This cast on is not actually the one I use when I start to knit most items these days, but I do use it when asked to cast on a large number of stitches in the middle of a piece of knitting. It gives a good firm edge to the knitting and I always teach it to beginners because it's very easy to do.

First of all take the needle with your slip knot on it and hold it in your left hand. Grab the short tail of yarn with your left hand at the same time, in order that the stitch is kept under control and won't slip off the needle. Hold the other needle in your right hand - as you can see I don't hold the needle like a pen as recommended in so many books and videos, but under the palm of my hand. This is a good way easy way to control your knitting needle and it makes it easy to tuck the knob end under your elbow which gives more control over tension.

There are lots of different ways of holding the yarn in the right hand, but I like to take it over my index finger, under the middle and fourth fingers and over the pinky. This gives enough tension to allow good control without pulling the knitting too tightly.

Push the needle which is held in your right hand through the loop on the left hand needle. You need to push it through from left to right towards the point of the left hand needle.

Now take the yarn in the right hand round anticlockwise behind the tip of the right hand needle, and forward between the right and left hand needle. The slip knot stitch should still be on both needles.

Pull the point of the right hand needle towards you through the slip knot stitch, creating a second loop which is pulled through the first one.

Finally, put this loop onto the left hand needle but do not pull it up too tightly.

Now put the right hand needle through the space between the two stitches.

Continue bringing the yarn anticlockwise round the right hand needle and pulling the loop through, then put the stitch on the left hand needle again. Continue to do this until you are comfortable with the method. You should have 20-30 stitches on the left hand needle.

You have just learned one of many many different methods of casting on. You can use this technique again later when you make your first project, but for the moment you will continue to the next lesson as this is your first practice piece.

This excellent reference book has masses of information about knitting techniques. It illustrates all the basic techniques and has a huge range of different ways to cast on and off and increase and decrease. A must for any knitter's bookcase!

This is another very good book which contains reference information on all the basics of how to knit and finish off a garment or item.