🧶 Cast On, Game On: Your First Step into Knitting
So, you’ve got your yarn, your needles, your cup of tea (essential)—and now you’re ready to knit!
But wait… how do you actually start?
Before any scarf, blanket or jumper can be born, you’ve got to cast on. It’s the very first step in knitting, and once you’ve got it sorted, you’re well on your way to becoming a total yarn wizard.
Today, we’re showing you one of the easiest cast-on methods for beginners: the knitted cast-on. It’s super simple, requires no estimating yarn tails, and sets you up perfectly for your first few rows.
🧷 What Does “Cast On” Mean?
“Casting on” is how you create that first row of loops (aka stitches) on your needle.
No cast-on = nothing to knit. It’s kind of a big deal.
There are lots of different ways to cast on (like the long-tail, cable, or twisted loop methods), but if you're brand new to knitting, the knitted cast-on is a total winner. It’s easy to learn and a great introduction to how knitting actually works.
✨ What You’ll Need
-
Your yarn
-
A pair of knitting needles
-
Some patience (it gets easier with every stitch!)
👇 How to Do the Knitted Cast-On
Step 1: Start with a Slip Knot
Make a slip knot and pop it onto your left-hand needle. This is your first stitch.
(Tip: Not sure how to make a slip knot? Loop the yarn into a pretzel shape, pull one loop through the other, and you’ve got it!)
Step 2: Insert Your Right Needle
Take your right-hand needle and poke it into the front of that slip knot from left to right, just like you would when knitting a stitch.
Step 3: Wrap the Yarn
Wrap your working yarn (the bit connected to the ball) around the right needle, just like you're knitting a normal stitch.
Step 4: Pull Through a Loop
Pull the loop through the slip knot, so now you’ve got a new loop sitting on your right needle.
Step 5: Slide the New Loop Onto the Left Needle
Instead of dropping it off like a regular knit stitch, take that new loop and place it onto your left needle.
Ta-da! You’ve cast on one new stitch 🎉
Repeat steps 2–5 until you’ve got as many stitches as your pattern calls for.
🧶 Why We Love the Knitted Cast-On for Beginners
✔️ You don’t need to guess how much yarn to pull out
✔️ It helps you get familiar with the knit stitch
✔️ It’s easy to control your tension (aka not too loose or too tight)
✔️ If you mess up, it’s easy to undo and try again
⚠️ But Wait—There’s More Than One Way to Cast On!
Yep! Once you’ve been knitting for a while, you’ll find there are heaps of different cast-on methods. Some are stretchy, some are decorative, and some are better for certain types of projects.
But when you’re starting out?
Stick with the knitted cast-on—it’s reliable, beginner-friendly, and gets you stitching in no time.
Ready to Try It?
Our Having A Yarn kits use the knitted cast-on in our video tutorials, so you can follow along as you cast on your first row. No guessing, no stress—just pure knitting joy.
TL;DR – The Knitted Cast-On
-
It’s the easiest cast-on for new knitters
-
You only need one slip knot to get started
-
You build new stitches one at a time using the knit stitch
-
It’s great for building confidence before diving into full rows
-
And yes—there are heaps of other methods, but this one’s a fab place to start