Magic cast on for toe up socks, mittens etc

Tubular bind off for ribbing (or anything)

http://www.savannahchik.com/2006/11/tubular_bindoff.htm

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Bind Off

Method


Using a tapestry needle with an extremely long tail of yarn, pull the needle through two front loops as if to purl, then back through the first stitch as if to knit. Drop the first stitch off. Repeat to the end.


Variations (working in the round on a circular needle)

Pull the yarn tail through two front loops as if to purl, then back through the first stitch as if to knit. Move the first stitch to the right-hand needle, making it the last stitch of the round. Follow traditional method as above.

Really stretchy Bind Off

Great for the top of socks, arm warmers, necklines, lacey edges, etc.

K2, slide the left needle into the front of the two stitches on the right needle and knit them together (leaving one stitch on the right needle). K1 one again, and repeat the process until one stitch remains -- pull tail through loop and weave in.

Knitted Star Pattern - Inside Knits - Knitting Daily

Knitted Star Pattern - Inside Knits - Knitting Daily

Cable cast on for stretchy edge

This cast on creates a solid edge. It is quite similar to the Knitted Cast On. The difference is in where you insert your needle and draw the loop through. In the Knitted Cast On, you are drawing it from the previous stitch. Here, we draw it from between the two previous stitches.
Make a slip knot and slide it onto one needle. Create a second stitch by using the Knitted Cast On method.
Insert the tip of your right needle between the two stitches in your left needle.
Wrap the yarn around and draw a loop through.
Insert your left needle tip into this loop from right to left and remove your right needle from the stitch. (I find that this is easier if you use a crochet hook to maneuver the yarn through the cast on process)
Repeat these steps to create the appropriate number of cast on stitches, lightly tightening the stitches as you go along.

Sewn Cast off for stretchy edges

Preparation: Cut the working yarn leaving a tail three times the length of the item you wish to cast off. Thread your yarn tail into a yarn needle.

Step 1: Working right to left, pass needle through the front leg of two stitches, as if to purl: Pull the yarn through and make it snug, but not tight.

Step 2: Working back to the right, pass the needle through the front leg of the first stitch as if to knit. Pull the yarn snug.

Step 3: Slip the rightmost stitch off the needle.

Repeat steps 1 – 3 until all stitches are cast off. When working in the round, I just close the gap by inserting the sewing needle into the work at the beginning of the round as in step one, then back into the work from the front, and weave in the end. Tah-dah!

Generic short row heels

Description of how to make a short row heel for socks without yarn overs or wrapped stitches:

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