Knitting too tight - beginner

[Georgeismydog]

Just started knitting but my stiches are too tight. Any advice

Go up a needle size

And just don't tug it after your stitch. I think at first we're liable to tug everything because we don't trust it will stay there. It really just takes practice.

Like PPs said, go up a needle size, and it is because you don't trust the stitches not to fall off when you start! Don't give up, just keep trying, and it will get better.

My first attempts were so tight that I could barely get the second needle through! It took a lot of practice, but after a while, it got much better. Good luck, OP!

If it’s because the piece you are knitting is coming out smaller than it needs to be (eg a piece of clothing) then go up a needle size. If it is just that it’s difficult to get the needle through and make the next stitch, then all you can do is make a conscious effort to make it looser.

What weight wool are you using and what size needles. That does make a difference. I advise you start on a new ball and knit a square. After a few rows you might find you relax your grip a bit and get the right tension. If you undo the knitting and use the same ball you won’t get an accurate result as the wool will have stretched slightly. I have been knitting for 70 years and always knit a sample tension square because wool of the same weight does vary.