on beret, but there are no instructions for it’s use. Ravelry Link.
Knitted sampler set-up/alias...Bonnet by Roxana Baechle. This item is made on the machine and the knitter will need some sort of method to cast on first in order to make this tool.
Cast on Basket by Sock World Hokitika (NZAK). This is a tool used for the initial cast on. A video demonstrating this tool is available on Facebook “Sock Knitting Machine Friends” group.
Cast on Basket by Chambord CSM. This is a tool used for the initial cast on.
Corkscrew cast on tool. Here is a video showing how this unique tool works. A version is available on eBay.
An empty onion bag, or a piece of mesh from a shower pouf can also be used to cast-on. Socks the Old Way on a CSM website has photo instructions on how to use this tool.
This photo shows a couple of different cast-on baskets, including antiques.
