I have hand wound my yarn now time to cast on the yarn so I can knit! I’m using the baby alpaca yarn again along with cast on 14 and US 10 knitting needles. I’m right handed so these are instructions to cast on for right hand dominant people.

First thing I need to do is figure out how long the tail is going to be. I need enough to be able to cast on 14 stitches. I have found some advice on how to figure out this length but when I do it, I’m usually off by a couple inches, so I just rely on trial an error, if I find a fool proof way I’ll let you know, and if you have a way, please let me know 🙂

To start I need to make a slip knot.

Start with a pretzel over the knitting needle:

Lay Yarn over Needle

Make a Loop

Make a Pretzel or a Bow

pull end tight to make yarn tight around needle

And I have made a slip knot which is also my first of fourteen to cast on.

Slip Knot

Next is to make a half of a rectangle or a gun with my hand.

position your hand like this to cast on

place the yarn on the ball draped over three fingers but behind the index finger

wrap yarn end around thumb and hold end with three fingers

go under loop around thumb with the needle in right hand

go over and then under yarn on finger so it wraps around the needle

place needle through loop on thumb

remove loop from thumb with needle still in the loop

tighten it a bit and you have your first cast on stitch after the slip knot

repeat cast on stitch