Just starting and need help with Purling Questions

[kjac014]

HI all,
I've jsut found you and boy I am so please I have. My Nanna was a beautiful / fantastic knitter and won many awards at the Australian Sydney Royal, however I unfortunately did not inherit her knitting ability.

I have recently learnt to spin (we have a few alpacas and I want to use their fleece to make sock, scarves etc for the family.)
The lady who was showing me to spin was knitting a lovely and supposedly easy shawl. It was quiet open in the pattern / weave. she said to me "its so easy just wrap the wool around the needle and purl 2 together". I'm going to try tonight but thinking about it wont I loose stiches - I'm very good at starting with 50 and ending up with 70 or starting with 50 and ending up with 20.

I think a lot of my problem is I try to use fancy wool which splits to easily.

Anyway thank if you can advise pattern and I'm so please I found this forum.