To want to stick the knitting needles where the sun down shine.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

Today I decided to start knitting, giving up smoking and I thought this would be a great idea to keep my hand busy.

After googling and watching the youtube videos I failed do many times. I actually lit up one of my remaining emergency ciggies.

I taught myself with the Stitch n Bitch book. It took several days to actually figure out how to knit, then for the longest time I couldn't figure out how to purl! Do you have a local craft store or yarn shop that might show you? We have a store here called Michael's, they do free classes to get you started.

Ditto to crochet! It's MUCH easier than knitting imo

Knitting is a good skill to learn too though. So many different stitches and it looks a lot different, "tighter" than crochet.

I considered trying out a loom as well. My mum got a kit... martha stewart or lion brand... I forget which. I looked easy enough....

Sign yourself up to Ravelry. There's bound to be a group near you and people who can talk you through any issues, not to mention thousands of patterns!

So when you start your second row, are you definitely putting your empty needle into the stitch leg? It sounds like you might be putting it into the loop between the stitches.

Another recommending Ravelry

You have to join (free) but there is shedloads of advice on there.

You sound like you have the idea, just that you need to practise until it clicks Good luck.

For knitting you have to join ravelry, it's the mumsnet of knitting

If you have a local knitting shop, they can probably demonstrate there what you are doing and probably hold classes as well.

For videos I luffs this website as I think her videos are so clear www.knittinghelp.com

Finally if it looks like what you wanted, it's right. There is no such thing as doing it wrong in knitting as everyone knits slightly differently and there are no knitting police (this is especially for the bitch who told me I was knitting wrong age 12 at Girls Brigade just because I knew how to knit continental style not English - I stopped knitting for 15 years because of her ignorance )

It's my New Years resolution to learn to knit, not started yet as I need to buy some wool. Have a feeling it's going to be harder than I thought.
Good luck OP with the no smoking.

Do cross stitch - very therapeutic

for those who want to start, go and get knitting and crochet magazine! it's the more expensive magazine but honestly it's worth it, it's got the most generous cover kit that's great as a starter.

You can do it. I learn to knit entirely from books in my mid 20s, while working full time. I recently made this lovely cable knit jumper for DD. Carry on. It's worth it!

just because I knew how to knit continental style not English

Does that mean you hold the needles on top of the knitting not underneath?
My friend used to knit like that.

casting off? no probs. Knit two stitches. Now they're both on the right hand needle. Lift the first one that you did over the second one and off the needle. Then knit another stitch. Now you have 2 sts on the right hand needle. repeat ... repeat ..

Exactly.

If there are any wool shops near you they often run classes.

I started swimming when I quit smoking over 15 years ago. I found I never felt like a fag after exercising.

I wish I could do knitting but my DD aged 2 loves to unravel everything. I have started the same baby cardie about 4 times. DS aged 5 also stood on my bamboo knitting needle and broke it. I can see why knitting is something the elderly (no young kids) like to do!

OP I would recommend you find a beginner's knitting class & sign up. I learned that way & found it much easier than using books & youtube videos. Although I did teach myself how to crochet using youtube.

Take up crochet. I can crochet but can't knit at all.

It's a single needle so I find it easier to manage. And if you do granny squares, they can be joined to form a blanket, nice and easy (and have other uses too).

www.knittinghelp.com website is good

I have been knitting a scarf for 3 years it goes fat and thin and is a mess. I am not a natural knitter I think.

Knitty gritty is another good beginner's book

(Have to disagree about metal needles - I love them, the slickness makes me much quicker - but horses for courses and another material may better suit your knitting style, especially as you might not want slickness when you're starting out)

I like both knitting and crochet but do more knitting as I'm quicker at it and it uses less yarn

Continental - I hold the yarn over the index finger of my left hand and move the right hand needle in and out of it as I knit, rather than English style where you hold it in your right hand and throw it round. Knittinghelp has videos in both styles which is why I love it sooo much.

www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knit-stitch

Continental style means you can do the knit side very fast, purl is still faster than English style. My mum has her knitting group in awe when she gets going. It's ideal for Fairisle as you can hold threads on more than one finger although my mum and I can't do this Knittinghelp recommends learning both styles and then doing one colour continental and one English for fairisle tried and failed with this technique too

Ooh, please do persevere with the knitting ... it is SO calming and satisfying, once you get the hang of it. Start with a scarf - dead easy, especially if you use 'big' yarn and large needles. You'll soon find you can multi-task - knit, watch TV and nurse the cat on your lap, all at the same time.

I am the most useless knitter ever! I used to go to a knitting club for a bit and still rubbish but I recommend this cancan yarn it is really easy and you end up with a really great frilly scarf.

I like the Stitch and Bitch book, it had quite an easy method for casting on and the patterns are relatively nice.

When I started I kept somehow adding extra stitches onto the rows and the scarf I was making kept getting bigger so I'd have to knit stitches together to stop it being a triangular shape. I gave it to my Mum (lucky old her!) and it looks kind of moth eaten at the sides. I did a nicer one when I could actually knit though.

I'm also in South Wales if that helps?

I'm by no means an expert jut I could help you with the basics?