How To Cast On Stitches In Knitting {Thumb Cast On}
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.In this post, you will learn how to cast on stitches in knitting – the thumb cast on.
Well, the first step for new knitters is to master casting on.
Whether you are making a dishcloth, a scarf, a sweater, or a pair of socks.
No matter if you are using a simple knit stitch or a complicated cable stitch the first step in your pattern will be casting on your stitches.

The Thumb Cast On Method
There are many different ways of casting on, one of the easiest for beginners to learn is the cast-on thumb method.
Other ways you can cast on are the tail end, or the single cast on, the cable cast on, the longtail cast-on, knitted cast on, etc.
To learn more about the various ways you can cast on, visit this post here – Knitting Cast On Methods.
To see more tutorials please visit the knitting course here – Knitting Lessons.

How To Cast On Stitches In Knitting
This is a variation of the long tail cast on method.
The thumb method is really easy for beginners (I have a video tutorial you can see in this post for how to do this).
Once you practice and learn how to do this, it is a very quick way of casting on stitches.
This could be seen as the fastest cast-on method out there.
You can see a step by step tutorial below:
Learn how to do the thumb cast on method
You will see a step-by-step tutorial below and a video tutorial.
You can see the video tutorial on my YouTube channel here.
How To Cast On Stitches In Knitting (The Thumb Method)
- Making A Slipknot
Leave a long tail of yarn – this is important, as you need the tail to be able to cast on the stitches.
If you have a large number of stitches to cast on in your pattern, this will need to be quite long.
Make a slip knot from your strand of yarn and place it on your right needle ready to start.
Hold the knitting needle in your right hand.
Wrap your thumb around the yarn with your left hand, you will use your right hand to work the yarn from the ball.
Pass the tip of your needle through the loop on your thumb, from the back. - Wrap The Yarn Around Your Thumb
Wrap the yarn that is attached to the ball and bring that around in between your thumb and the knitting needle.
- Use Your Thumb To Slip the Yarn Over The Needle
Use your thumb to slip the loop over the end of the knitting needle, leaving you with a completed cast on loop.
Tighten up the stitch by gently pulling on both ends of the yarn.
And just like that, you have cast on your first stitch. - Continue To Do This For The Next Stitch
Continue and repeat this process again for the next new stitch.
Keep the tension a little loose while you create the loop, and then you can adjust the tightness once the loop is on the needle. - Repeat And Cast On However Many Stitches You Need
Repeat the process until you reach the desired amount of stitches.
Then you can start to knit using the left needle.