How To Cast On Knitting Stitches - Best Beginner Methods

Do you want to get started with learning to knit? Are you stumped by questions like "How do you cast on in knitting?". Would you like to learn the knitting cast on methods to get you started? The first thing you need to learn is how to cast on knitting stitches. There are numerous ways to cast on, but we are going to start our cast on tutorial with the three simplest ways for learning how to cast on knitting stitches, suitable for beginners.

How to Cast On Knitting Stitches - Cast On Tutorial

Cast On Tutorial - Materials

• YARN - Use the recommended yarn for your needles. You will find guidance for this printed on the band which is wrapped around your ball of yarn. If you are just starting out with knitting, it is a good idea to use a thicker yarn, because this is easier to work with. Also, choose a smooth yarn, for the same reason. Read about the best types of yarn for knitting.
• KNITTING NEEDLES - Bamboo needles are also good to start off with, they are light, easy to work with, and not too slippery. Read all about knitting needles.

Easiest Methods for How to Cast On Knitting Stitches

Here are 3 ways to cast on your knitting. My favorite is the cable cast on which is method 2. I find it one of the fastest and perfect for new knitters. It creates a tighter neater edge than method 1. The finger loop method is also extremely easy for beginners.

1. Knitted Cast On
2. Cable Cast On
3. Single Cast On (Thumb)

How to Cast On Knitting Stitches - Skills for The Slip Knot

All these methods start with a simple slip knot. The easiest way to create a slip knot for knitting is with your fingers.

• Create a loop of yarn with the ball end on top.
• Put the ball end of the yarn under the center of the loop.
• Grab the center piece of yarn and pull the loop through the middle.
• Tighten the loop and place it on the end of your knitting needle.

How to Cast On Knitting Stitches Step by Step

Cast On Tutorial: Method 1 - Knitting Cast On Stitches (Basic Cast On)

As far as knitting cast on methods go, this one is fairly stretchy, and the formation is almost like forming a knit stitch. This was how I was taught to cast on as a child and gives you a nice elastic, stretchy edge, which is easy to knit into when working your first row.

• Begin with a slip knot, see above.
• Insert the right hand needle into the back of the slip knot, from left to right. Keep tension on the yarn, using your right hand.
• Wrap the yarn around the right needle, counter clockwise.

• Pull the yarn down in between the needles.
• Pull the wrap of yarn into a stitch through the loop.
• Bring the right needle forward.

• Don't allow that slip knot to slide off your needle!
• Keep this loop on your needle, give it a slight twist .
• Remove the right-hand needle, pull your stitch a little tighter.

Tip: Push the stitch down onto the wider part of the needle, don’t keep it on the narrow tip- this helps you not to lose that stitch as well as keeps it looser than if it was wrapped around the smaller tip.

• Insert the right hand needle into your new stitch from left to right, front to back, and repeat the movements until you have enough stitches on your needle.

The only disadvantage of this cast-on method is that you may have visible loops at the bottom of your knitting. It may help to cast on using needles one size smaller than what you require for the rest of the garment. This is how this cast on looks after a few rows of knitting.

Cast On Tutorial: Method 2 - Cable Cast On

This one has no other names! It is not quite as elastic and stretchy as the other knitting cast on methods, but it looks neater! The cable cast on is sturdier than the knit cast on. It starts off in the same way as the knit cast on but the tip of the needle is inserted between the stitches.

First Stitch

• Begin with a slip knot, see above.
• Insert the right hand needle into the front of the slip knot, from left to right. Keep tension on the yarn, using your right hand. The right needle must go behind the left needle.
• Wrap the yarn around the right needle, counter clockwise.
• Pull the yarn down firmly between the needles.

• Pull the wrap of yarn through the loop.
• Keep this loop on your needle, twist it slightly, and slide it onto the left needle. You have 2 stitches.

Second Stitch

• Now it changes!
• Instead of inserting the needle into the front of the next stitch, insert it through the whole stitch, into the space between the stitches. Go through both sides of the stitch.
• Yarn over as before and pull through.

• Twist, and place new stitch on left hand needle.
• Continue in this way until you have the correct number of stitches.                                                          

This method forms a nice twisted cable look at the bottom of your work. It is sturdier than the knit cast on. The only disadvantage is that it may be a bit tight, so keep your tension loose when working it, or use needles one size larger when casting on.

Cast On Tutorial: Method 3 - Single Cast On (Thumb Cast On)

This is also known as the wrap or thumb method of casting on. It is definitely the easiest out of the knitting cast on methods described here, but is not always as neat as some of the other methods.

Starting

• You need to have a long tail end for this. To estimate the length of the tail, wrap the yarn around the needle as many times as you need stitches then add an extra few inches. It is better to overestimate than run out of yarn before you have finished casting on! You can always trim the extra off later, or use it for sewing up your garment.
• Create a slip knot. To do this, make a loop with your yarn and pull another loop through it. You can do this with your fingers, or using your knitting needle. Tighten gently and slide the knot onto the needle. This will be your first stitch. 

Please note that in these photos the stitches are much looser than yours should be. I have made them like this so that you can see how each stitch is constructed.

First Thumb Stitch

• Place the tail end down your left palm and close your fingers.
• Now wrap the tail end of the yarn around your left thumb.

• Place the needle in your right hand, an insert the tip of the needle into this thumb loop from below. 
• Wrap the working yarn around the needle to make a new loop.
• Pull the yarn tight.

• Slip that loop onto your needle, remove your thumb, and tighten up firmly, by pulling on the tail end of the yarn.
• Don’t pull it too tightly, just enough to create a little knot at the bottom of your needle.

• Wrap the yarn around your thumb again, and repeat the movement. Once the next stitch is in place, your cast on stitches are secure.
•  Repeat this movement until you have the required number of stitches on your needle.
• Try to keep these stitches evenly spaced, because if they are uneven, this will make your cast on row look untidy.
• After a few rows of knitting, your cast on edge will look like this.

More Ways for How to Cast On Knitting Stitches

Here are some other knitting cast on methods on not covered in this cast on tutorial. These tend to be used by experienced knitters.

• Long tail cast on
• German cast on
• Provisional cast on

How to Cast on Knitting Stitches - Cast On Tutorial Conclusion

Be warned, knitting is addictive! Once you get the feel of the hand movements, you will find it really easy. You may start knitting because you want to make something specific, but you will find that you eventually knit just for the process of knitting. I always find it amazing what an incredible number of different patterns of fabric you can make just with a single strand of yarn and two pointy sticks! Give each of these cast-on methods a try, and decide for yourself which one you like the most. Which one reaches that happy point where the ease of working it balances perfectly with the neatness of the edge when it is complete? Happy experimenting!