I’m not terribly adventurous when trying different cast on methods. I use the double or long tail cast on most often, and the cable cast on when I need to add stitches within the body of a piece. 

Tubular cast ons are common in machine knitting, and not used often in hand knitting. A tubular cast on produces an attractive, elastic, and stable edge for a knit one, purl one rib (k1, p1). The cast on edge is rounded like a tube (hence “tubular”), and has the appearance of a double fabric. I like using the tubular cast on for a dress or skirt made with a fine or light weight yarn. The tubular cast on method is not recommended for bulky yarns, as the edge may flare.

There are several versions of a tubular cast on. The following two versions are the most basic of the tubular methods for k1, p1 rib, and both look similar.

Version 1:

1. With a contrasting waste yarn, cast on half the required number of stitches (plus one extra stitch) using a single cast on. The single cast on is simple but not the neatest method. However, it’s perfect to use with the tubular method. How to make a single cast on: 1. place a slip knot on right needle, leaving a short tail; 2. wrap yarn from ball around left thumb or index finger from front to back and secure it in your palm with your other fingers; 3. insert needle through this strand on your thumb, slipping the loop onto the needle, and pulling the yarn to tighten it; repeat steps 2 and 3 until all stitches are cast on.
2. Cut contrast yarn. With the main color yarn at the back of work, k1, *with yarn in front, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
3. *k1, yarn front, slip next stitch purlwise, yarn back, repeat from *; end k1.
4. yarn front, *slip 1, yarn back, k1, yarn front, repeat from * to last stitch, slip last stitch.
5. Work last 2 rows once more. Begin working in k1, p1 rib. Work a few rows in rib, then remove waste yarn.

Slip knot for single cast on

Single cast on – Step 3

Single cast on

Beginning Version 1 Tubular cast on

Version 1 Tubular cast on – first few rows

Version 1 Tubular cast on – k1, p1 rib rows

Version 1 Tubular cast on – cutting waste yarn

Version 1 Tubular cast on – completed

Version 2: (folded method)

This version produces a similar look to Version 1. However, I find the edge to look more even and not as loose as Version 1.

1. With contrasting yarn, cast on one half the number of stitches required using the single cast on described above. Cut yarn.
2. With main color, purl 1 row, knit 1 row. Repeat these 2 rows once more.
3. *p 1, insert the tip of the left needle into the first main color loop – the loop sitting between the first 2 contrasting loops. Slip this loop onto left needle and with yarn back, knit it through back loop. Repeat from * to last stitch.
4. Purl last stitch, pick up the 1/2 loop of the main color at the very edge, and knit it through the back loop.
5. Remove the waste yarn.

Give the tubular cast on a try, and I think you will like the end result.