It is a variation on the one row buttonhole (though there is a little bit to do on the next row to finish it). My problem with the usual way of doing it is that the cast on part looks different to the cast off part.
Here are the instructions if you would like to try it.
The cast off part is exactly the same as the regular one row buttonhole:
Row 1: Knit to the point where the buttonhole will be placed.
Slip the first stitch on the left needle as if knit.
Move the yarn to the front of the work and leave it there. Slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle as if to knit. Pass the first slipped stitch over the second slipped stitch and off the needle. Repeat until you have bound off the number of required stitches for the buttonhole.
Slip the last stitch from the right needle back to the left needle. Turn. Bring the yarn to the front of the work.
The cast on part uses the crochet cast on, so you will need a crochet hook to continue - also a stitch marker would be handy.
If you have followed the above instructions so far (and you are using stockinette st) you will have the purl side facing you.
Look at the first stitch on the left needle and count two bumps down. Pick up the bump with the right needle and place it on the left needle oriented with the right "leg" towards the front. Purl this stitch and then place it on the crochet hook.
Crochet cast on 1 stitch - good instructions for that here - Crochet Cast On and then place the stitch marker on the left needle.
Crochet cast on the same number of stitches you cast off pulling the edge chain fairly tight as you go to produce a nice edge.
You should have one extra stitch overall - plus the loop on the crochet hook.
Turn the work again to have the right side facing, slip the loop from the crochet hook onto the right needle. Slip the first stitch from the left needle onto the left needle and pass the crochet hook loop over it..Return the first stitch to the left needle, pull the working yarn to tighten that loop a bit and then knit to the end of the row.
Row 2: Purl to the marker. Remove the marker, and then slip the next two stitches onto the right needle as if to knit, slip them back on the left needle and then purl them together through the back of the loops. (This loses the extra stitch by hiding it behind the next stitch)
Purl to the end of the row.
And you are done.
Notes:
I tried it without the extra stitch and decrease on the second row, but I don't think it gives as strong and as nice a finish.
I would love to hear what you think of this and any suggestions for improvements.
Hi Jacquie,
I haven't tried this cast-on yet but I wanted to drop you a line about your chart maker... WOW! I saw it linked on Twitter (through Stefanie Japel - I'm taking a how-to-teach-online course from her, and I think she's planning a future course that involves charting.. and someone else that SHE knows knew about your chart pages!)... anyway, I'm excited to try it for a future lace design project. Do you have a donate button for PayPal, or can I send you some patterns to express my gratitude? Let me know :)
Posted by: Christa Giles | December 08, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Ditto the previous comment - WOW! THANK YOU!!
Posted by: Stasia | January 24, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Hi Jacquie,
I am here from a Stephanie Japel class too.I am taking her shawl design class.
Thank you for the software. It is wonderful! I am able to figure most things out using the program. However I am having problems using the "Open" function.
I copied the text file of my chart from the text box. I pasted it in to a .txt file (Wordpad). But when I copy and paste that same content from Wordpad into the input box (trying to use the “Open” function of the program). I get an error message that says it is not a chart maker file.
Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. Thomasean(at)hotmail.com or
SassySean on Ravelry
Posted by: Sassysean | January 25, 2010 at 08:48 AM
I love doing cross stitch as a hobby. Until one day, I went to my mom's house and saw all these knitted projects around the house. They looked so lovely. My mom is in heaven now and I was trying to look for the book the she always carry with her whenever she does all these knitted projects. I cant find it anymore. I tried going to our local bookstore, there's none - only cross stitch patterns. I'd like to learn how to knit just like my mom. This post will help me for a start. But can you please tell me where to go for more patterns? Thank you for this post. Love it! :-)
Posted by: piano lessons melbourne | February 02, 2010 at 08:41 AM
I see Techknitter has invented a similar buttonhole to this http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2010/05/31/a-better-buttonhole.aspx#video
Also in the summer 2010 Interweave Knits.
The difference is in the way the right hand end is anchored - I was never entirely happy with the way I did that!
Posted by: Jacquie | May 31, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Can you please explain where I can find this information, : "...follow buttonhole instructions from the last post covering 34 stitches for the opening." I did see the post on making the new buttonhole. Thanks! The project is looking beautiful thus far, your grid is easy to follow.
Posted by: Jean Gross | January 29, 2012 at 08:20 AM
So the opening for the ipad cover is basically a giant 34 stitch buttonhole made using this technique.
Posted by: Jacquie | January 29, 2012 at 03:58 PM
Hi Jackie. Me again. I worked the pattern through the purled two stitches on the back, then continued with the 34 stitch opening. I was left with two stitches on the back. I then did the crochet cast on. When I went to lengthen the front, I was left with stitches on either side of the opening in the back that I didn't know what to do with. Now I'm back at those two purled stitches before doing the opening. What now?
Posted by: Jean Gross | January 31, 2012 at 01:01 PM
Hi Jean,
This video shows a very similar technique to the buttonhole pattern I came up with - I think it is actually finished better than mine. See what you think
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2010/05/31/a-better-buttonhole.aspx#video
Posted by: Jacquie | January 31, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your willingness to help people understand when they run into a problem. As a result, I bought two skeins of suri alpaca & merino to make another one to pamper my iPad 3! BTW, I tried the buttonhole as described in the video you referred me to and I like yours better. I finally figured it out when I looked at it in a different way.
Posted by: Jean Gross | February 02, 2012 at 04:57 PM
Thank you for sticking with it and liking it enough to knit a second luxury one!
Posted by: Jacquie | February 02, 2012 at 10:52 PM