How to do an Italian cast off

In this DROPS video we show how to do an Italian cast off to a rib with knit 1, purl 1. With this technique we get an elastic cast off that is perfect for example on toe up socks, edge around neck, a shawl edge or sleeve edges when working top down.
Cut yarn long enough for your cast off, approx 4 times the length of the edge you are casting off.
Start by locking the first stitch like this: Insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to purl and tighten. Do not slip the stitch of needle. Insert the needle from the back between the 1st and 2nd stitches so that the thread comes to the front, then insert the needle into the purl stitch. Then insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to knit, lift the stitch off the needle.
Now the cast off starts:
1) When there is a purl stitch to sew off, sew as follows: Insert needle into 2nd stitch (straight stitch) as if to purl, insert needle into 1st stitch (purl stitch) as if to knit, lift the stitch off (the thread is now at the back of the work).
2) When there is a knit stitch to sew off, sew as follows: From the back, insert the needle between 1st and 2nd stitches. From the front, insert the needle into the purl stitch (2nd stitch), also from the right side, insert the needle into the 1st stitch as if to knit and slip the stitch of needle.
Repeat explanation 1) and 2) until the casting off is completed. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video. This video has NO SOUND - you can find many patterns at: www.garnstudio.com/ where you can use this technique:
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