There are lots of different ways to cast on. This is a really good one to learn. It is a little more complicated than the one I showed you in my book, but it makes stitches that are easy to stick your needle into and it works for almost any kind of knitting. You start with a really long tail and you use that tail as well as the yarn coming from the skein to cast on your stitches.

Watch the video to see how really easy it is to do and at the same time you can follow along with the steps written below.

Please allow a moment for video to load.

	Start by making a slipknot in your yarn, leaving a tail that is as long – in inches – as the number of stitches you want to cast on. So, if you want to cast on 20 stitches, make the slipknot 20 inches from the end of the yarn.
	Put the slipknot on to the needle so the yarn hangs down with the tail end closest to you when the needle is in your right hand POINTING TOWARD THE LEFT.
	Hold the slipknot with your index finger so it doesn’t move.
	Pinch your left thumb and index finger together and push them between the tail and the yarn that is connected to the ball about 2 inches below the needle.
	Grab the two pieces of yarn with your other fingers and hold them in your palm.
	Spread your left thumb and index finger apart to make a “V”. Flip them straight up while you pull the needle in your right hand back a little.
	*Slide the needle tip up under the loop on the front of your left thumb.
	Swing the needle over the yarn on your index finger.
	Sweep it down, catching the yarn and bring it through the loop on your thumb.
	Pull your thumb out of the loop and gently spread your fingers to tighten, but not too tight.
	Now you have two stitches on your needle. The slipknot counts as the first stitch.
	Repeat from *. (Step 7) until you have as many stitches as you want.

Don’t worry if you have yarn left over after you finish your cast on. Just look at the video Tail Tricks to see how to save it to use later to sew a seam.

---

3-Needle Bind Off

3-Stitch I-cord

Decreasing Stitches

Electric Mixer Cord

Increasing Stitches

Knitting Mysteries

Join a New Yarn

Tail Tricks