Casting on is what you do when you begin knitting and it is a way of getting the stitches onto the first needle. There are literally hundreds of ways to cast on and it is always a good idea to experiment. Many knitters will claim they always use the same form of cast on but this can be very boring. For that reason we will give you several ways to cast on so that you can begin experimenting.
Why is Casting on Important?
We believe that it is useful to know why casting on is important so that you understand the need for various methods. Basically when casting on you are creating an edge for your knitting that will show on the finished garment. How you do this will determine the finish you get to your garment. So you can use different cast on methods to create a different look and finish for a more interesting garment.
Beginning a Cast On
When you cast on the first thing you will need to do is create the initial loop so that you can begin. This is usually done by creating a slip knot using the following method: