So, you’ve got your knitting needles and yarn in hand, ready to embark on your knitting journey? The first step, and a crucial one, is learning how to cast on stitches. This essential technique creates the foundation row of loops on your needle, setting you up for knitting success. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular and easiest cast on techniques perfect for absolute beginners. Get ready to cast on confidently with our detailed instructions, clear photos, and helpful tips!
We understand that starting something new can feel daunting, so we’re focusing on three straightforward cast-on methods that are gentle introductions to knitting:
Note: While there are many advanced and decorative cast-on methods out there, we’re keeping it simple for now. We’ll explore those fancier techniques as your knitting skills grow! Let’s master the basics first. 🙂
What You’ll Need:
- Yarn
- Knitting Needles (the size recommended for your yarn)
- Scissors (optional, for trimming yarn)
For a complete overview of essential knitting tools, be sure to check out our guide to 20 Knitting Tools Every Knitter Needs.
#1 The Long Tail Cast-On
Let’s start with the long tail cast-on, a technique favored by many knitters, including myself, for its versatility and neat edge.
The long tail cast-on is my go-to method for about 95% of my knitting projects. It’s known for being quick, adaptable to various projects, and creating a well-balanced cast-on edge that’s not too tight or too loose. In fact, it’s the very first technique I introduce in my tutorial on how to knit for beginners.
This is what the finished long tail cast on will look like.
While the name might sound a bit intricate, and the yarn wrapping might seem like finger gymnastics at first, trust me, it’s remarkably easy once you grasp the simple rhythm. The core idea is to create a loop around your thumb, draw yarn through it, and tighten it onto the needle – repeating this process to build your stitches. Visualizing this simple loop-and-pull action can be incredibly helpful as you learn.
Let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions!
Preparing Your Yarn: The Long Tail
The “long tail” in the name refers to the length of yarn you need to leave at the beginning. This tail is actually used to form the stitches, so it needs to be long enough for your desired number of cast-on stitches.
A general rule of thumb is to estimate about 3 times the width of your intended project, plus an extra 3 inches for good measure. For smaller projects, many knitters simply pull out a generous arm’s length or two. It’s always better to have a bit too much tail than too little – you can easily trim any excess yarn later.
Step 1: Begin by placing your yarn in front of you. Position the long, loose end (the tail) to your right and the yarn ball (working yarn) to your left.
Step 2: Pick up the yarn tail with your right hand and wrap it clockwise, twice, around your left pinky finger.
Alt text: Close-up photo demonstrating step 2 of the long tail cast on, wrapping yarn clockwise twice around the pinky finger.
Step 3: Now, bring the yarn tail across the back of your hand. Let the yarn rest comfortably across the top of your hand, above the last knuckle of your index finger when stretched out.
Step 4: From here, bring the yarn tail under your stretched thumb and wrap it clockwise around your thumb once.
Alt text: Image showing step 4 of the long tail cast on, wrapping the yarn clockwise around the thumb.
Step 5: Finally, secure the yarn tail between your ring and pinky fingers. This helps maintain tension and control.
You should now clearly see a loop formed between your thumb and index finger. This loop is key to creating your stitches.
Creating Your First Stitch
Step 6: It’s time to create your first stitch! Take both knitting needles together in your right hand, holding them parallel like chopsticks.
Tip: You can actually cast on with either one or two needles. Using two needles creates a slightly looser cast-on edge, which can be beneficial if you tend to knit tightly or if your pattern requires a stretchy edge. You could also use a needle one size larger than your project needles for a looser cast-on. For needle sizes 2-4 mm, I often use two needles. The extra give from the double needles is especially helpful when the main fabric of the knitting is also stretchy.
Step 7: Insert the tips of your needles into the loop around your thumb from below, moving from right to left. Maintain gentle tension on the yarn throughout this process – avoid letting your fingers loosen up too much.
Alt text: Step 7 of the long tail cast on: inserting knitting needles from below into the thumb loop.
Step 8: Gently wiggle the needles slightly to the right to enlarge the thumb loop just a little. Then, bring the needle tips over and around the strand of yarn that runs from your index finger to your thumb, going from ABOVE. This is often called “yarn over.”
Step 9: Keeping the yarn tensioned, draw the needle tips back down and through the loop on your thumb. You’ll see a new loop forming on your needles.
Alt text: Image demonstrating step 9 of the long tail cast on: pulling the working yarn through the thumb loop.
Step 10: Lower your thumb and release the loop from your thumb. Now, use your left index finger and thumb to gently spread open the two yarn tails near the base of your left hand. Pull the knitting needles with the new loop in the opposite direction (away from your body) to tighten the stitch on the needles. I usually curl my other three fingers around the yarn at this point to help maintain tension.
Note: Keep the yarn tails wrapped around your pinky finger base to maintain even tension. You only release your thumb momentarily in this step.
