Cast-on

The cast-on is how you put the very first row of stitches onto the needle. Every pattern starts with "CO N sts" — where N is the number of stitches you need to begin.

The long-tail cast-on

Beginners usually learn the long-tail cast-on first. It's stretchy, looks clean, and is fast once you have the motion. The name comes from the tail you leave dangling: roughly one inch of yarn per stitch you plan to cast on, plus a few extra for safety.

How to do it

1. Make a slip knot and place it on your needle. That's your first cast-on stitch.
2. Hold the needle in your right hand. Drape the tail over your left thumb and the working yarn over your left index finger (a "slingshot").
3. Dip the needle tip under the strand on your thumb, then over and through the strand on your index finger, then back down through the thumb loop.
4. Drop the thumb loop off. You now have two stitches on the needle.
5. Repeat until you have the number of stitches the pattern calls for.

Common mistakes

• Pulling too tight. Keep the stitches loose enough to slide along the needle.
• Short tail. If you run out before finishing the cast-on, you just have to start over.
• Wrong count. Count your stitches twice. Every pattern assumes you started with the right number.

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