Casting On (CO)

Basic Techniques
     Making a Slip Knot
     Knitting CO
     Thumb CO
     Finger and Thumb CO
     Cable CO
     Crochet CO

Advanced Cast On Techniques
2 Color Continental CO
Braid CO (Estonian)

Making a Slip Knot

A slip knot is the very first stitch you place on the needle for both knitting and crochet and the basis for all cast on techniques. Here are two ways to make a slip knot:

Method 1
Pull a 10" length of yarn from ball. Make a loop near the end of the yarn and then fold the loop over so that it lies on top of the length of yarn coming from the ball.

Slide your needle under the section of yarn that lies behind the loop.

Pull through and tighten by pulling down on both ends of yarn - the working yarn and the yarn end.

Method 2
Wind the yarn clockwise around two fingers and then again, winding in back of the first thread. Bend your fingers a bit so that the paths of both loops are clearly visible.

Holding the needle in your right hand, pull the back loop of yarn through the front loop.

Release the yarn from your fingers and tighten by pulling down on both ends of yarn - the working yarn and the yarn end.

CABLE CAST ON

Use this cast on for a firm, neat finish. Ideal as a foundation for ribbing or any other firm stitch. It is also useful when adding stitches withing the work.

Place a slip knot on the left needle. Holding the yarn at the back of the needles, insert the right needle up through the front of the loop and pass the yarn over the point of the right needle.

Pull the right needle through the slip knot so you now have a new loop on the right needle.
Insert the left needle into the front of the loop and slip it off the right needle onto the left needle. Be careful not to let the original stitch slip off the left needle when you do this.

You now have two stitches on the left needle.
Insert the right needle between the last two stiches.

From this position, knit a stitch and place it on the left needle.

Repeat for each additional stitch.

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