Tubular Cast-on: Part 2

In Tubular Cast-on: Part 1 you got set up with the provisional cast-on, Crochet Cast-on. Now, onto the actual Tubular Cast-on....

Join in your main colour yarn and, starting with a knit row, work 3 rows in Stocking stitch with needles one full size larger than the one used for the ribbing in your chosen pattern (NOTE: If using my pattern, JAZZ , the needle sizes to be used for the Tubular Cast-on are given in the pattern).  Now, transfer all stitches to the actual needle size used for the ribbing in your chosen pattern. 

With the purl side facing, purl the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

Now, insert the right-hand needle, from top to bottom, into the first main colour yarn loop.  It is kind of buried a bit in the Crochet Cast-on.  The more contrast you have between your waste yarn in the provisional cast-on, and your main colour yarn, the easier in will be to find these loops.

Transfer this new stitch to the left-hand needle.  You want to place it on the needle so that the lead leg of the stitch is at the front of the needle, as pictured above.

Now you just have to knit this stitch.

Continue across the row, purling one stitch, then knitting the main colour loop from the provisional cast-on, until one stitch remains on the left-hand needle.  This stitch is the "plus1" that you added to the cast-on count from your pattern.  Being careful not to twist your stitches, join in the round with a p2tog -- that is, purl together the last unworked stitch with the first stitch you worked in forming the Tubular Cast-on.  Now, work in 1x1 ribbing for the length indicated in your pattern.

Finally, remove your provisional cast-on.  If you used the Crochet Cast-on, this step is very quick and easy.  Start by undoing the knot from the end of the Crochet Cast-on.  Now, it is a simple matter of pulling on that tail of yarn.  Above, you can see a loop from the Crochet Cast-on and the waste yarn sitting under three loops of main colour yarn.

As you continue to pull, the waste yarn will sit under more and more loops of main colour yarn.  Keep pulling until you have pulled the waste yarn right out of the ribbing.  Don't worry!  Those loops of main colour yarn you see are no longer live stitches.  They are the loops you were picking up out of the Crochet Cast-on and knitting.

Sit back and admire the beautiful, professional edge you have just created on your   soon-to-be hat!

PS: This cast-on is also great for other projects with 1x1 ribbed edges, like mittens.