Quick answer: The knitted cast on creates new stitches by knitting into the last stitch and placing each new stitch back on the left needle — the simplest cast on to learn and ideal for beginners.
What it is
The knitted cast on works exactly like a knit stitch, except instead of dropping the old stitch off the needle, you place the new loop back onto the left needle. It's the easiest cast on to remember and great for absolute beginners. The edge is looser and stretchier than a cable cast on.
When to use it
- Learning to cast on for the first time
- When you need a simple, flexible starting edge
- Adding stitches in the middle of a project when you don't need a firm edge
How to do it
- Make a slip knot and place it on the left needle — this is your first stitch.
- Insert the right needle into the slip knot from left to right (knitwise).
- Wrap the working yarn around the right needle counterclockwise.
- Draw the new loop through the stitch on the left needle — but don't drop the original stitch off.
- Place the new loop onto the left needle by inserting the left needle tip into it from right to left.
- Repeat steps 2–5 until you have the required number of stitches.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the original stitch off the needle like a regular knit stitch — keep it on until the new stitch is placed
- Twisting the new stitch when placing it back on the left needle
- Casting on too tightly — keep a relaxed grip on the working yarn