How to Create the First Stitch in Knitting

Knitting begins with casting on. Once you have mastered that, you can learn other stitches, and then you soon will be making scarves and sweaters for everyone you know.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knitting needles
• yarn

Single Cast On

1. Start with a single cast on. Make a slip knot on one of the needles and hold it in your right hand.

2. Wrap the yarn from the ball, or skein, around the back of your thumb and firmly hold the yarn in your left hand between your palm and fingers.

3. Turn your thumb so that it is facing you. Insert the needle in your right hand from the front to the back of the loop that is formed when you turn your thumb.

4. Slip your thumb out of the loop while pulling gently on the yarn in a downward motion to tighten the knot.

5. Repeat Steps 2, 3 and 4 until you have as many stitches as you need.

How to Form a Basic Knit Stitch

6. Take the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand. Move the stitches so they are about an inch from the tip of the needle. Wrap the yarn around the little finger of your right hand, then under the next two fingers and over the top of the index finger.

7. Holding the yarn behind your work, insert the right needle into the front of the first stitch from left to right. The needle tip will be pointing towards the back of the work. With your right index finger, move the yarn forward under the right needle, and then backwards over the top.

8. Slowly move the loop on the right needle forward through the cast-on stitch, while pushing the stitch on the needle towards the tip. This takes practice but if you do this slowly a few times you will get the hang of it.

9. Allow the first stitch to slide off of the left needle. This will leave a new stitch on the right needle for your first knit stitch.

10. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 until you havecompleted the cast-on stitches.

[IcyCucky]

on 4/13/2008 I knit, and this is a really good instruction! Great job!