Cast On, Bind Off (3 page)

Holding the new loop, pull on the tail to tighten just a bit. This is the loop — the slip knot — to place on your needle.

Pulling on the long end tightens the loop on your needle (or, if the loop is not on the needle, pulls the knot out entirely).

Another commonly used knot, the overhand joins two strands together.

Hold two strands of yarn with tails lined up together.

Make a loop and pull the ends through the loop. Tighten the knot.

Some cast ons require you to create a long tail before you begin. This tail will be used, along with the strand of yarn going to the ball, to create the edge. There are a few different ways of measuring out the length you need:

• Measure out a length three to four times the width of your project.

• Use approximately 1″ for each stitch.

• Wrap yarn around needle 10 times and use that length to approximate 10 stitches, then measure out length needed for total number of stitches.

• Alternatively, for projects with a large number of stitches to cast on, use two balls of yarn. One ball provides the tail yarn; the other is the knitting yarn. Connect them with a slip knot. (Do not count knot as a cast-on stitch. Just drop it off needle at end of first row.) After casting on, drop the tail yarn and continue knitting with the other yarn.

The slingshot position is used in many cast ons, so learning it is a crucial step in any knitter's education.

Make a slip knot and place it on the needle. Hold the needle in your right hand.