▁separately ▁and ▁then ▁se wn ▁together . ▁Se am less ▁kn itting , ▁where ▁a ▁whole ▁gar ment ▁is ▁kn it ▁as ▁a ▁single ▁piece , ▁is ▁also ▁possible . ▁Elizabeth ▁Z imm ermann ▁is ▁probably ▁the ▁best - known ▁pro ponent ▁of ▁se am less ▁or ▁circular ▁kn itting ▁techniques . ▁Sm aller ▁items , ▁such ▁as ▁so cks ▁and ▁h ats , ▁are ▁usually ▁kn it ▁in ▁one ▁piece ▁on ▁double - point ed ▁need les ▁or ▁circular ▁need les . ▁( See ▁Circ ular ▁kn itting .) ▁ ▁St itch es ▁There ▁are ▁well - n igh ▁an ▁infinite ▁number ▁of ▁possible ▁combinations ▁of ▁kn itting ▁st itch es , ▁the ▁favor ites ▁of ▁which ▁have ▁been ▁collected ▁into ▁st itch ▁tre as uries . ▁A ▁piece ▁of ▁kn itting ▁begins ▁with ▁the ▁process ▁of ▁casting ▁on ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁" binding ▁on "), ▁which ▁involves ▁the ▁initial ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁st itch es ▁on ▁the ▁need le . ▁D ifferent ▁methods ▁of ▁casting ▁on ▁are ▁used ▁for ▁different ▁effects : ▁one ▁may ▁be ▁stretch y ▁enough ▁for ▁la ce , ▁while ▁another ▁provides ▁a ▁decor ative ▁ed ging ▁— ▁Pro vis ional ▁cast - ons ▁are ▁used ▁when ▁the ▁kn itting ▁will ▁continue ▁in ▁both ▁directions ▁from ▁the ▁cast - on . ▁There ▁are ▁various ▁method ▁employed ▁to ▁" cast ▁on ," ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁" th umb ▁method " ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁" s ling shot " ▁or ▁" long - tail " ▁cast - ons