Pull up / pick up Provisional Cast On.
1) With WY and crochet hook, make a chain that is several chains longer that the number of stitches to be cast on; cut the yarn and pull the end through the last chain. It is helpful to put a knot in the end at the beginning of the chain.
2) You are going to pick up through the loop on the BACK of the chain stitches. With the chain RS down, the loop looks like it is holding the two chains together. Begin a couple of chains in from the end and go into the loop, moving your needle from front to back, wrapping yarn to create a knit stitch and pulling it through and onto the needle.
Rep 2) for the correct number of stitches on your needle.
3) When the stitches have been grafted or put on needles, undo the last chain (this will be the end without the knot). Pull on this end and “unzip” the chain. Should your “zip” stick, clip the WY and undo it then pull again.
In Jill Wolcott Knits® patterns, I often use the term “pull up” in place of “pick up” as I think the term is clearer, because you’re pulling up the thread to work it.
