Please help me, new to knitting

How-to Questions
1

I am trying to knit some longies. I am a proficient crocheter but knitting is all new. I am having a hard time understanding what needs to be done here. Could anyone clarify this for me?

Pattern Courtesy of http://www.dunmani.co.uk/mrsflowerpot/FlowerpotTotsDKShortiesAndLongies.pdf
Longies Only
Using 3.25 mm needles cast on 50 (58, 66, 74) sts. Knit 6 rows garter stitch and continue in stocking stitch (starting with a knit row) until work measures 5 (7, 9, 10) inches, ending with a purl row. Make a second leg in the same way.
Shorties and Longies Gusset Shaping
Cast on 7 (8, 9, 10) sts. Knit 1st leg, cast on 12 (14, 16, 18) sts, knit 2nd leg, cast on 7 (8, 9, 10) sts. 126 (146, 166, 186) stitches.

My questions are as follows:

Do I cast off when I am done with the first leg and then start a new leg altogether?
How do I add these legs back when making the gusset? I am super confused about how this will look. I have the pattern but there are no picture tutorials of how this should be done.

Thank you in advance,

Sarah.

2

Welcome to the forum!
Don’t cast off the first leg. Leave it on the needle if you have enough room, move it to a spare or thread scrap yarn through the live sts.
Yes, start the 2nd leg as a new leg altogether.
For the join, you’ll have a section of new sts, leg one, a section of new sts, leg 2 and then a section of new sts. So for the smallest size it’s 7sts–leg 1–14sts–leg 2–7sts. There’s more shaping further on in the pattern but the 7+7sts at the ends will eventually join and make the front and back gussets the same size.

3

Thank you, that is helpful. One more question. When I begin casting on for the second leg do I cut ties with the first leg or just continue with the 1st leg moved to the back of the needle?

4

You can cut the yarn after knitting the first leg, leaving about a 6 inch tail to weave in later. The legs won’t be directly connected once the 2 legs are joined with the intervening cast on sts anyway.