Knitting help

[MadameRanevskaya]

I have been a knitter for years but have taken up crocheting about a year ago. Since then when I knit my stitches look really odd. I suspect this is a tension problem . Any tips?

I am gutted that something I used to do so easily now seems counterintuitive.

The photograph shows I hope how much my stitches have changed in the top rows.

I have found in the past that the stitches even out after a wash.

Sorry that is all the help I can give.

Chuck it away and start again!

Have you changed needles? It looks as if the top rows are knitted on smaller needles.

Are you sure it's not the yarn that's (part of) the problem? Some yarns are harder to knit evenly with.

Silvercatowner no same size needles.
I know it looks dreadful but it’s like I’ve forgotten how to knit!

I think your stitches are the wrong way round on the needles, have you been knitting through the back of the loop instead of the front?

Saralyn I have tried with other yarns but it’s the same story.

Agree with @minniemoll, stitches on the needle look as if they are the wrong way round, the yarn looks ‘split’.

The best way I can explain it is, if stitches are dropped from a needle and picked up again, sometimes they can be picked up the wrong way round on the needle and have the ‘split’ look that is seen here. Once each stitch is turned around on the needle, the yarn appears thicker/smoother.

Failing that, two other thoughts:

• yarn from a different batch/lot, so different in some way?
• has the work been left for a long period of time and picked up again - I have noticed with my own work that the tension is different if I don’t work on a piece for a long time.

I agree with mini and little, it also looks like you are knitting a bit tighter than before. I reckon it would probably be fixable by blocking, rather than having to tink back, depending on the yarn.

Thanks everyone. I have cracked it. I was putting the yarn around my knitting needle in the wrong direction which was why some of you thought my stitches were the wrong way round.

Very relieved I haven’t forgotten how to knit!