Voilà! You’ve created your first stitch! This first stitch is sometimes referred to as a slip knot.
Note: Some tutorials may show a slightly different way to tie the initial slip knot (how to tie a slip knot). However, for the long tail cast-on, starting with the hand and yarn in this specific position sets you up perfectly for the following steps, making it, in my opinion, even easier!
Repeating the Process
From here on, it’s all about repeating a simple sequence.
Step 11: Your thumb should still be holding the yarn tail in position. Now, bring the needles towards you to create the next loop around your thumb. (This might look slightly complex in still pictures, but in practice, you simply bring the needles towards you and rotate your hand a little to reposition the yarn).
Alt text: Step 11 of the long tail cast on: bringing the needles forward to create a new loop around the thumb.
Step 12: Again, insert your needles into the loop around your thumb, entering from below.
Step 13: Yarn over: Wrap the needle tips around the yarn strand leading to your index finger, from above, then draw the needles back down and through the thumb loop.
Alt text: Step 13 of the long tail cast on: grabbing the yarn again with the needles and pulling it through.
Step 14: Release your thumb from the loop, and tighten the new stitch by pulling the needles away from you. This completes your second cast-on stitch.
Step 15: Stretch your thumb and index finger again to reform the loop, bring the needles towards you, create a new loop around the thumb, yarn over from the index finger strand, and pull through. Repeat this sequence until you have the required number of stitches on your needles.
Alt text: Photo showing two stitches cast on using the long tail method, yarn tensioned around the left hand.
Step 16: Repeat steps 11-15 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches for your project.
Tip: Life happens! If you need to pause your knitting mid-cast-on, don’t worry. To resume, simply re-establish your yarn position: wrap the long tail around your pinky finger again, across the back of your hand, around your thumb from below, and secure the last three fingers around the yarn. Things will quickly feel familiar again, and you can pick up right where you left off.
Finishing Up and Starting to Knit
Step 17: Count your stitches! Accuracy is key to successful knitting projects.
- Too few stitches? No problem! You can easily add more. Just resume the cast-on process, making sure to keep the gaps between the existing stitches and the new ones snug and consistent.
- Too many stitches? Easy fix! Gently pull the extra stitches off the needle, one by one. A little tug at the end of the yarn will unravel them neatly.
Once you’re happy with your stitch count, carefully slide one of the needles out, using your hand to secure the stitches on the remaining needle so they don’t slip off. Turn your work around so the right side is facing you, and you’re ready to start knitting!
As you gain knitting experience with a few projects, you’ll begin to understand whether you are a “tight” or “loose” knitter. I tend to be a tight knitter, maintaining quite a bit of tension on the yarn. If you find you knit more loosely, casting on with just one needle might give you a more even fabric. Experiment and see what works best for you!
Pro Tips for More Advanced Knitters:
The long tail cast-on naturally creates knit-like stitches. Many patterns begin the second row with a combination of knit and purl stitches. For a particularly refined edge, you can also cast on purl stitches using a variation of this technique.
In this purlwise variation, instead of inserting the needles from under your thumb (as in step 7), you insert them from above your index finger. And for the yarn over (step 8), you’ll wrap the needles around the yarn going from your thumb towards your pinky finger, instead of the other way around. For a complete visual guide, check out this detailed tutorial on how to cast on purlwise.
You can also achieve an even stretchier cast-on by using two needles and casting on around both of them separately. This is known as the 2-needle cast on (2-needle cast on). It’s ideal for projects like lace, where elasticity is key.
Note: Planning a larger project? If you want to calculate exactly how much yarn your long tail cast-on will consume, refer to this guide on long tail cast on yarn requirements and how to calculate them exactly.
#2 The Single Cast-On (Simple Loop Cast-On)
If you’re looking for an even simpler cast-on method, or if the long tail feels a bit fiddly right now, the single cast-on (also known as the simple loop cast-on) is a fantastic alternative. It’s undeniably the easiest cast-on to learn. It basically involves creating a slip knot and then forming stitches by simply looping the yarn around the needle.
However, it’s worth noting that the edge created by the single cast-on is quite different. It’s often less tidy and can be a little trickier to work into in the first row. While other methods in this guide primarily create knit-like stitches as you cast on, the single cast-on edge is unique. Personally, I find starting the first row can be slightly more challenging with this method. But, for pure ease and speed, especially for certain applications, it can’t be beaten.
Step 1: Create a slip knot.
Alt text: Image showing a slip knot on a knitting needle, the starting point for the single cast on method.
You can follow steps 1-10 of the long tail cast-on instructions to create a slip knot efficiently.
Step 2: Wrap the working yarn around your left thumb clockwise using your right hand. (Keep the yarn you are working with tensioned in your left hand, extend your thumb, and use your right hand to guide the working yarn into a loop around your thumb).
Step 3: Insert your needle through this loop around your thumb from below.
