How to Cast On for Total Beginners

In this post, I’ll show you how to cast on for beginners. There are many ways to cast on knitting, but this is my favourite.

It’s the long tail cast on using the thumb method, which is great for absolute beginner knitters.

The long tail cast on is the best all-purpose cast on: it’s stretchy, but not too stretchy; it’s firm yet flexible; it lays flat and looks pretty. What’s not to love? When in doubt, use the longtail cast on!

So, you’ve got needles and a ball of yarn. Cool! Now you want to knit something. That’s where the cast on comes in.

Cast On for Beginners Video Tutorial

Casting on is a way to turn loose yarn into stitches that sit nicely on a knitting needle. Once yarn is cast onto the needle in the form of stitches, those stitches can be knit.

Casting on is the first step in knitting. All you need is some yarn and needles.

So, what needles and yarn should you use?

I always recommend a chunky yarn and correspondingly thick needles for beginners because they’re much easier to grip.

In this tutorial, I’m using Lion Brand’s Hometown USA in color Fort Lauderdale Coral and 8mm bamboo needles (similar).

Watch the video up top for a full step-by-step tutorial or follow along with the photo guide below. Ready to start? Let’s do this!

Beginner Cast On Photo Guide

Leave a generous yarn tail & pinch yarn with both hands

Hold the yarn and bring the hands together to make a loop

Hold the loop that you have made in one hand

Grab the yarn that’s unattached to the ball & bring it behind the loop

Pull the strand of yarn through the loop

This little loop is called a slip knot. Your’re ready to cast on with it!

Place the slip knot on the needle and pull yarn tails to tighten it.

Grab the yarn tail that’s unattached to the ball and give a thumbs up

Hook the yarn onto your thumb. Keep a firm grip!

Touch the needle to the front of the thumb…

…and slide the needle into the loop on your thumb

Hold the needle & grab the yarn attached to the ball with right hand

Wrap the yarn around the needle, from the back to the front

Pull the yarn down so it meets the loop on the thumb

Pull the loop on your thumb over the needle.

Pull down the yarn tail to tighten the new stitch! Repeat steps 7-18

That’s all there is to the long tail cast on! If you’re a new knitter, watch the video up top a couple times to get the hang of the cast on. Then, use the photo guide as a refresher. If you’re having trouble making a slip knot, check out this tutorial on slip knots.

If you want to learn another method for the long tail cast on, check out the Long Tail Cast On (Traditional Method). This is how I typically cast on as it’s a bit faster. Check it out and see which one you like better!

Are You New to Knitting?

I’ve made a detailed guide for new knitters! It covers the very basics: cast on, knit stitch and cast off. These three techniques are the backbone of knitting. Master them, and you’re officially a knitter. Check out the guide by clicking the image above!