The two ways to start a new line
Starting a new line in knitting means moving from one row to the next. You have two main choices: turning your work to knit back across the stitches you just made, or casting on new stitches if you are adding length to a piece without turning. Most projects use turning, which creates a continuous fabric. Casting on mid-project is less common and usually happens when you are adding a border, a button band, or stitches for an armhole.
The method you choose depends on what you are making and where you are in the pattern. A sweater body uses turning at the end of every row. A neckband added after the body is done uses casting on. Your pattern instructions will tell you which one to do, but understanding both means you can read a pattern clearly and troubleshoot if something goes wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Turning your work at the end of a row is the standard way to move to the next row; you straightforward flip the needles and knit back across.
- Casting on new stitches mid-project is used for borders, bands, and shaping, and requires you to anchor the new stitches to your existing work.
- The direction you knit matters: if your working yarn is on the right, turn the work so the left needle is now on your right side.
- Twisted stitches at the edge of a new row usually mean you picked up the working yarn from the wrong side of the stitch.
Turning your work to knit the next row
Turning is what you do at the end of almost every row. You finish knitting across, and then you rotate the needles so you can knit back in the opposite direction. The working yarn (the yarn attached to your ball) stays where it is; you are straightforward changing which end of the row you are working from.
To turn, complete your last stitch of the row. Your working yarn will be on one side of the needles. Rotate the needles 180 degrees so the needle with the stitches you just made is now in your left hand, and the empty needle is in your right hand. The working yarn should now be on the right side, ready for you to knit the first stitch of the new row. If the yarn is on the left, you have turned the wrong way; rotate again.
The first stitch of a new row is often twisted if you pick up the yarn incorrectly. Make sure the working yarn comes from behind the needle (away from you) as you insert the right needle into the first stitch. If you pull the yarn from in front of the needle, the stitch will twist. This creates a visible line of tight, distorted stitches down the edge of your work.
Casting on new stitches to extend a piece
Casting on mid-project means creating new stitches while your work is still on the needles. This is different from casting on at the very start, because the new stitches must connect to the existing fabric. You use this method when adding a border to a finished edge, creating a button band on a cardigan, or shaping an armhole by casting on stitches at the beginning of a row.
The most common method is the cable cast-on, which anchors each new stitch to the edge of your existing work. Insert the right needle between the last stitch on the left needle and the needle itself, wrap the yarn, and pull through to create a new stitch. Slip this new stitch onto the left needle. Repeat until you have the number of new stitches your pattern calls for. The cable cast-on creates a neat, finished edge that matches the rest of your fabric.
Another option is the provisional cast-on, used when you plan to pick up those stitches later (for example, when knitting a two-sided edge or adding a cuff). This method uses a temporary yarn in a contrasting color. When you are ready, you unravel the temporary yarn and pick up the live stitches underneath. Provisional cast-on is more advanced and your pattern will specify if you need it.
Fixing twisted stitches at the start of a row
A twisted stitch at the beginning of a new row is almost always caused by picking up the working yarn from the wrong side. When you insert the right needle into the first stitch of the new row, the yarn must pass behind the needle (away from you), not in front. If you habitually knit with the yarn in front, the first stitch will twist every time you turn.
If you notice twisted stitches only at the edges, the rest of your work is probably fine. You can leave them as they are—many knitters do, and the edge is less visible than you think. If the twist bothers you, the only real fix is to rip back to that row and reknit it correctly. Trying to untwist a stitch after the fact usually makes it worse.
To prevent this from happening again, develop a habit of checking the yarn position before you knit the first stitch of every row. A quick glance tells you whether the yarn is behind or in front of the needle. After a few rows, this becomes automatic.
When to turn versus when to cast on
Your pattern tells you which method to use, but understanding the difference helps you read instructions faster. If the pattern says "turn" or "turn your work," you are rotating the needles. If it says "cast on" or "CO," you are creating new stitches. Some patterns use shorthand: "turn" might be written as just a dash or a symbol, while "cast on" might be "CO" or "cast on X stitches."
Turning happens at the end of every row in a basic project like a scarf or a blanket. Casting on happens less often and usually serves a specific shaping purpose. If you are unsure, look at the stitch count: if the pattern tells you to cast on stitches, the total number of stitches on your needle will increase. If you are just turning, the stitch count stays the same.
Common mistakes when starting a new line
The most common error is turning the work the wrong direction. This creates a twisted first stitch and can make the edge look uneven. The fix is straightforward: rotate the needles so the needle with stitches is in your left hand and the empty needle is in your right hand. The working yarn should be on the right side, ready to knit.
Another mistake is forgetting to move the yarn to the correct position before knitting the first stitch of a new row. If you are switching from knit stitches to purl stitches (or vice versa), the yarn position changes. For a knit stitch, the yarn is behind the needle. For a purl stitch, the yarn is in front. Moving the yarn to the wrong position creates a yarn-over, which adds an extra stitch and creates a hole.
A third mistake is casting on too tightly when adding stitches mid-project. Tight cast-on stitches pull the edge and create puckering. Use a slightly looser tension than you normally would, or use a larger needle for the cast-on row and then switch back to your regular needle for the next row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to turn my work at the end of every row?
Yes, unless your pattern specifies otherwise. Turning is how you create rows that build on each other. Some specialty techniques like circular knitting or knitting in the round skip turning because you are working in a spiral, but for flat knitting, turning is standard.
What is the difference between turning and casting on?
Turning rotates your needles so you can knit back across the same stitches in the opposite direction. Casting on creates brand-new stitches. Turning keeps your stitch count the same; casting on increases it. Most rows use turning. Casting on is used for shaping or adding borders.
Why does my first stitch look twisted after I turn?
The working yarn is probably coming from in front of the needle instead of behind it. Make sure the yarn passes behind the needle (away from you) as you insert the right needle into the first stitch. This is the most common cause of twisted edge stitches.
Can I cast on stitches in the middle of a row?
Yes, and this is used for shaping. For example, if you are knitting an armhole, you might cast on new stitches at the beginning of a row to create the underarm. Your pattern will tell you exactly when and how many stitches to cast on.
What happens if I cast on too tightly?
The edge will pucker and pull, and the new stitches will be hard to work into on the next row. Use a looser tension or a larger needle for the cast-on row, then switch back to your regular needle for the following row. This creates a more even edge.