Casting on is the term used for making a row of stitches to be used as a base for your knitting. There are several methods of casting on which produce different kinds of edges, but I mostly use this one.

To start set the yarn and needles in the right position. I use two needles to cast on (other people only use one) as it is easer to knit the second row afterwards. Take the yarn, hook and twist on the needles (some make a slip knot, but I find this is much simpler) and position the fingers as shown on the left.

Once you are in the right position start casting on: push the needles through the loop on the thumb, wrap around the yarn that is on index finger and pull back through the loop that is on the thumb.

Once you casted on enough of stitches (loops), the second needle can be removed.

I hope that helps ;)

Rasa