Free How To Knit Instructions from Fiber Images

materials source: Craft Yarn Council of America

Casting On (CO)

The first step of knitting is to put stitches onto your needle. This is called casting on. There are a wide variety of methods of casting on. One of the most popular methods is described here.
One Needle or Sling Shot Method and Slip-Knot

This method uses a double strand of yarn and a single needle. This is sometimes called the "sling shot method." This method will give you a firm attractive edge and can only be used at the beginning of a piece. The "sling shot method" appears different on each side. The smooth side is generally considered to be the right side of your work. In other words, if you were going to begin working stockinette stitch immediately after your cast on row, you would purl the first row.

	1. Measure off a length of yarn allowing 1" for each stitch you will cast on. Make a slip-knot there and leave the length of yarn attached. This slip-knot will be your first stitch. To make a slip-knot, make a pretzel shape with the yarn as shown in the diagram to the left.
	2. Slip the needle into the pretzel as shown.
	3. Pull down on both ends of the yarn to tighten the knot.
	4. Gently pull the two ends apart, to tighten the loop. Hold the needles as shown in the diagram to the left, with the short end of yarn over the thumb and the long end over the index finger. Both strand of yarn should rest in the palm, with the last two fingers holding them down.
	5. Pull the needle downward, then insert the point of the needle through the loop that is on your thumb.
	6. Move the point of the needle over, then around the right-hand strand of yarn.
	7. Bring the point of the needle back through the thumb loop.
	8. Drop the thumb loop, then pull on the short end of yarn with your thumb.
	9. This will tighten the stitch. You now has two stitches on your needle.

Holding the Yarn and Needles

	Hold the needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand as shown in the diagram to the left.
	Insert the right needle into the first stitch as shown in the diagram to the left. Hold it there with your left hand.
	Wind the yarn that comes from the skein through your fingers. Drape the yarn over your index finger, under the middle and ring fingers and around your pinky, as shown in the diagram to the left.

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