Novice knitter needs some advice

[MrsWalton]

I am trying to knit straight squares for patchwork blankets for childrens hospital.

They are just plain stitch all the way. One of the ladies showed me how to finish a row with a purl stitch to keep the sides straight, but i've forgotton what to do.

It's not a normal purl, you do something funny at the end. Does this make any sense to anyone?

Please excuse my ignorance.

oh bless you, I'm afraid i am no help to you but you sound like you are doing a good worthy job. I can only knit plain stich, my nan taught me when i was a kid. Have made loads of scarfs, mostly with holes in them where i have dropped stitches. Good luck

look it up on 'you tube'
it's fab for stuff like that.

Try

www.knittinghelp.com/

Brilliant videos and diagrams.

Thanks all, but would you believe i havn't got broadband so can't view video.

Wish i could remember.

Theres a brilliant knitting site called about knitting, I used it to refresh my memory will try and find a link

Actually this ones good it gives you step by step pics

It's very simple Mrs Walton, only I do it at the beginning of a row rather than at the end.
When I come to the beginning of a row I start AS IF I am going to do a purl stitch, so with the thread forward. But I don't knit Or purl) it, I just let it slide off the needle, bring the thread back and knit the next stitch and the rest of the row.
Have a go. Best of luck

Thanks all for your suggestions, but DutchOma that has done the trick.

Just did a couple of rows and its working perfectly. Straight sides Yeah!

Thanks so much.

If only everything was so easy. Happy knitting.
Have you joined Ravelry yet? If you do look out for the Mumsknitters group.

What a great tip, have never heard of that before. Have never heard of mumsknitters group either, might look you up if thats ok

goblin, you need to join Ravelry to find the mumsknitters group ravelry.com. You need to ask for an invitation which will come through in a few days and a whole new world of knitting and crocheting will open up for you.
Word of warning though:- it's more addictive even than MN.

Oh Dear,
I kicked the MN habit, when my two year old started to look after herself a bit more, and my love of vegetable growing took over.

I've been addicted to www.chat.allotment.org.uk ever since. But now that she is going to playschool 2 mornings a week, i've started 'crafting'.

But here goes, i'm googleing ravelery.

ok i've signed up.

2 day wait.

I have been on ravelry a while, even have some patterns on there, just never got into the chat side of it. How do I get an invitation? My username is the same on there as here. Thanks for the info!

Didnt need to find an allotment chat site aswell, am never going to get my UFOs done now lol

If you're on Ravelry already, click on the groups tab and search for Mumsknitters, then just click join this group. See you soon!

I've just sent you an invite.