cast on

verb

To start the first row of knitting by putting stitches on a needle.

Opposite

Meanings

verbcast on (third-person singular simple present casts on, present participle casting on, simple past and past participle cast on or casted on)

present singular third person casts on · participle present casting on · participle past casted on · past casted on

  1. ambitransitivebusinessTo start the first row of knitting by putting stitches on a needle.

    Cast on 100 stitches; knit back plain.

    1878, “High Vest for an Infant of Four Months”, in Godey's Lady's Book, and Ladies' American Magazine, page 343
    3 more examples

    With two wooden needles, No. 7 and 4 ply fleecy, cast on twenty-nine stitches for the middle of the sole, and for six rows increase one at the beginning and end of each needle, to slightly shape both the toe and heel end.

    1892, Charles Peters, The Girl's Own Indoor Book, page 75

    Although patterns call for a needle of a certain size, you may find that you cast on more tightly or loosely than the project specifies.

    2012, Cap Sease, Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting

    With waste yarn and crochet hook, make a slipknot and chain 2 stitches more than required to cast on, fasten off.

    2016, Margeau Soboti, Margeau Chapeau: A New Perspective on Classic Knit Hats, page 12
nouncast on (plural cast ons)

plural cast ons

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of cast-on.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbmake the first row of stitches when knitting

Opposite
Broader
sewrun upsew together

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Danish slå op
  • slå opknitting
French monter des mailles
  • monter des maillesknitting
German anschlagen
  • anschlagenknitting
Icelandic slá uppá, fitja upp
  • slá uppáknitting
  • fitja uppknitting
Irish cuir lúb suas
  • cuir lúb suasknitting
Swedish lägga upp
  • lägga uppknitting
Cite this entry
APA

cast on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cast%20on

MLA

“cast on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cast%20on. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cast on,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cast%20on.

Source: cast on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.