I have learned to cast on just fine but when I get to the knit stitch my stitches are loose and do not look like the ones in the videos on this site. I am knitting with size 8 metal needles and using weight 4 yarn. I am not sure if I should get a smaller size needle or if I am doing something wrong. I only finish a few rows before I get frustrated unravel it and start over to get the same results. The videos have helped but I don’t know why my stitches don’t turn out the same.
Thank you in advance for any help
Welcome to Knitting Help and to knitting!
If you keep repeating knit stitches on every row,the pattern should ge a garter stitch pattern. You may not be holding the yarn the same way as in the video and that’s ok. The point is more the appearance of the finished work. It should look like ridges or bumps across the row.
Sometimes it takes several rows to see the pattern emerge. Looseness or uneveness is part of learning to knit. Practice will make that part even out.
Congratulations on learning to cast on. 
Which cast on are you using? A backward loop cast on can make your first row loose and sloppy looking. However, loose stitches are much better than really tight ones that you can’t knit into. Keep practicing and you’ll get the hang of it. As already pointed out, all knit stitches on every row make bumpy looking garter stitch. If you don’t think that’s what’s going on for you try posting a picture of your knitting and that will help people help you figure it out.
Welcome to Knitting Help!
If you’re doing the stitch correctly then just keep knitting even if it’s loose and messy. That’s normal when you first start and we all went through that. It really just takes practice.
Typically when you are learning it’ll take a bit for your stitches to be all the same or to be looser or tighter. Keep in mind that it also makes a difference if you are using continental or the english method. I started off with english but switched to continental. I want to say my stitches are tighter in continental.
The method doesn’t make much difference. Speed varies and so does whether you knit tight or loose. When you’re learning I suggest you find whichever method you are most comfortable and practice. 
It depends on the person. I did english for a very long time before learning continental. So for some people they knit tighter in one method in comparison to another. I know this is true for me as well as others I know. I’m not saying one method automatically makes a person knit tighter or looser just that it can and is something to take into consideration.
Hello,
usually with 4 ply, you do need to use a smaller knitting needle a 4.00mm (UK8).
hope that helpls.
Weight 4 is a worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles should be fine.
She said its #4 which is worsted weight yarn. Usually a US 7 or 8 works for that.
Also 4 ply isn’t always a useful guide anymore. See this article. Scroll down , I had to search the Wayback machine.