Newbie Knitter Question

[dylansluckymum]

i've just started to teach myself knitting from a book (with a little help from google videos) and i have a question - when it says to cast on however many stitches, do you count the slip knot in that or is it the slip knot PLUS the number it says to cast on???

ilovedolly, there's a dear little dress pattern here . If that doesn't appeal have a look through the archive section of that site- quite a lot of nice patterns there.

lol ask a question and look what happens! while all of you have been talking about it though i've been doing it.

i've just completed my first (big surprise) garter stitch scarf! i haven't been able to darn in the ends because the needle i ordered is back ordered but will post a photo in profiles. i'm very proud of myself!!!

Well done - we yack, you actually knit
Will keep an eye on profiles to see your scarf !

okay it's up! i couldn't resist having ds model it although you can't see the scarf as well. you can totally see me getting better as it progresses though, the bottom is loose and lots of mistakes and the top is a lot more even and fewer mistakes! i must say my favourite part was casting off i though it made such a nice stitch! next project - patchwork blanket!

hello knitters
am sewing up my black sarah dallas cardi, am holding off sewing up the blanky until all the bits arrive, to avoid any horrendous clashes

My two bits going in post today bundle. Mission finally accomplished while watching Dorothy L Sayers last night!

My grandmother taught me how to knit as a child and said it is custormary to count the slip knot as part of the normal casting on stitches.

However, for a less raggedy edge to the knitting, a tip she taught me was to cast on an extra stitch to that stated in the pattern and always slip the first stitch of a row.

Happy knitting!!

thanks mamijacacalys i'll try that on my next project!

another question! this one's about tension...

how is it possible that i have more stitches than stated (3 extra) but fewer rows (4 fewer)??? just when i thought it was making sense.

DLM - Can't help you there I'm afraid as have never paid much attention to the tension given in patterns. The only thing I can contribute us that I knit quite "loose" so I usually work a size smaller than I would normally take.