How to Do Emily Ocker’s Cast-On: A Step-by-Step Guide

Colorful yarn with a crochet hook and a start of knitting project. Text: Emily Ocker's Circular Cast On. Mood is crafty and creative.

If you’ve ever started a circular knitting project and struggled with a loose or holey center, Emily Ocker’s Cast-On is the solution you need! This clever technique creates a tight, adjustable center, making it perfect for top-down hats, center-out shawls, and toe-up socks.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process step by step, along with some helpful tips to make it even easier.

Why Use Emily Ocker’s Cast-On?

This cast-on is especially great for projects that start in the round because:

✔ It eliminates the gap in the center of your work.

✔ It’s adjustable, so you can pull it closed as tightly as needed.

✔ It creates evenly spaced stitches, setting you up for a smooth start.

Whether you're knitting lace shawls, baby hats, or intricate doilies, this cast-on will give your project a polished look from the very beginning.

What You’ll Need

Before we begin, gather these supplies:

🧶 Yarn – A smooth, light-colored yarn makes it easier to see your stitches.

🪝 Crochet Hook – Choose a hook size close to your knitting needles.

🪡 Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs) or Circular Needles – Depending on your preferred knitting method.

How to Do Emily Ocker’s Cast-On

Step 1: Make a Loop & Begin the Cast-On

Take your yarn and make a loop (this will be the adjustable center).
Insert the crochet hook into the loop and pull through a chain stitch.
This creates an anchoring stitch to begin the cast-on.

Step 2: Cast On Stitches Around the Loop

Hold the working yarn behind the loop.
Use the crochet hook to pull a loop through and place it onto your knitting needle.
Repeat this motion until you have the required number of stitches.

📌 Tip: If your stitches feel loose, hold the loop firmly with your non-dominant hand for more control.

Step 3: Transfer to Knitting Needles & Begin Knitting

Carefully distribute your stitches onto DPNs or circular needles.
Join in the round and begin knitting as directed by your pattern.
Once you’ve completed a few rounds, pull the tail gently but firmly to close the center.

📌 Troubleshooting: If the center doesn’t fully close, check that you’ve pulled from the correct yarn tail (the cast-on loop, not the working yarn).

Want a Step-by-Step Photo Guide? 📸

If you love following along with pictures, I have a detailed photo tutorial that walks you through each step of Emily Ocker’s Cast-On. Check it out here:

📌 Emily Ocker’s Cast-On Photo Tutorial

Video Tutorial: Watch It in Action!

If you’re a visual learner, I’ve got you covered! Check out my full tutorial on YouTube, where I demonstrate Emily Ocker’s Cast-On step by step.

📺 Watch here:

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Emily Ocker’s Cast-On is one of those knitting techniques that’s worth mastering! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll love how polished and professional your circular projects look.

I’d love to see what you create using this cast-on! Tag me on Instagram (@YumiYarns) and use #EmilyOckerCastOn to share your projects.

Happy knitting!

Shaina 🧶💛

👉 Looking for more tutorials? Check out my latest video on YouTube!