How to Cast On: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Starting Your First Knitting Project
Learning to cast on is the very first step in your knitting journey. This guide walks you through the long tail cast on method step by step.
Getting Started with Knitting
Learning to cast on is the very first step in your knitting journey. This technique creates the foundation row of stitches on your needle, and once you master it, you can begin any knitting project.
What You'll Need
- A pair of knitting needles (we recommend 5mm for beginners)
- A ball of DK or Aran weight yarn in a light colour
- A pair of scissors
- About 30 minutes of patience
The Long Tail Cast On Method
This is the most versatile cast on method and creates a neat, elastic edge.
Step 1: Make a slip knot about 15cm from the end of your yarn for every stitch you need to cast on. For a practice swatch, leave about 60cm of tail.
Step 2: Place the slip knot on your needle and hold the needle in your right hand.
Step 3: Arrange the yarn so the tail goes over your left thumb and the working yarn goes over your left index finger. Hold both strands in your left palm.
Step 4: Insert the needle tip under the yarn on your thumb (going upward).
Step 5: Catch the yarn on your index finger by going over and behind it.
Step 6: Pull this loop through the thumb loop and release your thumb. Gently tighten the new stitch.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3 to 6 until you have the required number of stitches.
Tips for Success
- Keep your tension even but not too tight. You should be able to slide stitches along the needle easily.
- Count your stitches regularly as you go.
- If a stitch looks wrong, simply slide it off and redo it.
- Practice with a smooth, light-coloured yarn so you can see your stitches clearly.
Your First Project: A Simple Garter Stitch Scarf
Once you can cast on, try casting on 30 stitches with Aran weight yarn on 5mm needles. Knit every row (this creates garter stitch) until your scarf is the desired length. This is the simplest possible project and produces a lovely, squishy fabric.
Recommended Yarns for Beginners
We recommend starting with a smooth, light-coloured DK or Aran weight yarn. Acrylic blends are forgiving and easy to work with. Browse our yarn collection to find the perfect starter yarn.