2-Color Italian Cast On

This cast on is exactly like the original
Italian Cast On only you use two
different strands of yarn/color. Begin
by tieing both strands into a knot and
hold the yarns on the needle as in
Figure 1. This first knotted ‘stitch’, as
viewed in Figure 2, will not be worked
and will not count after this cast on row.

The darker strand is the MC and the
lighter strand is the CC. Depending
on whether you want to begin your
RS row with a knit or purl stitch, will
determine which cast on stitch you
work first. If you cast on too many
stitches, it doesn’t matter, since you
can undo them after you have worked
the first Prep row.

For this example I am going to cast
on a RS row, for an uneven number
of stitches, starting and ending with a
knit stitch.

Knit MC RS st: steer the needle in
front and under your thumb CC yarn
(figure 2), then over and behind index
finger MC strand (figure 3, follow the
arrow). Catch MC strand on needle tip
and bring it back under the thumb CC
strand, returning to original position.
Figure 4.
Purl CC WS st: move the needle over
and behind, then under the MC strand
and under CC strand, going then in
front of CC yarn, picking up a loop of
the CC yarn. Bring it back under MC
strand and return to original position.
Figures 5 and 6.

Repeat the knit and purl steps until
an UNeven number of stitches are
hanging on the needle including the
first knotted stitch. You should have
a CC as last st on needle. Then work
a knit MC st, hold CC thread in back
and remove the MC st and work a half
hitch with the MC (figure 7).
Your should now have an EVEN
number of stitches, which will work
out to an UNeven number after the
first Prep Row is worked and the initial
knotted stitch is dropped.

Since both yarns are hanging at the
same end, you will need to work two
prep rows, one using the MC and then
one using the CC.
Prep row WS MC: hold CC to front,
with MC, *p1, sl1¤yof; rep from *
to last stitch, purl this last MC stitch
twisted. Drop the knotted stitch. Do
not turn work.
¤ You may notice that the st to be slipped
has the tendency to twist in front of itself, it
is mounted correctly but can appear not to be.
Prep row WS CC: Slide work to other
tip of needle where CC is hanging,
yf sl1yo, *brk1, yf sl1yo; rep from *.
Turn work.

Follow the instructions for 2-Color
Brioche Stitch using an UNEVEN
number of stitches starting with
Row 1 RS MC.