Judy’s Magic Cast on (JMCO)

Judy’s Magic Cast on

Judy’s Magic Cast on(created by Judy Becker) is a seamless double sided cast on most commonly used for casting on toe up socks but can also be used for a provisional cast on. In toe up socks this cast on creates a seamless toe to be worked in the round.

In Judy’s original instructions from Knitty magazine stitches are all wrapped toward the center creating twisted stitches that need to be resolved in the first round. That works just fine but when you keep reading you’ll learn how to use this cast on without any twisted stitches to begin with.

Abbreviations

Judy’s Magic Cast on can be abbreviated to - JMCO

Judy’s Magic Cast on | Video Tutorial

Needle Recommendations for Judy’s Magic Cast on

I’ve found that needles are incredibly important for this technique and can greatly improve your experience.

Circular needles with a 32” or 40” cable; I recommend Chiao Goo red lace because the cable is flexible and easy to manage.

Addi flexi flips or Hiya Hiya flyers are another great alternative if you aren’t a fan of magic loop.

Judy’s Magic cast on Step by Step

Set up

Start by holding your needles parallel in your right hand pointing to the left. Leaving a tail, hold your yarn in your left hand with the ball end over your index finger and the tail end over your thumb. Tension the yarn in your palm with your remaining fingers.

Step 1

Insert the bottom needle under the yarn in your left hand.

Step 2

Bracing the yarn on the bottom needle with your thumb. Pivot the top needle under the bottom yarn from between the needles up and over.

Step 3

Pivot the bottom needle under the top yarn from the bottom up and in between the needles.

Step 4

Pivot the top needle under the bottom yarn from between the needles up and over.

Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you have one top stitch remaining.

Final Stitch

Using the bottom yarn and your thumb cast on one stitch on the top needle using the backward loop method.

This locks the final stitch in place as you knit the first round.

Characteristics of Judy’s Magic Cast on

Judy’s Magic Cast on | Right side

Judy’s Magic cast on creates two connected rows of knit stitches on the right side.

Judy’s Magic Cast on | Wrong side

Judy’s Magic cast on creates purl stitches on the wrong side.

How to knit the first round after Judy’s Magic Cast on

You’ll have an equal number of stitches on both needles add those together for the total number of stitches for the first round.

Set up

Turn the needles pointing toward the right. The beginning of round is between the first stitch on both needles starting with the top needle. Going forward I’ll refer to the top needle set of stitches N1(needle 1) and the bottom set of stitches as N2(needle 2).

Step 1

Carefully pull the bottom needle to the right allowing the N2 stitches to be held on the cable.

Step 2

Hold the needle with stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. There should be equal size loops created by the cable on each side.

Knit across the N1 stitches.

Step 3

Carefully pull the now empty needle into the N2 stitches.

Step 4

Repeat steps 1 & 2 to knit across N2 stitches.

Completed First Round

Hold the needles together facing toward the right. Use a stitch marker on the right side of the fabric to mark the beginning of round. When the stitch marker is on the right side of the toe you’ve made it back to the beginning of round.

Still have questions? Ask in the comments.