How To Knit

Step 2 Casting On

There are several different ways to cast on. The one shown here is versatile and sturdy, although not the absolute simplest one (which tends to unravel itself causing consternation, grief, and dropped stitches). Instructabler BrianSawyer has written up his technique.

Here's a video of the process:

And for those who prefer text and static images:

Start by making a slip knot, leaving a length of yarn about 3 times the finished width of your project as a tail. Put the slip knot on one needle, in your right hand if you're right-handed (I am - lefties you can try it this way or reverse it, whichever works for you). Hold the long tail in your left hand, wrapping it around your first finger as in the first picture.

Next, slip the point of the needle under the loop on your finger, so that both your finger and the needle are in the loop (pics 2 & 3). With your right hand, grab the yarn end from the ball or skein, and bring it over the finger loop, between your finger and the needle (pics 4, 5, & 6).

Holding the right-hand yarn piece down, slip the loop off your finger and over the tip of the needle (pics 7, 8, & 9). Pull gently on the left-hand yarn end to close up the loop, forcing the other yarn end (held by your right hand) to loop around the needle (pics 10 & 11).

You now should have two stitches on your needle, as the first slip knot counts as the first stitch.

Continue this way until you have enough stitches. For a learning swatch, 12 or 16 is plenty. I went crazy and ended up with 32!