Knowing how to cast off enables you to stop knitting and take your finished work off the knitting needles. Watch our video of expert knitter Rachel Ong demonstrating two methods of casting off: one with knitting needles, one with a crochet hook.
Casting off with a knitting needle
Knit the first two stitches from the left needle onto the right needle.
Then push the tip of the left needle into the first stitch that you made on the right needle.
Lift the first stitch over the second stitch and drop it off the right needle.
Knit another stitch from the left needle and do the same again.
Do this with each stitch until there are no stitches on the left needle and just one stitch on the right needle.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6 inch end.
With your fingers, gently pull on the last stitch to make it a little bit bigger.
Then pull the end of the yarn all the way through the loop, take the needle out and pull the yarn tight.
You have now finished casting off!
Casting off with a crochet hook
Casting off with a crochet hook makes it easy to cope with slippery yarns or tight stitches.
First, hold the needle in your left hand.
Pick up the crochet hook with your right hand.
Slip the first stitch onto the hook.
Insert the hook into the next stitch, catch the yarn, and pull it through both stitches.
Pull the last loop off the needle.
Repeat to the last stitch.
Cut the yarn with some scissors.
Catch the yarn end and pull it through the last loop.
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