spool or ball from which the working-thread is drawn being at the
right. Lay the thread between the little finger and the third of the
left hand; bring the working-thread across the palm of the hand, around
the thumb and back between the forefinger and second finger; bend the
forefinger over this thread (which passes between it and the second
finger), pass it under the thread which crosses the palm of the hand,
and then draw the forefinger back, or straighten it, which will give you
a loop with crossed threads. Put the needle under the lower part of this
loop, which draws from the ball, bring the working-thread (or
ball-thread) around the point of needle from right to left, as in plain
knitting, draw it back through the loop, slip off the latter, and draw
up the left thread. Then proceed to make the crossed loop and knit it
off in the same way for the next and following stitches. The whole
operation is very simple, although the instructions seem long because
explicit. Take your needle and yarn or thread and follow them through
carefully, and you will very soon master the "crossed casting on."

Another method, preferred by many and practically the same in effect,
except that the edge is not quite so firm, is as follows: Loop the
thread around the left forefinger, holding the spare end between thumb
and second finger, pass the needle upward through the loop, pass the
thread around the point, draw back through the loop, slip off the latter
and pull up the spare thread. By passing the needle under the loop, or
lower thread, instead of through it, bringing it back through, and then
knitting off, you will really get the crossed loop, and many find this
method easier than the first. The thread used in casting on may be
doubled, particularly for beginning a stocking, mitten, or any article
where much wear comes.

Casting on may also be done with two needles, and many like this method
when there are many stitches. Twist a loop around the needle held in the
left hand, bring the end of thread, or spare thread, to the front,
crossing the working-thread to hold it in place--or, if preferred,
simply tie a slip-knot and put the loop on the left needle; insert the
right needle through this loop from left to right, put thread around
point of right needle and draw through the loop, bringing the right
needle again in front of left. Thus far, the process is quite like that
of plain knitting. Keeping the right needle still in the new stitc