Please help, struggling beginner

ghostess · 12-28-2010, 01:09 PM

I recieved a "Learn How To Knit" Kit for Christmas. I have watched the dvd and read the book that came with all the tools, yet I am still haveing trouble.

I can do the cast on easily, but getting my second row to look like the lady in the video isn't working. She has perfect loops when I have stitches that look like "v"s. If I try to go on to a third row, all my second row stitches come undone. It is very frustrating. Please help or give tips.

Thank you in advance, struggling beginner.

Jan in CA · 12-28-2010, 06:27 PM

Welcome to knitting and Knitting Help!

There are videos in the video section at the top of the page so you can double check to make sure you're casting on and knitting correctly. It sounds like you might be putting the needle between the stitches rather in into the stitch. Between the stitches would cause the loops to fall off.

There is also a video called "demo of a small project" in the tips section that shows you knitting a small swatch from start to finish.

hyperactive · 12-28-2010, 07:39 PM

Hi!
Have patience.
We all took some time to get it right. And you will, eventually.
With dvds and books and the internet and all those videos it really is much easier than it used to be when I started (well, I was too young to read and write and there was no internet or such... so I had to learn the slow way: by asking).

Knitting is a great hobby, and really it is not hard, but you have to get the hang of it.

So, if the videos here do not get you onto track... show us some pics of how your work looks. Then we can help you better.

TrueIconoclast · 12-29-2010, 04:15 AM

Hello, and welcome to knitting! I'm a beginner, like you, but I've been knitting for about 6 months now, so I can give you some advice based on the fairly new memories of myself being in your situation. I am going to give the definitions of words as I use them. In no way do I think you're stupid, and I'm sure you've already learned all of the words I'm going to define, but who knows, you might learn a new term that will help you to understand/teach yourself a little better.

Okay, the first thing I am going to tell you is that when you start the first couple of rows of your project, your stitches (the loops that make up the knitted piece) are always going to look messed up and ugly. Or at least, this has been the case with my knitting. The mistake I made was when I first started, I kept ripping it out and doing it over, and I never knitted a piece long enough to realize that those ugly stitches would look just fine after about an inch or so. So, see if that doesn't help with those triangular stitches that you're experiencing.

For your stitches to come undone is quite strange. I've never experienced that, but I have two theories to what could be causing it. Is your second row coming unraveled when you're knitting your third row, even though the stitches are on the needle? Or are your stitches slipping/falling off the needle (which is called dropping a stitch)? If they're coming unraveled while on the needle while knitting your third row, then you're making a mistake regarding your knitting in the second row...most likely where you're picking up the stitch (where you insert your working needle in order to knit a new stitch). If you're dropping stitches, then the culprit is most likely that your needles and/or the yarn are too slick. Are your needles made of metal, plastic, bamboo, rosewood, acrylic, etc? If this is what your problem is, switch to some cheap bamboo needles for beginning use.

And of course, the standard advice for beginners - practice, practice, practice! It takes 200 hours to completely learn something, and 2,000 hours to master it. So, practice makes perfect!

I hope I helped! Let me know if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can. And please keep knitting (and keep us posted)! I know it's frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll really enjoy it.

Sapphire · 12-29-2010, 07:43 AM

Hi Ghostess,

I'm a beginning/almost intermediate type of knitter myself (have only been knitting since September). I'm afraid I don't have any advice re: what may be causing the stitch problems, but I second Hyperactive's advice about possibly posting a photo of your knitting- one of the more experienced gals may be able to figure out what's going on by looking at a clear photo.

I do remember your frustration. I was almost ready to quit knitting after my first class- everyone but me was catching on quickly, whereas I struggled to even cast my stitches on for the entire two hour class. Fortunately, I had a great instructor who gave the lessons at my local yarn shop still offers extra help to me for no extra charge whenever I get stuck somewhere. Some things I manage to teach myself- I watched the Knitting Help vids for hours before I finally grasped how to do a knit stitch (I taught myself outside of class because I had not been able to learn it during my first class). With the combination of in-person instruction and online videos, I was able to get the hang of things very quickly after a week or two, and I am currently at the point where I'm almost finished my first sweater. I believe that if I could do it, anyone can (I'm a slow learner up to a point).

Can you afford a knitting class at all? They're usually offered in yarn or craft shops. You may want to look around in your area and see if anyone is offering lessons (and possibly compare prices if there are a few places offering them). Not everyone can teach themselves everything. Many people need to be shown how to learn a new skill in person before grasping the basics. If this is your learning style, then a class might help. Just make sure the instructor is skilled and personable- a bad instructor only makes thinks worse (I speak from experience, as I've taken a couple of knitting class with different instructors).

HTH,
Sapphire

TrueIconoclast · 12-29-2010, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sapphire

With the combination of in-person instruction and online videos, I was able to get the hang of things very quickly after a week or two, and I am currently at the point where I'm almost finished my first sweater. I believe that if I could do it, anyone can (I'm a slow learner up to a point).

Wow Sapphire, you've only been knitting since September and you're almost done with a sweater? That's impressive.....I haven't started on any kind of shaping whatsoever yet. Congratulations!

Take care!

Breezed · 12-30-2010, 03:33 PM

I recommend Youtube.com and the videos on this forum. Youtube has some GREAT tutorials, you just have to watch a few until you find one that clicks for you. Some people are great instructors and some people just think they are! Not everyone learns the same so find the combination of tools that work best for you.

ghostess · 12-31-2010, 06:23 PM

Thank you to everyone who helped me. I figured out where I was going wrong. I was pushing my needle into the wrong area to get the stitches off the other one.

With your help I have almost completed my first scarf!

thank you so much and I wish you well with every project your are working on!

Breezed · 12-31-2010, 06:29 PM

Great job. I am happy you figured it out and have pushed on until the end!

TrueIconoclast · 01-04-2011, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by ghostess

Thank you to everyone who helped me. I figured out where I was going wrong. I was pushing my needle into the wrong area to get the stitches off the other one.

With your help I have almost completed my first scarf!

thank you so much and I wish you well with every project your are working on!

Yay!!!! I'm glad you got it, and that we were all able to help!!!! Post a picture of your finished scarf if you want, I'm sure I'm speaking for everyone else when I say we'd all like to see it!