How to knit the double loop cast-on

A step-by-step tutorial on knitting the double loop cast-on; easy to knit and medium-stretchy

Some cast-ons appear in every tutorial for beginners; others are popular among experienced knitters because they create super fancy or stretchy edges. And then there is a third category: Cast-ons that are so obscure and rare that they don’t even have a formalized English name. The double loop cast-on belongs to this latter category.

someone holding a swatch started with the double loop cast-on

Structurally, it’s related to a simple reverse backward loop increase (aka, a single cast-on twisted around in the other direction). However, where the former only adds one twist, the double loop cast-on adds another half twist through a smart little trick. The result will be an ever so slightly stretchier edge.

someone showing how stretchy the double loop cast on is

Now, please don’t expect anything dramatic. If you are looking for the stretchies cast-ons in knitting, then please read this article. However, for all these use cases where you only need a tiny little bit of extra give, the double loop cast-on can be an excellent choice.

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Instructions: How to knit the double loop cast-on

someone doing the double loop cast-on using blue yarn
No Ratings

This is a super simple technique. The only thing you need to remember is that you always wrap counterclockwise.

Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Materials

Tools

Instructions

  1. Start with a simple slip knot. No need to leave a long tail; just enough for weaving in ends later on.
    starting the double loop cast-on with a simple slipknot
  2. Secure the working yarn with your pinky and ring finger.
    securing the yarn by clenching it with the pinky and ring finger of the left hand
  3. From there, guide the working yarn around the back of your middle and index finger counter-clockwise.
    bringing the working yarn across the back of the index and middle finger (counter-clockwise)
  4. Then, wrap the yarn around the middle and index finger one more time counter-clockwise. You should have two loops around your fingers.
    wrapping the working yarn around the index and middle finger one more time counter-clockwise
  5. Next, insert your knitting needle underneath the first loop (seen from the left).
    inserting the knitting needle below the first loop around the index and middle finger comming in from the left
  6. Then, grab the second loop/strand with your knitting needle coming in from above.
    going above the second loop with the knitting needle
  7. Pull this strand underneath the first strand forming a little loop on your knitting needle
    pulling the first loop through the first loop to create a "stitch" on the knitting needle
  8. Then, pull out your middle and index finger and release the loops.
    letting go of the loops around index and middle finger
  9. And tighten the resulting stitch up with your left hand.
    tightenting up the double loop with index finger and thumb
  10. From here, create another double wrap around your middle and index finger.
    adding a new double wrap around the index and middle finger
  11. Again, go underneath the first loop and above the second loop and pull the yarn all the way through.
    pulling the second loop underneath the first using the right knitting needle
  12. Pull out your fingers and release the loops.
    letting go of the loops and tighten up
  13. Tighten up and repeat steps 10-12 until you've cast-on the desired number of stitches.
    repeat for the double loop cast-on
© Norman

Mid-Project Double Loop Cast-on

a swatch where someone cast on stitches mid-project using the double loop cast-on

What I really like about this double loop cast-on is the fact that you can easily also use it in the middle of a project. Simply finish a row and then start looping around your fingers to cast on more stitches. It’s the exact same technique (well, you do skip the slip knot).

This edge will, for obvious reasons, also be medium stretchy. So, it’s not the perfectly tight edge for picking up stitches (there I’d recommend using the Twisty knitted cast-on), nor would I use it for lining a buttonhole (here, the cable cast-on would be my preferred technique).

Still, it’s a nice technique to keep in the back of your mind – especially since it perfectly mirrors the edge a German Twisted cast-on would create. However, unlike the latter, you don’t need a long tail, since that would, obviously, be a bit difficult mid-project.

About the name

I leafed through quite some books and also checked many a resource online, and I simply couldn’t find a formalized name anywhere. This cast-on simply started to pop up on Instagram in 2026 and quickly garned hundred thousands of views without anyone giving it a name.

Originally, I called it mid-row longtail cast-on. Mostly because it kinda appears as if you were to pull a loop through a loop just like the longtail cast-on creates the first row in the same breath. But upon closer inspection, I realized that that is not the case.

In fact, it’s a lot closer related to the double twist loop cast-on. But where the former is basically a reverse backward loop increase twisted around one full time, this technique only adds half a twist. And that’s basically why I thought to simply call it “double loop”. It kinda describes what you are doing (forming two loops around your fingers), and it picks up this established relative.

Anyway, that’s how to knit the double loop cast-on. Comment below if you have any questions.

pinterest design for the double loop cast-on

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