Talk:Casting on (knitting)

Please help

THIS DOES NOT HELP ME WHATSOEVER! I am trying to learn how to knit and I can't do a slip knot and I can't knit! HELP! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.40.198.187 (talk • contribs) on 21:22, 07 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Umm, I have to go soon, and I've no pictures handy, but here's the scoop as best I can explain it. Do you know how to make an overhand knot? That's the simplest form of a knot; you draw the end of the yarn through a loop in the yarn and pull it tight — got it? The slip-knot is just the same, except that instead of passing the end of the yarn through, you pass a bight of the yarn through, that is to say, a loop of the yarn. When you pull it tight, you get a loop secured by a little knot at its base. You pass the knitting needle through that loop to begin casting on; that's your first stitch.

After you get the first stitch on, there are several ways to proceed. The best way for beginners is usually the "two-tailed cast-on", but I can't really explain that without showing you in person or at least with pictures. But here's a simpler alternative: make a series of "half-hitches" by repeatedly twisting a loop of yarn once and passing it over the needle.

Alternatively, if you know how to knit a little, use the second needle to pull a loop of the yarn through the first stitch; once it's through, transfer this second stitch to the first needle, so that it's next to the first stitch. Then do that again to the second stitch to get the third stitch, and so on. What you're trying to do is get a series of loops on the needle, it almost doesn't matter how. Experiment a little and I think you'll get it! :) Hoping that this helps, Willow 21:41, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

slip knot

The way I teach five year olds is to make a Q<--- so, you have a simple circle with two tails.

take the top tail, the one that passes over, and pass it under the circle, so you have a circle with a tail that goes underneath and right up the middle of the circle, and a tail that runs off to the ball.

Take your needle, pass it over the one side of the circle, under the bisector (tail up the middle) of the circle, and over the other side of the circle.

grasp the two tails and pull firmly.

that is your first stitch.Yarn.wench 02:32, 9 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

casting on

after that, there are so many different ways to cast on, but basically, you are making a line of loops that form the foundation row for your garment.

get a book with big illustrations, because the thumb-k is one of the mainstays for casting on, and Wiki isn't really for how to. go to any yarn shop. if they're worth your patronage, they will show you how. Yarn.wench 02:32, 9 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

help........

I am trying to knit a project using the "Emily Ocker cast on" method. The project says to cast on several more stitches more than the desired number of cast on. What do i do with the extra stitches from the Emily Ocker cast on? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.14.243.163 (talk) 04:51, 23 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]