Tip Tuesday: One Pattern, Three Techniques

Happy spooky season! This week, we’re featuring an easy, Halloween-themed project that not only adds a touch of festive fun to your phone but also teaches you three valuable knitting techniques. 

Meet the Spooky iPhone Sweaters by Pam Allen—this trio of patterns can be made in three different ways, allowing you to experiment and learn new skills that you’ll use in future projects. 
Today we’re going to focus on the provisional cast on, three needle bind off, & i-cords.

Tools Used In This Tip:

Yarn

• Chickadee by Quince & Co (in the colors Sedum & Malbec)
• A small amount of extra yarn - For this project we used Not Quite Lark (in the color Birds Egg)

Needles & Notions

• One pair circular needles
• Two double pointed needles (dpns)
• Crochet hook
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needles

1. Provisional Cast On

A provisional cast on is perfect for projects where you might want to add rows or graft stitches at the end of your work. This technique sets you up to knit in both directions and leaves live stitches that are easy to pick up. For the spooky phone covers, the provisional cast on allows you to seam the bottom of your case closed.

 

• Begin by making a slip knot, leaving a 3-4" tail, and place it on your crochet hook.

• Hold your crochet hook in your right hand and your needle in your left, along with the yarn tail.
• Cross your hook over the top of your needle.

• Wrap the yarn around both your hook and needle, moving counterclockwise from back to front.

• With your hook, pull the yarn through the slip knot. You now have one stitch on your needle and one loop on your hook.
• Re-cross your hook over your needle and wrap the yarn around the hook and needle again in the same direction as before.
• Pull the yarn through the new loop on your hook, creating another stitch on your needle. Repeat this process until you reach the desired number of stitches.

• Finally, pull the last loop on your hook to enlarge it, then cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. 

• You’re now ready to start stitching into the cast on row with your working yarn.

Tap for a more detailed look at the Provisional Cast On removal process

2. Three-Needle Bind Off

The three-needle bind off involves binding off with three needles simultaneously, and creates a sturdy, clean seam. It's perfect for projects that need a durable finished edge like a phone case that will have weight on it. 
While it may sound a bit daunting to stitch with three needles at a time, if you're comfortable with standard bind-offs, you'll find this technique easy to pick up!

• Turn your project inside out. 

• With the right sides together, hold the needles parallel in your left hand. Make sure that you have an even number of stitches on your front and back needles.

• With a third needle in your right hand, knit the first stitch of front and back needles together as one.

• Knit the next stitch from each needle together (two stitches are now on the right hand needle). 

• Lift the first stitch over the second stitch and off the right hand needle to bind off one stitch.

• Repeat this process until all stitches are bound off.

3. Optional I-Cord Loop

Our final technique of the week will help you add a convenient loop to your phone cover. Let’s make an i-cord! 

This quick and easy technique is versatile enough for countless projects, from hanging loops on phone cases to drawstrings and ties on hats.

Using your double pointed needles, cast on two stitches (or required number for project).

 

Now it’s time to put these handy tips to work in the Spooky iPhone Sweaters. Get stitching now and you’ll have the perfect accessory ready just in time for Halloween!