Knitting 102

Estimate a yarn tail length that is three times the length of what the cast-on edge will be.

Make a slip knot this distance from the yarn end and place it on the right-hand needle.

Step 2

*Position thumb and index finger between the two strands of yarn. Close the other fingers into the palm of your hand and securely hold the yarn.

Step 3

Moving in an upward direction, insert the needle under the yarn on the thumb and into the loop that's formed around the thumb. Take the needle over the top of the yarn in front of the index finger and guide it down into the thumb loop -- the strand of yarn from the index finger easily moves along with the needle. Pull the strand through the thumb loop, making a new loop on the right-hand needle.

Step 4

Drop the yarn around the thumb, and spread your index finger and thumb to tighten the loop on the needle-one cast-on stitch is made. Repeat from * to make a second cast-on stitch, and so on.

Step 1

Make a slipknot on the left needle.

Step 2

Working into the loop of the knot, knit a stitch; transfer it to the left needle.

Step 3

Insert the right needle between those 2 stitches. Knit a stitch and transfer it to left needle. Repeat this step for each additional stitch.