So I’m really confused, when I knit in the front leg, my knit stitch twists, but if I knit in the back leg, it stays straight! Isn’t it supposed to go the other way?
I’m fairly new at knitting, but I’ve studied videos and I can see that I am definately knitting correctly, but the stitch keeps twisting! It’s so frustrating!
I’m far from an expert, but do you knit English or continental style. ?of you may be wrapping the yarn the wrong way when u knit it. I’m sure someone with loads more experience can tell u what the problem may be. Good Luck, let us know how it’s going.
Well I’m definately not knitting continental, it’s far too daunting to try!
From memory, I wrap the yarn from the right around the main needle and through the gap, then slide the working needle through, making the stitch.
To be even more confusing, I’m currently working on a beanie on a circle needle and the knit stitch is working fine, but my purl stitch is twisting when I look at it on the wrong side, making me extremely confused!
So when I knit on the circle, the knit stitch is behaving itself but the purl is twisting, but then when I knit my plain scarf, the knit stich has to be done on the back leg, but my purls are fine!
WHAT IS GOING ON!
It sounds like you’re wrapping your yarn clockwise instead of counter clockwise when you make your stitches. You can either practice and get into the habit of wrapping your yarn the correct way or knitting into the back leg. Eastern European knitting orients the stitches differently. Some people purposely wrap the yarn clockwise on purls to tighten them up. It’s just a matter of knowing what you’re doing and deciding which way you want to do it.
The only [I]right[/I] way to knit is the way that works best for [I]you![/I] I knit Continental because I could not get the hang of doing it English style. You see, what is right for me isn’t necessarily right for you.
Are you doing stockinette? If so could it be the purls that are the problem. When those are twisted it will affect the stitches on the other side of the work where you knit the stitches. You’ll have to untwist the knits by knitting into the back of them. This method is actually called combination knitting.
The problem with saying clockwise or counter clockwise is that we sometimes look at the stitches differently. We’ve had several discussions inhere about this.
The problem with saying clockwise or counter clockwise is that we sometimes look at the stitches differently.
Too true, Jan! I remember that when I was working it out I was thinking that the needle went over or under the yarn. As I knit Continental that was probably completely backwards to what an English knitter would see. For you all, it would be yarn over or under the needle. Thanks for making a very important point that I totally missed! 
At the moment I am doing patterns that have stockinette, but the stitches twist on the knit stitch usually.
I have no idea how my purls are twisting on my beanie because I can literally pick up my scarf and purl in the exact same way I always do it and they don’t twist!
From what I can see, I’m wrapping the yarn counter-clockwise.
Thankyou all for your advice 
Your knit stitches will look twisted if you purl with the yarn under rather than over. I do this intentionally on the first purl of each section when I’m ribbing in the round and it looks perfect except on the back. If you’re knitting flat that means you will have to untwist the knits. In the round it’s fine unless you’re folding the brim.
I think I understand what you mean; I’ll have a fiddle and try and work it out.
I was going to turn the rim over but I’ve gone too far and can’t be bothered ripping out everything!
I guess I’ve just got a different way of doing things, without meaning to!
I’m sure it will be fine. It’s your first hat and you’re knitting flat? I can take a pic of inside and out on the brim if you’d like.
I’m knitting on a circle needle, and I’ve done one before that didn’t twist. I haven’t changed my stitch method by the slightest!
I’m knitting on a circle needle, and I’ve done one other beanie before on the same circle and it didn’t twist on the reverse side.
In haven’t changed my method at all!
Are you knitting in the round on a circular needle? Or are you knitting flat, back and forth in rows?
If everything is the same and you’re sure your stitches are done correctly it could be the yarn. Some yarns act a little weird. I have a link, but I’ll have to post it tomorrow. I’m on my phone right now.
I’m knitting round, not back and forth.
Maybe it’s just the yarn. It’s a pain though.
Thankyou for all your advice
Well, if it’s happening consistently, you can call it the stitch pattern that you used for this hat. It may not be the pattern intended but if you like the look, it’ll be fine. There are patterns that deliberately use twisted stitches.
Here’s the link. It may not be your problem at all, but it’s interesting and good to know.
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATwhyply.html
I also came across this when searching. You can see if your stitches look like these.
I’m making my own pattern, I rarely, if ever, follow patterns.
Thanks for all the advice! I’ll post a photo in the knitting projects section when I have the time