ors ▁without ▁concern ▁about ▁f ray ing . ▁ ▁Process ▁ ▁There ▁are ▁many ▁hundreds ▁of ▁different ▁kn itting ▁st itch es ▁used ▁by ▁kn it ters . ▁A ▁piece ▁of ▁kn itting ▁begins ▁with ▁the ▁process ▁of ▁casting ▁on , ▁which ▁involves ▁the ▁initial ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁st itch es ▁on ▁the ▁need le . ▁D ifferent ▁methods ▁of ▁casting ▁on ▁are ▁used ▁for ▁different ▁effects : ▁one ▁may ▁be ▁stretch y ▁enough ▁for ▁la ce , ▁while ▁another ▁provides ▁a ▁decor ative ▁ed ging . ▁ ▁Pro vis ional ▁cast - ons ▁are ▁used ▁when ▁the ▁kn itting ▁will ▁continue ▁in ▁both ▁directions ▁from ▁the ▁cast - on . ▁There ▁are ▁various ▁methods ▁employed ▁to ▁cast ▁on , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁" th umb ▁method " ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁" s ling shot " ▁or ▁" long - tail " ▁cast - ons ), ▁where ▁the ▁st itch es ▁are ▁created ▁by ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁loops ▁that ▁will , ▁when ▁kn itted , ▁give ▁a ▁very ▁loose ▁edge ▁ideal ▁for ▁" pick ing ▁up ▁st itch es " ▁and ▁kn itting ▁a ▁border ; ▁the ▁" double ▁need le ▁method " ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁" kn it - on " ▁or ▁" c able ▁cast - on "), ▁where by ▁each ▁loop ▁placed ▁on ▁the ▁need le ▁is ▁then ▁" kn itted ▁on ," ▁which ▁produces ▁a ▁fir mer ▁edge ▁ideal ▁on ▁its ▁own ▁as ▁a ▁border ; ▁and ▁many ▁more . ▁The ▁number ▁of ▁active ▁st itch es