How to cast on knitting

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the knitting techniques out there, especially when you’re just getting started? You’re not alone! Many beginners find themselves scratching their heads at the very first step of their knitting journey: casting on. It’s the crucial foundation that sets the stage for your entire project, and getting it right can make all the difference in your knitting experience. So, how do you get the hang of it?

To cast on knitting, start with a slipknot on one needle, then use the other needle to create loops by wrapping yarn around and pulling it through the slipknot. Repeat until you have the desired number of stitches.

1. Prepare Your Yarn: You’ll need to pull two strands of yarn to create your Long Tail, allowing enough length to comfortably cast on the number of stitches you need. A good rule of thumb is to use about an inch of yarn for every stitch you’ll be casting on.

2. Create a Slipknot: Make a slipknot at the end of your yarn, leaving a tail for your cast-on. This will be the first stitch on your needle.

3. Position Your Needles: Hold the needle with the slipknot in your right hand and the blank needle in your left.

4. Form the Long Tail: With your left hand, hold the tail of the yarn (the part leading to the yarn ball) and the working yarn (the part leading to the slipknot) between your fingers. This will create two strands.

5. Begin Casting On: Insert your left needle beneath the working yarn, then wrap it around the tail yarn. Pull this loop through the slipknot, and slide that loop onto your left needle. You now have two stitches on the left needle.

6. Repeat: Continue this process, alternating between the working yarn and the tail to create additional stitches until you reach your desired number.

Practice gives you a better feel for the technique, so don’t hesitate to try a few times until you’re comfortable. Happy knitting!