How to cast on stitches – basic

In this DROPS video, we show you the most common method of casting on stitches. This method has many names; among others: Continental cast-on / Non-elastic cast-on / Normal cast-on / Long-Tail cast-on.

THE VIDEO SHOWS:
STARTING OFF:
Pull the strand from the ball and make a start-loop a certain length along the strand (you need approx. 40-80 cm = 15¾"-31½" of the strand to work 20 stitches, depending on yarn and needle thickness). Place the start-loop on the right needle and tighten it gently around the needle. There are now 2 strands from the loop: A = from the ball, B = from the end.

STRANDS AROUND THE HAND:
Take strands A and B around your left hand as follows:
A: The strand from the ball is taken outside the thumb.
B: The strand from the end is taken over your index finger and down between your index and middle finger.
Your ring finger and little finger hold the 2 strands together in your hand – not too tightly.

NUMBER OF STRANDS:
Lift your left hand approx. 5 cm = 2" higher than your right hand; you can now count 4 strands in your left hand. In the following explanation, the strands have the following numbers:
Strand-1 = strand in front of thumb, strand-2 = strand behind the thumb, strand-3 = strand before your index finger, strand-4 = strand after your index finger.

1 STITCH IS CAST ON AS FOLLOWS:
Take the needle under strand-1, then up between strand-1 and strand-2, take the needle down between strand-3 and strand-4, pull the needle and strand out between strand-1 and strand-2.
Slip the strand from the thumb so the new stitch is fastened around the needle, then lay the strand around the thumb again, ready to cast on the next stitch.