Arcadia Knitting How to Cast On

Bind Off

Knit

Purl

LEFT HANDED OR RIGHT HANDED? DOESN'T MATTER!

Knitting requires both hands, used equally

Cast On

Casting On is how one gets the first series of loops on the needle, so you can begin your garment.

This Cast On goes by many names: Basic German Cast On, Double Tail Cast On, Slingshot Cast On. In my experience it is the most common Cast On. I have seen variations on this method, and there are at least four other "good to know" cast ons out there. They will be posted as the site grows.

For a first timer: Casting On is counter intuitive. Casting On smoothly and evenly requires practice and experience. Figuring where to put the slip knot is based on your knowledge of the specific yarn and needles you are working with. Once you have done it a couple of times, it will be easier. Casting on is also one of the more difficult parts of knitting. Once you have those first stitches on the needle, knitting gets easier.

PREPARATION: Figure where to put the slip knot in your yarn. In general, it takes approximately one inch worth of yarn to make a stitch, more or less. This is not absolutely positively always true. (If I could work more qualifiers into that statement I would.) You also have to add 12 to 24 more inches for a tail, depending on whether you like or dislike using the tail to sew the seams.

So if you have 50 stitches to cast on, plus another 12 to 24 inches for your tail, you measure 62 to 74 inches from the end of the yarn and make a slip knot there.

Figure One
Make a slip knot and hang it on an empty needle. Grasp the needle in your right hand. Wrap the pinkie, ring and tall fingers of the left hand around the yarn strands hanging from the needle.

Figure Two
Insert index finger and thumb between strands of yarn, and separate the strands.

Figure Three
Point needle over to thumb. Swing needle tip over, then under the strand over the palm side of the thumb, to pick up the strand of yarn.

Figure Four
Swing the needle tip to the index finger, while carrying the yarn.

Figure Five
Swirl the needle tip around the strand of yarn hanging from the palm side of the index finger and pick up that strand.

Figure Six
Draw that yarn through the loop of yarn on the thumb. At this point your needle tip should have drawn a figure eight in the air.

Figure Seven
Pull your thumb out of the loop it is supporting. The strand of yarn from the index finger remains in place, somewhat taut. The released yarn from the thumb wraps around the yarn securing the loop hanging on the needle.

Figure Eight
Gently pull the yarn tails to snug the stitch.

You want the cast on loops to slide smoothly along the needle, like all your knitting. If your casting on seems tight, try using a bigger needle, or both your needles held together. If you use the bigger needle method, remember to put it away when you start your knitting. You don't want to be knitting on one size 4 and one size 6.

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