Alt text: Step 3 of the single cast on: inserting the knitting needle from below into the thumb loop.
Step 4: Slip that loop directly onto your needle, remove your thumb from the loop, and tighten the stitch lightly on the needle.
Step 5: Wrap the working yarn around your thumb again (just like in step 2), and repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.
You can find my full tutorial (+ alternative & video) for the single cast-on here.
Pro tip: While it might be considered very basic, the single cast-on has its place in more advanced knitting. Many intricate cast-on techniques, like the Italian cast-on, actually use the single cast-on as a foundation. Also, if you ever need to pick up stitches around a lifeline (a temporary thread used for holding stitches), the single cast-on is by far the quickest method.
#3 The Knitted Cast-On
Alt text: Image showcasing the knitted cast on method, stitches formed on the knitting needle.
Another excellent option for casting on is the knitted cast-on. This method essentially involves creating a slip knot to start and then knitting each subsequent stitch directly onto the needle as you cast on. I have a complete tutorial on the knitted cast-on (with video!) available here.
One of the advantages of the knitted cast-on is that it creates a very neat and firm edge. It’s also convenient because you can easily alternate between knit and purl stitches as you cast on, if your pattern requires it. However, the knitted cast-on can be a little slower and slightly more fiddly to maneuver the needle and yarn through each stitch compared to the long tail method.
Since you’re working from left to right (the opposite direction of typical knitting rows), the stitches you create appear exactly as they are cast on – there’s no mirroring effect.
You can perform the knitted cast-on using either purl stitches or knit stitches (we’ll cover these basic stitches in later lessons, but it’s good to know you can cast on with either).
Reading tip: The cable cast-on is a close relative of the knitted cast-on, working in a very similar way, but it produces an even more robust and less stretchy edge.
A) Knitted Cast-On for Purl Stitches
Step 1: Create a slip knot.
Step 2: Hold your yarn as if you are about to purl, bringing the working yarn to the front of your work.
Step 3: Insert the right needle from right to left into the slip knot and purl a stitch.
Alt text: Step 3 of the knitted cast on for purl stitches: pulling the yarn through to purl a stitch.
Step 4: Slip the newly formed purl stitch onto your left needle, but don’t remove the right needle from the stitch.
Step 5: With the right needle still in place, purl another stitch. Your working yarn and right needle should already be in the correct position for purling.
Alt text: Step 5 of the knitted cast on for purl stitches: purling another stitch through the loop.
Step 6: Slip this second purl stitch back onto your left needle.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3-6 until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.
Alt text: Step 7 of the knitted cast on for purl stitches: repeating the purling process to cast on more stitches.
Note: You won’t need to turn your work around. You’ll begin your second row directly from here.
B) Knitted Cast-On for Knit Stitches
Step 1: Create a slip knot and hold the yarn in the standard “ready to knit” position, with the working yarn at the back.
Step 2: Insert the right needle through the front loop of the slip knot from left to right (as if to knit) and knit a stitch.
Step 3: Slip the knit stitch you just made onto your left needle, and then remove the right needle entirely.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have enough stitches on your left needle.
Pro tip: A great advantage of the knitted cast-on is its adaptability. You can readily switch between knit and purl cast-on stitches within the same row, perfectly tailoring the edge to the specific needs of your pattern.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Cast-On
Which cast-on technique is truly “the best”? It’s a question I hear often, but I believe it’s not about finding a single superior method.
The beauty of knitting lies in its versatility, and different cast-on methods create edges with slightly different properties. Think of them not as better or worse, but as techniques designed for various situations. Sometimes you need a firm edge for seaming pieces together, other times you need a stretchy edge for comfort or drape. And sometimes, the cast-on edge will form the finished hem of a scarf, hat, or sweater, where appearance matters greatly.
Ultimately, the “best” cast-on is the one that works best for you and your project! Every knitter is unique, with their own tension and preferences. Experiment with these techniques, try others as you progress, and stick with the methods that feel most comfortable and yield the results you desire. Many knitters swear by the cable cast-on, for example. While I haven’t detailed it here because it can be a bit slower and more complex for beginners, it’s worth exploring later on.
Also, consider the stitch pattern that follows your cast-on row. Depending on whether the subsequent rows are knit, purl, or a combination, you might need a stretchier or tighter cast-on to prevent the finished edge from flaring out or pulling inwards.
Important: Most knitting patterns will simply instruct you to “Cast on X stitches using yarn XY.” Unless a specific cast-on method is crucial for the design, it’s generally up to you to choose the technique you prefer. You’ll almost never go wrong with the long tail cast-on – it’s a reliable all-rounder. If a particular cast-on is required, the pattern will clearly specify it. And, as you become more experienced, you can even modify cast-ons, like alternating knit and purl stitches within a knitted cast-on row, to achieve extra-neat edges when desired.
Next Lesson: How to Knit the Knit Stitch
