New to Knitting

[KnittingNinny]

Hi, My name is Clyda and I am brand new to knitting. I have used the internet so much to give me the extra knitting help I so badly need. Today I ran into a little problem I can't seem to answer by reading others posts. I am knitting a teddy bear from a Debbie Bliss book and it is instructing me to "cont. garter stitch and cast on 14 sts at beg of next 2 rows"???????
How do I cast on to an existing row? I have tried to use logic to figure it out and it's just not coming together. If anyone can lend a hand I would SOOOO appreciate it! Thank you and I am looking forward to learing with all of you!

[G J]

Welcome to the forum!
The easiest way I know how to do this is to make a backward loop around your thumb and slip the loop onto the needle. Here's a demo:http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/
Scroll down to Backward Loop Cast On.

There are other ways, but as a new knitter, this is the easiest. Be sure you CO loosely, so you can knit it easily. You will just knit those stitches as you did the rest!

Good luck and have fun!

[suzeeq]

The backwards loop is the easiest cast on, but using it for more than a few stitches can leave a lot of loose yarn. On the same page that GJ linked to - http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/index.php you'll also find the knitted and cable cast ons. Try them all and see which ones you like.

sue