Help a novice knitter!

[Tee2072]

I have literally just started knitting thanks to the lovely MNetter who sent me needles and yarn.

First question: my book says to have a 12 inch tail. Which keeps getting wrapped up in the rest of the damn yarn. Does it have to be that long?

No, but it is sometimes handy for when you are sewing it up. What are you making ? If I am using a long tail I sometimes wrap it up in a bow so it doesn't annoy me.
Good Luck

Right now I'm just practicing not really making anything.

I've just pulled it all out because my 18 stitches had become 20...

If you are just practising then I would make the tail shorter, say 4 inches. As mrsdinklage said it is very useful to have a long tail when sewing up.

When I was teaching my DD to knit I suggested she count the number of stitches after each row to begin with, to check she still had 20 or whatever. That way she could spot a mistake and correct it before she had done too much more.

l love knitting. What are you hoping to make?

I was counting after each row, that's how I knew I had 20! I have no idea yet how to fix it other than pulling it all out and starting over, since I haven't reached that far in my book.

I don't know what I am going to make. Sweaters, maybe?

It's very addictive tee I'm making a scarf put of chunky purple wool. Nearly finished after 2 years and it's going to be immensely long as I can't work out how to cast off!

Fairy - who needs a MN scarf - we'll all reccognise you when you go out in your very long scarf (with knitting needles attached)
Tee - a jumper
Why don't you stop unpicking it - and just keep going, once you get the hang of it you'll find your not increasing all the time.

Oh - I also meant to say - go on youtube - its easier to learn by watching

mrs I think I should keep going then can wrap the dc up as well. Will save £ surely that way and there is no chance of either of them running off without strangling me first

I tie my tail up - starting a couple of inches from the bottom, I dcoil it around 2 or 3 fingers, wrap the remains of the tail around it a few times, then tie that in a single knot with the top part.

If you followed that, you have a little mini skein hanging, instead of a massive tail, which gets ratty.

You can also wrap it around a little bobbin - even one made out of card.

Good luck Tee, I am helping my 16 yr old work on her first project just now.

Keep at it, my daughter is getting frustrated that she is making so many mistakes, she can't seem to understand that the more she does it the better she will get!

Definitely go on youtube, I use it a lot for new techniques or for stitches I don't use very much

I've just realized I've naturally put the working yarn in my right hand while holding the needle with the work in my left.

It feels better.

Is that Continental? I know it's mentioned in the book but I haven't gotten that far yet!

Not sure, my method I have since been told is something like 'throw over'

I have the working yarn in my right hand, kind of hold the needles together with my left hand at the cross over point and wrap wool round needle with my right hand. It sounds cack handed but it works for me!

My mum has the right hand needle put under her armpit!

Tee I thought that's how all right-handed knitters knit. That should feel natural if you are right-handed.

I tie the tail up like a skipping rope. After the time I knitted the first row with the tall instead of the working yarn.

I suggest you start with scarves, socks, mittens etc. a jumper is a lot of work.

I just finished my first, bad bit.

I'm kinda proud.

The first project in the book is a scarf. I'll keep you posted...

That's really good for a first attempt .

That's a good first attempt: mine was twice as wide at one end as the other

Brilliant knitting Tee your stitches are lovely and even.

Your holes may have come from accidentally having your wool at the front of your work when you knitted a stitch. This would make a hole and cause you to have an extra stitch. Two holes = two extra stitches.

Very good! You made a button hole!

My daughter wanted to do a scarf for her first thing but meanie that I am told her no, it is long and boring!

The baby hat pattern I have found is on straight needles, bit of rib, stocking stitch, some decrease rows and that is it! She has done the first knit row but then came to a standstill as she doesn't like purling!

PurpleKittyKnitting she may prefer this garter stitch hat

Ooo I'll show her that!

This is her work so far

my daughter's knitting

That's very good, Purple!

I am putting the scarf on hold until I have heavy yarn. I was making a very tiny scarf with what I have!

Time to learn longtail cast on and how to purl...

You're ahead of me, I only learnt longtail cast on about 18 months or so ago! I never knew there were so many ways to cast on and off (I see you cast off! Well done!)

When I first started my mum used to cast on and do the first row, which is what I did for my daughter (she is 16)

Ooo yes some chunky wool, it will grow quick!

This is me trying to understand videos and pictures of long-tail:

I love youtubing for techniques, you can just find the one you like and keep repeating it so you don't have one person getting angry with you for not understanding it.

I am not generally patient but I have surprised myself with my daughter and her knttiing!