How to Cast On Knitting for Beginners (Including an Easy Slip Knot)

Once you have your yarn and needles, it’s time to learn your first knitting skill: casting on.

Casting on creates the first row of stitches on your needle and forms the foundation of your knitting project. Every knitted item starts with a cast-on row, whether you’re making a dishcloth, a scarf, a hat, or a blanket.

In this beginner-friendly tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a slip knot and how to cast on your first stitches step by step.

What Is a Slip Knot?

Before we can cast on, we need to make a slip knot.

A slip knot creates the first loop on the needle and acts as the starting point for the cast-on row.

Don’t worry if it feels a little awkward at first. After a few tries, you’ll be able to make one in seconds.

How to Make a Slip Knot

1. Hold the yarn and wrap it around two fingers.
2. Wrap it around a second time.
3. Pull the back loop over the front loop.
4. Slide the loop off your fingers.
5. Gently pull the yarn ends to tighten.

The great thing about a slip knot is that you can adjust its size simply by pulling the yarn. You can also watch my video on Youtube to see how to make a slipknot.

Place the slip knot onto your knitting needle and you’re ready to begin casting on.

What Does Casting On Mean?

Casting on means creating the first row of stitches on your knitting needle, also called foundation row.

These stitches will become the foundation of your project.

There are many different cast-on methods, but in this beginner series we’re using a simple method that is easy to learn and works well for many projects.

As you gain experience, you may discover other cast-on methods, but this one is perfect for getting started.

How to Cast On Knitting Step by Step

Step 1: Start with Your Slip Knot

Place the slip knot onto the needle that you are holding in your left hand.

This counts as your first stitch.

Step 2: Insert the Needle

Insert the right-hand needle into the slip knot and bring it behind the yarn.

Step 3: Wrap the Yarn

Take the long end of the yarn and wrap it around the needle.

Step 4: Bring the Loop Through

Bring the needle forward, pulling a new loop through.

Step 5: Place the New Loop on the Needle

Place the new loop onto the left-hand needle.

You now have two stitches.

Step 6: Repeat

Now insert the needle between the stitches you’ve already created.

Wrap the yarn around the needle.

Bring the new loop through.

Place it onto the needle.

Repeat these steps until you have the desired number of stitches needed for your project on your right hand needle.

How Many Stitches Should I Cast On?

For practice, I recommend casting on between 10 and 20 stitches.

This gives you enough stitches to learn the knit stitch without feeling overwhelmed.

For actual projects, the pattern will tell you exactly how many stitches to cast on.

Common Beginner Casting-On Mistakes

Making the Stitches Too Tight

This is probably the most common problem beginners encounter.

If your cast-on stitches are very tight, it can be difficult to knit into them later.

Try to keep the stitches relaxed and comfortable on the needle.

Making the Stitches Too Loose

Very loose stitches can slide off the needle more easily.

Aim for a happy middle ground: secure but not tight.

Losing Count

It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of how many stitches you’ve cast on.

If you’re practising, stop every few stitches and count them.

Should Beginners Use Bamboo or Metal Needles?

I personally prefer bamboo knitting needles, especially for beginners.

Because bamboo has a little more grip, the stitches don’t slide off as easily while you’re learning.

Metal needles work perfectly well too, but some new knitters find them a little slippery at first.

Practise Before Moving On

Once you’ve cast on 10–20 stitches comfortably a few times, you’re ready for the next step: learning the knit stitch.

Don’t worry about speed.

Knitting is one of those skills that becomes easier through repetition. The more often you cast on, the more natural it will feel.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you’d like to see the process in action, you can watch my step-by-step video tutorial here:

Next Lesson: The Knit Stitch

Now that you’ve learned how to make a slip knot and cast on your first stitches, it’s time to start knitting.

In the next lesson, we’ll learn the knit stitch and begin creating our very first piece of knitted fabric.

You can follow along with my Knitting Series for Absolute Beginners (with video tutorials) and learn a new technique every week:

1. What You Need to Start Knitting
2. How to Cast On (and how to make a slip knot)
3. The Knit Stitch (your first basic stitches)
4. How to Cast Off
5. 17 Easy Knitting Projects Using 2 Straight Needles