Too tight?

How-to Questions
1

It seems that no matter how hard I try my loops are always too tight. I have a hard as heck time trying to simply insert the right needle into the left to either knit or purl. I’m spending 2 WHOLE MINUTES just trying to get through one single loop. :waah:

Can someone please help me out here. :help:

Thank you in advance,
Lexy

2

When I first started knitting about 3 months ago, I had that same problem. The more I knitted the easier it got. I knit with Boye needles which are very sharp. How sharp are the points of your needles?

3

First, I suggest that you make sure you’re not twisting your stitches inadvertently. That will make them too tight to work. Even a tight knitter shouldn’t have to work that hard to get the needle in.

Assuming that you are working the stitches correctly, make sure that you’re not pulling anything to snug them up. Just relax and let the yarn and needles do the work.

4

They’re pointy but not sharp pointy.

5

Relax Relax Relax. I think this is the answer!!! Lean back against some cushions, put your arms down in a relaxed position, and slowly knit your stitches. (obviously the first round will be hard because the stitches are so tight). The more you can relax, the easier your stitches will be.
My youngest sister (54) is learning to knit and she had the exact same problem.

6

Thanks everyone. Relaxing definitely helped.
I guess I was just nervous about it coming out ok.

7

I started learning to knitting again a couple days ago (after trying two years ago and giving up). I also had the same problem knitting too tightly. I almost gave up again. But I kept experimenting with how I was holding the yarn, and one less wrap around one of my fingers worked. :thumbsup: Now the yarn flows more easily through my hand…but not TOO easily, that is the trick.

8

Don’t pull the stitches tight after each stitch. The stitches will tighten up on their own, you don’t need to help them along. In fact, purposefully knit very loosely. Do a test swatch this way. I use to pull each stitch tight to the needle after knitting it, but now I know that it’s completely unnecessary. Easy does it. You’ll get it. It takes practice.