Foundation Cord Method

This is my favorite set-up method, and I use it for almost all of my sweaters and cowls worked in the round. It is easy and quick to make, gives a perfectly polished start, and is also quite elastic!

Since I usually start my shawls from a corner or a center of the windspan with just a couple of stitches, I rarely use it for sideways projects. But it works just as well for them, too.

Oh, and of course I use it for all my swatches worked in plain rows!

Leave a tail 3.5 times longer than the required length of the set-up row/round.

Place slip knot on hook so the working end of the yarn is on the left (right for lefties), and the tail is on the right (left for lefties).

Step 1:

With tail, yarn over the hook from front to back and in front of the working end.

Step 2:

Yarn over with working end, pull it through both loops on hook.

Repeat Steps 1-2:

Yarn over with tail, yarn over and pull through both loops with working end.

You will be working the stitches of the next row/round into top loops of the foundation cord stitches.