2 Cast on – a step-by-step guide

Before you cast on, you need to first make a slip-knot loop. Once you’ve done that, here are two ways to cast on.

The thumb cast-on is the easiest, but the edge is not quite as firm as the knit cast-on, and the first row is slightly more tricky to knit

Thumb style – step 1

Slip knot loop on left-hand needle

Place a slip knot loop on the right-hand needle. 

Thumb style – step 2

Thumb cast on step 1

Wrap the yarn from the ball around your left-hand thumb, going behind the thumb and round to the front.

Thumb style – step 3

Thumb cast on step 2

Hold the yarn with a couple of fingers on your left hand, and take the needle in front of the yarn.

Thumb style – step 4

Thumb cast on step 3

Now take the needle under the yarn and up against the front of your thumb. Now slip the loop off your thumb completely

Thumb style – step 5

Thumb cast on step 4

Tighten up the loop on the needle and you have now cast on another stitch. Repeat the steps 2-5 until you have the required number of stitches on the right-hand needle.

Now for the knit style cast-on. This will be easier if you know how to knit a stitch already.

Knit style – step 1

Slip knot loop on left-hand needle

Place a slip knot loop on the left-hand needle. 

Knit style – step 2

Knit cast on step 1

Insert the right-hand needle through the middle of the stitch, going from the left of the loop and through to the back.

Knit style – step 3

Knit cast on step 2

Wrap the yarn from the ball around the right-hand needle going anticlockwise.

Knit style – step 4

Knit cast on step3

Draw the yarn between the needles and down towards the right, keeping it fairly tight.

Knit style – step 5

Knit cast on step4

Slide the right hand needle under the left-hand needle towards the front and through the middle of the stitch, forming a new loop. 

Knit style – step 6

knit cast on step 5

Draw the loop out so that it’s a lot bigger.

Knit style – step 7

knit cast on step 6

You will now be able to slip the loop onto the left-hand needle next to the previous stitch, and tighten it up. You have now cast on a stitch, so repeat step 2 to 7 until you have the correct number of stitches on the left-hand needle.