Help with Cables

#1

I am new to knitting, but have been a crocheter for years. My first knitted project was the baby poncho that is featured on this site and it turned out so well, I thought I’d move on to something a little more challenging. I found a pattern for a basic cabled sweater. Nothing fancy, just right sloping cables. I got to my first row of twisted stitches and was doing fine until it came time to knit the stitches off the cable needle. My stitches were really tight and I had a heck of a time getting them off of the cable needle. Is this normal or does it sound like I’m doing something wrong? The rest of my stitches aren’t tight at all. I am using Lion Brand Jiffy yarn.

It has been a real treat to learn to knit. I picked it up very quickly.
If anybody has any ideas, I’d appreciate some feedback.
Thanks a bunch!
Jenna

#2

I suspect that you picked up the stitches as if to knit. You should pick them up as if to purl–just transfer them from the left needle to the cable needle. When you slip them as if to knit, you twist them, which makes them tighter.

#3

Thanks. I’ll try that. The pattern didn’t specify and I never knew that would make a difference. It makes a lot of sense now that I think about it.

I appreciate it,
Jenna