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MAGIC GARTER TAB


​If, like many knitters, you find the picking up stitches on a  garter tab rather fiddly and annoying, you're going to love a Magic Garter Tab. It's quick, it's easy - and best of all there is only one stitch to pick up - and it's the least fiddly one of all.  It dawned on me one day, that there had to be an easier way to do a garter tab. I'd seen references to using a provisional cast on, but thought I could go one better. 

Here's how to do it:

The foundations of the Magic Garter Tab draw on Judy's Magic Cast-on, a fabulous cast-on that I use without fail for toe-up socks.
You can find Judy's original tutorial here: knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html
Thank you Judy for providing the inspiration for the Magic Garter Tab.

What you need: 
A circular needle
Some yarn

Begin by setting up three stitches on each needle using Judy's Magic Cast-on.

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Holding the two needle tips parallel place a slip knot or a loop on the top needle. 
Orientate the yarn tail so it is above the needles and the working yarn, below. 
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Step 1. Wrap the yarn tail under and around the bottom needle.
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Step 2. Bring yarn tail between two needles and back to its original position to form a stitch on the bottom needle.
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Step 3. Bring the working yarn under and around the top needle. 
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Step 4: Bring working yarn down between the two needles and back to its original position to form a stitch on the top needle.
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Repeat Steps 1 to 4 until you have three stitches on both the top and the bottom needles. 
Cast-on complete.

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Turn your work around so you are now looking at the back of the stitches you just cast on.
The working yarn will still be coming from the bottom needle.
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Slide the stitches on the bottom needle onto the cable. You will be working with this needle.
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Bring the working yarn under the yarn tail, and knit into the back of the first stitch on the top needle.
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Knit into the back of the remaining two stitches.
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Turn. Knit four more rows into these three stitches.
Do not turn at the end of the last row.
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Wrap yarn around needle to create a yarn over.
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Slide needles on cable  back onto needle tips. 
Using your left hand needle, pick up a stitch through the edge of the middle garter ridge row. Knit it.
TIP: If you're making a crescent shaped shawl and want the centre stitch to more resemble the twisted edge stitches, twist this stitch with your needle twice before knitting it.
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Wrap the yarn around the needle to make another yarn over. You will now have six stitches on the right hand needle.
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Knit the three stitches on the left hand needle. 
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And the Magic Garter Tab is done.

After a few rows it will look like this.
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© Georgie Nicolson 2009-2019.
All rights reserved. 
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  • Home
  • Patterns
    • Support >
      • Pattern Sizing
      • Skill Level
      • Milo cables
      • Knitted Hat Sizing
      • Errata
      • FAQ
      • kfPSOkb
      • Magic Garter Tab
      • cabling made easy
      • Small circumference knitting
      • Surface Slip Stitch
      • Daisy Stitch
      • WARM Special Techniques
    • Shop >
      • Purchase Ready Made or Made to Order
    • Wholesale
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog