Getting started: Ways to Cast On
One great thing about knitting is that it's easy to start, and the tools are very simple. Basically you need only 2 things:
1. a pair of pointy sticks that are the same size (your knitting needles)
2. some string (or yarn)
That's it!
The first thing to understand about knitting, is that it is made of rows of loops of string. Each loop is a stitch.
You start by making some loops on one knitting needle, and then you use the other needle to make some more loops, or stitches, coming out of the first row of stitches. Then you keep doing that until you have as many rows as you want. It's really quite magical.
Probably the simplest way to make the first row of loops is the backwards loop cast on. This method makes a very firm non-stretchy beginning.
This is a slightly dopey video, but it explains things well. Watch to the end for a cute pup!
I like this cast on because it's so easy to do, and you don't have to measure anything before you start. The disadvantage is that the cast on stitches tend to loose their shape when you go to knit them. They can also be very tight on the needle if you aren't careful.
For bigger things like shawls and sweaters, I like to use a knitted cast on. This method is easy to learn, and makes a nice stretchy beginning that also keeps its shape well.
I really like this simple video for the knitted cast on.
Another popular way to start is the long-tail cast on. It's a quite bit more complicated, but it has some advantages over backwards loop. For one thing, the stitches keep their shape better, and for another thing, it makes a slightly stretchy beginning. This method is a good compromise between firm and stretchy beginnings.
To do the long tail cast-on, you do need to measure a bit of your yarn first- usually about 3 to 4 times as long as how wide you want to knit. I like to use it for small projects.
This is about as good an explanation of the long tail cast on as I've seen so far.
This longer video is for a slightly fancier way to do the same thing, and has a few other useful tips.
Finally, my absolute favorite cast on right now is the Chinese Waitress cast on. I feel like it is less complicated than long-tail cast on, and man is it cool. It makes a beautiful, stretchy yet firm cast-on, and again, there's no measuring involved!
My brain exploded the first time I saw this technique. True story.
Cool! Now that we've got some stitches cast on, lets knit!
1. a pair of pointy sticks that are the same size (your knitting needles)
2. some string (or yarn)
That's it!
The first thing to understand about knitting, is that it is made of rows of loops of string. Each loop is a stitch.
You start by making some loops on one knitting needle, and then you use the other needle to make some more loops, or stitches, coming out of the first row of stitches. Then you keep doing that until you have as many rows as you want. It's really quite magical.
Probably the simplest way to make the first row of loops is the backwards loop cast on. This method makes a very firm non-stretchy beginning.
This is a slightly dopey video, but it explains things well. Watch to the end for a cute pup!
 |
| this is kinda what it looks like |
I like this cast on because it's so easy to do, and you don't have to measure anything before you start. The disadvantage is that the cast on stitches tend to loose their shape when you go to knit them. They can also be very tight on the needle if you aren't careful.
For bigger things like shawls and sweaters, I like to use a knitted cast on. This method is easy to learn, and makes a nice stretchy beginning that also keeps its shape well.
I really like this simple video for the knitted cast on.
 |
| More going on here, right? |
Another popular way to start is the long-tail cast on. It's a quite bit more complicated, but it has some advantages over backwards loop. For one thing, the stitches keep their shape better, and for another thing, it makes a slightly stretchy beginning. This method is a good compromise between firm and stretchy beginnings.
To do the long tail cast-on, you do need to measure a bit of your yarn first- usually about 3 to 4 times as long as how wide you want to knit. I like to use it for small projects.
This is about as good an explanation of the long tail cast on as I've seen so far.
This longer video is for a slightly fancier way to do the same thing, and has a few other useful tips.
 |
| This is a nice cartoon. |
Finally, my absolute favorite cast on right now is the Chinese Waitress cast on. I feel like it is less complicated than long-tail cast on, and man is it cool. It makes a beautiful, stretchy yet firm cast-on, and again, there's no measuring involved!
My brain exploded the first time I saw this technique. True story.
 |
| It's sooo prettyyyy |
Cool! Now that we've got some stitches cast on, lets knit!
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