Completely confounded by two-circ-needle provisional cast-on

#1

Argh.

I am totally and completely confused.

I want to make this eye pillow by Cat Bordhi, but I can’t even cast on! Much less start knitting the stupid stitches.

Ok, so you use this funky cast on… by looking at some of her other patterns, I think I understand this. You use the cable of one needle as the “waste yarn” to do a provisional cast on.

So, I think I am doing that right. But I am still confounded!

First of all, she says to use this special cast on and “CO 9 sts onto each of the 2 needles”. :??

So, am I supposed to use the cable of needle1, and the needle end of needle2, and do a cast on of 9 stitches… then use the cable of needle2 and the needle end of needle1 to cast on an add’l 9 stitches? :?? :??

Am I supposed to use the same yarn for all of this?? Does it just stretch between the two cast ons??

This cast-on just sort of wraps the yarn around the needles, if I’m doing it right… they just fall off if you let go. So how am I supposed to start knitting on the darn things? Much less, if I have TWO sets of 9 stitches???

Good grief. Can anyone help me? I bought the yarn and needles for this project and I don’t want it to be a waste, but I’m feeling pretty close to giving up on the whole darn thing. :doh:

#2

Miss Tialouise made several of these. If you change the name of your post to something that includes ‘eye pillow’, it’ll catch her eye and I’m sure she can give you expert help.

#3

Would it be possible to CO to one needle and then re-distribute the sts onto 2?

#4

I know that Amy’s video on this site (under Basic Techniques, Cast On above) uses the Provisional cast on with the extra needle. I’m not sure about the question about putting it on both needles though. If you read farther in the pattern does it make more sense?

#5

No, in fact even after I get cast on I am not too sure how to start knitting the darn thing.

I have pretty much given up on the whole shebang… I think I will find another project to do. Without someone to show me, it just all seems so new.