Casting on is the term for getting going – creating some stitches on your needles to work on and turn into lovely knitted fabric. There are loads of great ways to ‘cast on’, but I wish I had known this one when I was first starting out….
First, make a small loop and tie it with a knot- ideally a slipknot. Slide that onto the needle you are holding in your right hand and tighten the loop so it just fits snugly around the needle – not too tightly.
Hold up your right hand needle horizontally, parallel with the floor. Make a fist with your left hand (no second needle required for this bit!) and point your thumb towards the needle in your right hand. (Not thumbs up, not thumbs down, a kind of ‘so-so’.)
You will have a long tail of yarn stretching between the needle and the ball of yarn – put that ball down on the floor for this first bit. Put your left thumb in front of that tail of yarn. Twist your thumb around and backwards, anti-clockwise, hooking up a loop of yarn as you go – into a ‘thumbs up’ and then back down to your original ‘so-so’). Then place the tip of the knitting needle through the loop around your thumb. Withdraw your thumb, and pull gently down on the tail of yarn between the needle and the ball. You’ve created a stitch! Pull it nice and squidgily firm – not too tight!
Keep repeating that thumb loop trick until you have the required number of stitches on your right hand needle. When you have enough stitches, transfer the needle with them all on, to hold it in your left hand, tip facing forwards and away from you, and pick up the empty needle to hold in your right hand. You’re ready to begin knitting!