How to Do an Italian Cast On in Knitting

This cast on is a version of the one needle cast one that is very common in knitting. It is great for beginning knitting because it only requires a single knitting needle and a hand. It is also fairly easy to create a clean, great looking edge. This is a great cast on because it creates an edge that is durable and stretches.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Pull out a length of yarn. This needs to be about three times the width of the garment so that you ensure that you have enough yarn.

2. Holding your hand with your palm toward you wind the yarn between your index and middle finger, around your forefinger and then from front to back around your thumb.

3. Take the other length of yarn and wrap it over your thumb, up and over your index finger, and back over your thumb.

4. Hold the two ends of the yarn the rest of your fingers, leaving your index and thumb up with the yarn wrapped around them.

5. Insert the knitting needle up through the loop on your thumb with your other hand. You want to go through the loop on your thumb moving from the heel of your hand towards you index finger.

6. Catch the yarn around your index finger with the knitting needle, picking it up from back to front, or counter clockwise.

7. Pull the yarn and knitting need back through the loop around your thumb in the opposite direction that you initially slipped the knitting needle through and let the yarn slip off of your thumb.

8. Pick up the two ends of the yarn again and pull gently to tighten the stitch on the knitting needle. Make sure not to make the stitch too tight against the knitting needle or the stitch will be difficult to knit.

9. Place the yarn back around your index finger and thumb and repeat Steps 2 to 8 again until you have all the stitches that you need for your knitting project.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the stitches are cast on evenly. Casting on too tight will make the edge of your knitting project pull and make it difficult for you to knit the first row. Casting on too loosely will make the edge too stretchy.