knitting newbie

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Today I bought my first ever pair of needles (4.5mm) and some acrylic yarn (cheap stuff to practice.)

I have watched youtube videos and so far I can cast on ok. I know the steps for knitting and purling.

But when I get to the last few stitches in a row it all goes wrong. The yarn starts slipping. I get confused. Especially at the end of the first knitting row where the knot is from casting on. I cant seem to hold the tail tight enough and it unravels.

Can anyone advise what I am doing wrong?

Also any tips/knowledge in general you think woukd be useful for a beginner?

TIA :)

:o

Surely loads of things need to increase and decrease. Like gloves?

Maybe to increase you need to cast on another stitch. I can see how that could work in the two needle cast on method.

If you can learn to increase and decrease you can get a really lovely but so so simple baby blanket done in 4 weeks. I've done half one tonight (2hrs knitting whilst listening to DH and getting involved in trchie conversations I don't understand about different accessories for his new toy tablet and used 3 different types of stitches.

Im still trying to get even tension on knit stitch

But once I get into the flow Im quick enough. So I do think a blanket might be doable before its born!

Do you all get your yarn online? The only stuff I could find was in poundstretcher and its not great. There doesnt seem to be too many shops that sell it near me.

I buy online from www.kempswoolshop.com but I have seen www.deramores.com recommended particularly for stylecraft dk.

This knitting lark is addictive

For increasing at the beginning or end of the row the most usual method is to knit into the front and back of a stitch. You can pick up the loop before the stitch as well. Have a look online - there are bound to be youtube tutorials.

Thanks, will have to look at those :)

I had a look online and usually knit in from back but seems to leave holes when done in the middle

If I increase in the middle of a row I use "make one" - picking up the loop between the stitch I've just knitted and the next stitch. Then knit into the back of the picked up stitch.

That's what I do but it seems to make holes!

Im nowhere near doing that.

If I cast on ten stitches I can make a lovely little square. All neat and pretty.

If I cast on twenty stitches I make a mess. More practice I think :(

I use yarn over to increase. Basically you wrap the wool round twice to create an extra stitch.

Oh I've never heard of that, will go and investigate.
OP u could make a pretty patch blanket with your squares!