Meanings
present singular third person casts on · participle present casting on · participle past casted on · past casted on
- 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 3433 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 75Although 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 KnittingWith 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
Synonyms & antonyms
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
cast on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cast%20on
“cast on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cast%20on. Accessed November 4, 2026.
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.