How to cast on stitches for Knitting with Video Tutorial

The first step in your knitting endeavour is to cast on stitches for (your) knitting project. And yes - it is basically your first row but the cast on row is not counted for purposes of your pattern.

The first post in the Knitting for Beginners series covered all the technicalities and advantages of knitting. Read it here:

Knitting for Beginners - How to start, essentials and free download
The next post was - How to make a slip knot
In this post, Knit cast on method.

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how to cast on stitches for knitting

MORE about Casting on stitches

The cast on stitches form the one selvage of your articles, usually the bottom piece, or the hem or edge.

The stitches of your cast-on row, should be tidy, the same size and loose enough to be knit easily.

METHODS OF CASTING ON STITCHES

1. One-needle / Single cast on

Single cast-on
Double cast-on
Provisional cast-on
Thumb method
Crochet method

2. Two-needle / Double cast on

Knit stitch cast on
Cable cast-on
Rib Cable cast-on
Thumb method
Invisible cast on
Thumb and finger cast on

Don't get too technical about it, the method I learned from my Mom and use in all my knitting, is the knit stitch cast on. (as seen in the video).

Above all, use the method that is most convenient to you.

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Cast on stitches for knitting - Video Tutorial

casting on stitches - in words!

ABBREVIATION: CO

Start with a slip knot;
First stitch:
Insert one needle (right needle) into the stitch (slip knot) on the left needle, through the front (knit) loop of the stitch (Knit Stitch). Wrap the yarn anti-clockwise round the point of the right needle;
Draw the right needle and yarn through the stitch, pull and transfer the loop closest to you back onto the left needle.
The second and all the following stitches:
Insert the right needle between the first and second stitches (behind the second st).
Draw the right needle and yarn through the stitch, pull and transfer the loop closest to you back onto the left needle.
Don't pull the yarn too tight as your first row will become difficult to knit.
Repeat until you have the desired amount of stitches on your left needle.

Grab your pattern and start knitting!

KNITTING TIPS:

Stocking stitch (right side - knit all stitches and wrong side - purl all stitches) will curl up if you don't knit a ribbing or textured rows (as your first few rows).

On the contrary, garter stitch (all rows are knit) won't curl at all.

Why is that?

Because knit and purl stitches create tension but knit stitches' tension are higher than the purl stitches.

Therefore, a combination of knit and purl stitches in a row, balances out the tension.