[NFB-Blind-Crafters] How to do Judy's Magic Cast on

Thu Jul 30 21:27:30 UTC 2026

I place the first stitch so that the yarn comes across the tail and when I get to that stitch I am careful making it and on the next stitch i add the tail to the working yarn and work it for 3 or 4 stitches before dropping the tail. No weaving in and after the first wash i snip it.

Cindy

On July 30, 2026 2:31:04 PM Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I never thought of doing the figure-8 without any knot, but I think I see how it could be done, tucking the tail between stitches.  Is that what you do?
> Tracy
>
>
> From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Slery via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2026 10:46 AM
> To: List for Blind Crafters and Artists <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Slery <slerythema at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] How to do Judy's Magic Cast on
>
> I also do a figure 8 for toe up socks and only use the yarn coming from the ball. I also do not use a knot of any kind.
>
> Cindy
>
> On July 30, 2026 8:54:26 AM Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> This sounds like a version of the figure-8 cast-on that I do for toe-up socks, except I only use the ball end of the yarn and wrap it around the needles in a figure-8 way.  Interesting.
> Tracy
>
>
>
> From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dixie via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 9:29 AM
> To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Dixie <cobaltblueheron at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] How to do Judy's Magic Cast on
>
> Judie’s Magic Cast-On would be used for the toe-up sock, not top down.
>
>
> Here are Deborah Mason’s directions:
>
> Magic Cast On
>
> This is a good cast on to use for toe up socks.
>
> Hold needle with tip facing left.
> 1.     place slip knot on needle
> 2.     Anchor slip knot on needle between your pointer and middle fingers.
> 3.     Bring second needle tip up under the needle with the slip knot.  Make sure the strands of  yarn are
> behind this needle.
> 4.     Place the tail yarn so that it is going away from your body.
> 5.     Place the ball yarn so that the strand of yarn is coming toward your stomach.
> The rule is:
> The tail goes around the bottom needle
> The ball yarn goes around the top needle
> The needles are always held forward of the yarn – the yarn is coming from behind the needles.
> The slip knot is the first stitch on the top needle. So, to even things up, we want to wrap the  bottom
> needle.
> 1.     Bring the tail down around the bottom of the bottom needle, up and between the needles to  the
> back again.
> 2.     Park the tail between your pointer and middle finger on your right hand.
> Now you have one stitch on each needle.
> Begin wrapping the top needle and the bottom needle alternately ending with the bottom needle to  get
> and even number of stitches on each needle.
> Wrap top needle:
> 1.     Pick up ball yarn.
> 2.     Bring the yarn toward you between the two needles.
> 3.      Then continue up and over the top of the top needle.
> 4.     Bring the yarn behind the two needles and park it by grabbing it with the ring and pinky  fingers on
> your right hand.
> Wrap the bottom needle:
> 1.     Bring the tail down around the bottom of the bottom needle, up and between the needles to  the
> back again.
> 2.     Park the tail between your pointer and middle finger on your right hand.
> Now you have two stitches on each needle.
> Repeat these steps to wrap an even number of stitches on each needle ending with wrapping
> the  bottom needle.
> Hold the two strands of yarn up close to the needles and rotate needle tips so that they are facing  the
> right.  Bring tail across and hold in your left hand.  Pull bottom needle out, swing it around  and knit all
> stitches on needle1.  Drop empty needle. Rotate clockwise.  The needle that was on the  bottom is now
> on top.  Push stitches onto empty needle (top needle).  Pull out bottom needle and  knit all stitches on
> needle 2.
>
>
>
>
> Dixie
> 🌷 🌸 🕊️ 🌸 🌷
> See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Songs 2:11-12 (NIV)
>
> From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of joanne jordan via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 5:35 PM
> To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: jordanj229 at verizon.net
> Subject: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] How to do Judy's Magic Cast on
>
> Hello
> This is Joanne Jordan here! Does anyone know how to do Judy’s Magic Cast on? It is used for anyone wanting to make a hat from the top down, or socks from the top down. It would be a useful technique for me to learn. I have watched two youtube videos and can’t understand what they are saying or what to do!
> Thanks for any help!
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