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.
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.
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.
[FONT=“Century Gothic”]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 [I]always[/I] 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.[/FONT]
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
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! :happydance:
Take care!
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.
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! :woohoo:
thank you so much and I wish you well with every project your are working on!
Great job. I am happy you figured it out and have pushed on until the end!
[FONT=Century Gothic]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[/FONT], [FONT=Century Gothic]I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone else when I say we’d all like to see it!
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Yeah, you must post a pic!!! I know I would love to see how it turned out!!!
I knit my first pullover after 3 mos of knitting. It was a top down raglan and was very easy. 
Hi Ghostess,
just like you are, I am also in my first few weeks of knitting.
The learning new things can be tough, but once you “get” them (and you WILL be amazed at how fast you learn things …especially with the help that the people in this forum give!!)
But, before you have practiced everything for what seems like a million stiches, my advice to you is: Don’t take things apart early on because you made a little mistake or dropped a stitch, or 'cause in your eyes it looks like crap (I thought I was going to be an AWFUL knitter!) …Or I used to anyway, but then my Gramma told me to “STOP TAKING ALL OF YOUR WORK APART!” …so I did. And was amazed that once I got going it looked GREAT! I’ve been knitting for about three weeks now, and I’m doing my first pattern. Which also happens to be the first thing I’ve made that WAS NOT a square or rectangle! …lol! 
I picked a bath mitt. although I was ready to give up about ten rows in, I decided to just see what would happen if I kept going. I’m almost DONE! It looks really good, and even more important, I love it and am soooo proud of it! I’m done The majority of the actual hand part, I’ve shaped the thumb, and now I just have to finish shaping the top! But, it WAS difficult!
So another piece of advice for you …don’t jump into a pattern that’s beyond your skill level! In this mitt I was doing increases and decreases, knitting into the front and back of the same stitch, knitting two sts together, sewing seams and much more! None of which I’d done before this mitt.
So if you DO start a project that’s a lil bit passed ur skill level, just ask lots of questions, and keep on trying! You most likely will finish it, AND learn a LOT in the process!
But, if you’re anything like me, and you do pick a harder pattern? …expect NOT to sleep for a while! I’d leave my knitting on the bedside table when i went to bed, but if I couldn’t fall asleep right away, or woke in the middle of the night …it seemed like I HAD to do it! It was calling my name! (or that may have been audio hallucinations due to a lack of sleep!)
W/E you decide to do, good-luck!
Believe it or not, but they aren’t lying when they say it’s relaxing! It is! …Once you get the hang of it!
Oh! & BTW? Don’t feel badabout asking a ton of questions! I felt a little silly asking as many as I did, but I quickly found out that people don’t mind helping a beginner out! Especially the moderators! They are GREAT! True little knitting angels <3 They are okay with answering all of your questions (and, usually it’s done VERY quickly). Plus, they are PROs at breaking things done for us newbies and explaining everything very thouroughly!
Sooo …trust the pattern that you are working and don’t feel bad about asking “silly” questions -I’ve learned that there is no such thing in this forum!
Happy Knitting,
Mindy
p.s. one last recomendation. Keep 2 projects on the go (once you get going that is).
The one that you are following a pattern for, and may be a little bit tough for you.
And the other, a baby blanket or something. You can make a really nice blanket that’s very cute for any lil one’s in your life.
If you don’t know anyone who would like a baby blanket, you could bring it to your local hospital nursery, or womans shelter. They will LOVE it!
This is what you work on when you are on the phone or just wanna relax!
Cast on 100, or so, stitches and go! you can do a garter stitch (knit every row) or a stokinette stich (knit one row, purl one row, knit one row… and so on)
…ENJOY!
[FONT=Century Gothic]OMG I would so love to knit that! I’m going to look for a pattern now for “top down raglan”
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There’s some easy pattern generators at www.knittingfool.com and www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html You put in your gauge and the finished size you want and it gives you the pattern. Knitting pure and simple has a tutorial on how it works, you might want to practice with that, I think it’ll make a mini sweater or one for a baby.
Yeah, when you start out knitting, you want to watch what you’re doing. As you become more experienced, you’ll be able to watch the tv or something else more as you knit. Just make sure you stick the needles in the correct place and try not to drop stitches. We all still do drop stitches and there’s a way to correct it- even if it starts unraveling! Also, if your yarn slips too much, do what others have mentioned and get some bamboo or wood needles… or get the ones recommended for people with arthritis. Those needles are better for anyone because they lessen the strain on the hands. They’re not slick and they can bend slightly (slight enough that you don’t really notice but enough that it helps your hands) as well as just being easier to hold onto. Also, if you find yourself having problems, try larger needles. There are several patterns out there that require larger needles, bulky yarn or both!
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).
Sapphire,
May I ask what pattern you are using for your first sweater??? I am looking for easy sweater patterns and saw your post.
Thanks, knitcindy
You know, knitcindy, if you’re wanting to do a sweater… I’d say do the top-down raglan someone else did. Raglan increases/decreases are easy to do and other than that, there’s not a lot of shaping to the thing! That should be easy enough…