Stockingette Stitch Problem

[vic777]

Hi

I am very new to knitting and am making a very basic cardigan in stockingette stitch. However instead of my knitting looking like this:

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

It looks more like this:

/|/|/|/|/|/|/|
/|/|/|/|/|/|/|
/|/|/|/|/|/|/|
/|/|/|/|/|/|/|

and I have no idea why. All stitches are the same size just not the nice little v shape I was expecting. I think I am forming the knit and purl stitches correctly. Although I am left handed I knit right handed, holding the yarn in my right hand. I am using straight (rather than circular) needles which are 4mm - the size recommended for the yarn.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Jan in CA]

I doubt you're doing anything wrong. It has to do with the way the yarn is plied. Read about it here.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATwhyply.html