How to Knit a Backwards Loop Cast On

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Tested

The backwards loop cast on or single cast on is great for learning to knit, as it's very easy to learn and quick to use. It makes a nice stretchy edge, and can be used to add stitches onto a piece that has already been knit.

This article will use the hand method for casting on, but there are several other methods that might use the other knitting needles, fingers, or thumb.

Steps

1
Pull out about ten inches (25cm) of yarn from your yarn ball.
- The yarn that is coming out of the skein/ball of yarn is referred to as the working yarn throughout this article.
2
Make a slipknot with an approximate five inch (12.5cm) tail on one side.
- Make a loop in the yarn.
- Place the loop on top of the yarn to the side of the loop.
- Pick up the yarn inside the loop and pull it through.
- Pull the knot tight, keeping the loop at the top open.
- Slip the knot onto a knitting needle.
- Pull the knot snug.
3
Hold the needle with the slipknot in your right hand.
4
Drape the working yarn, the yarn attached to your yarn ball, behind your left hand and over your palm. Keep the tail yarn, the short end of yarn attached to nothing, out of the way for now.
5
Place the needle underneath the yarn across your palm.
6
Pull out your palm from the yarn, and there should be a loop formed around the knitting needle.
7
Pull that loop tight. You have successfully cast on your first stitch!
8
Repeat this process with your hand and the yarn until you have cast on as many stitches as you would like. Try to keep the loops uniform.
9
Start knitting!

Community Q&A

Question

What can cause a big space between each stitch?

SarahB

Community Answer

Your tension is too loose.
Question

After you do backward stitches, how do you knit off them?

Community Answer

Knit them the same as you would any other cast on. They are usually a bit tight, so be patient.
Question

Please explain following instructions: "Knit 2 M1 using backwards loop co."

Community Answer

If it's a backward loop, your next stitch is probably a purl, just wind it back to front, then do a normal yarn over.
Question

Why use 2 needles to cast on with?

Michele

Top Answerer

For most new knitters, the first row is the hardest. Most will cast on too tightly. By using two needles to cast on you make the cast on stitches looser, and therefore easier to knit the first row. Alternatively, you can cast on a needle one or two sizes up so as not to have too loose a start, then knit the stitches with the size you need for the pattern and begin.