Help! Clueless knitter

[jmarroq]

Hi. I want to knit. I have tried it a few times but always give up because of the same problem. Whether I use Continental or English, I always end up with an extra stitch on each row. I think it is something I am doing wrong with either the first or last stitch. Perhaps I am not putting the needle through the whole stitch...anyone know what I am talking about???

[texaspeach]

you're probably knitting the first stitch as two. If you look closely at it, you might notice that the working yarn pulls the stitch in a way that makes it look like two stitches.

The other thing you might be doing is either knitting into the front and back of one stitch, or accidentally doing a yarn over and creating a new stitch, but more likely you're knitting the first stitch as two.

You should check out the book Knit Fix, it answers a lot of the questions I had as a new knitter and even now as a more experienced knitter

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I'd bet a dollar that you're knitting into each "leg" of the first stitch as if it were two stitches. At the beginning of a row, the yarn should be hanging straight in the back if you've been working in all knits (ie: garter stitch) If you're working in stockinette (knit the right side row, purl the wrong side row) then it should be hanging in back for the front/right side row, and in back for the back/wrong side row.

[readytobedone]

agree, you're probably knitting the first stitch as two. if you were doing an accidental yarnover, which i did all.the.time when i first started knitting a few weeks ago, you would notice your stitches multiplying at a more alarming rate

also, make sure you are holding the knitwork (like the rows you have knitted so far) so that it's BETWEEN the needles, not hanging off the back of the left needle. if you knit with it hanging off the back, you'll yarn over a lot.

i am a really bad knitter so far, so i can help with ALL your mistakes!

[jmarroq]

Thanks

Thanks. I think you're right about the first stitch. It's hard to tell where a stitch begins. When I am counting, I am looking at the loops on the needle and not the stitches. The stitches are hard to see until you have a couple of rows on there. I guess it doesn't help that I am knitting with very furry yarn. Berocco hush. My needles are bamboo and kind of slippery too, so the yarn it twirling around a lot. Hopefully I will get the hang of it. I think I prefer the Continental style better. I am very uncoordinated and anything that will save me the extra step or a little time helps. I remember taking a knitting class years ago, and we tried both styles, and my guage did seem nicer with continental...not as tight. I am trying to make a simple 10 stitch piece. Very long and thin. I want to use it as a trim on a baby blanket. Any suggestions on what kind of material would look nice with a furry trim? I was thinking a furry fleece or something fluffy like that.

[zech13_9_goforgold]

Are you knitting the blanket or sewing your blanket onto fabric?

Since it's been a while since you've knit, maybe you could work with a less fuzzy yarn for a while as practice.

[TortelliniMama]

I agree that you'd probably be better off working with a smoother yarn to start with, but if you really want to use the furry yarn right now, you may be able to make that furriness work for you. With a really furry yarn, it may not be obvious in the finished piece if you've added stitches accidentally, as long as you decrease them away. So knit a row or two, count your stitches, and if you have one or two too many, knit two together once or twice in the next row. Then knit another row or two, and check again. Keep going until you've got what you want, or until you throw it across the room and get some smoother yarn.

[MoOnFiReGlOw]

Honestly this yarn sounds perfect for your project. Its big and warm and very easy to see:

www.polarknit.com

I have yet to try to do a project with it, but it looks absolutely scrumptious!