Total knitting beginner - need some help!

[Louise0212]

I've finally cracked open a present that I got a couple of years ago - a knit your own baby blanket kit.

It's supposed to be for beginners, but either knitting is MUCH harder than I thought, or I am a total dunderhead, as I cannot for the life of me get a row of stitches done (apart from casting on!)

I have even quit the 121 stitches in the instructions to just try 10 stitches to see if I can actually produce SOMETHING. So far no joy.

Can anyone explain Moss Stitch to me in words of one syllable...

Thanks!

I did have a link to a really good website with videos but it's on my favourites on my old (dead) computer - there are some videos here, something may help.

Basically for moss stitch, if you have an even number of stitches you knit one, purl one in the first row, then purl one, knit one all along the second row, repeat as necessary. If you have odd number, every row is the same (knit one, purl one on every row)

Once you understand how the stitches look, it gets easier I promise! If you have a knit stitch, then on the next row you put a purl stitch on top, all your knitting will be smooth one side and bumpy the other - stocking stitch. If you just knit every row it will have a "ridged" look (garter stitch) as the bumpy side is the back of every row you knot. Not sure how well I'm explaining, DD3 just waking up, will pop back on later...

Get a book called 'Stitch and Bitch' - it explains things REALLY CLEARLY and I used it to teach myself to knit (admit I haven't got much beyond basic knitting, but that is down to my own laziness rather than the book. I am also knitting a baby blanket at the mo, is 56 squares of basic knitting all sewn together. So far I have made 3. Fortunately baby is due in June so I figure I've got a while before it will actually need said blanket.

I've always thought that this is an 'uncomfortable' stich to knit. Normally, if doing stocking stitch, as Housemum has said, you knit all stiches one row, and then purl the next - the wool around the needle is most easily knitted like this.

However, if you're doing moss stitch, you have to do the opposite.

If you're trying 10 stiches, 1st row k1p1x5. Next row p1k1 x5 etc.

With 121 stitches you'd k1p1x60,k1, then the next row you'd do exactly the same so that instead of doing a purl on top of the k stitch like you normally would for stocking stitch, you put another k stitch on top...

Also, Youtube do videos, according to my (annoyingly talented) sister.

It's the purl stitch that is foxing me - have somehow managed to add a stitch on just the first row!! Maybe I don't have a career ahead of me in knitting
At this rate I will have to be about 6 months overdue to stand any chance of finishing this thing. Baby due next Sat!

Thanks for the tips, will look out for that book.

IF I manage to crack the basic stitches, will it matter too much if I decide not to do the moss stitch but swap it to stocking stitch? I know it will look a bit different, but I think it might be a bit easier?

OK - you know how, on a knit stitch, your needle goes in to the back of the stitch, and you wrap the wool around... and you end up with the wool towards the back of the knitting? a purl stitch you first bring the wool to the front (something that you might have missed out and could result in an extra 'stitch) between the two needles, then put the needle into the stitch at the front and wrap the wool around and make the stitch - but if you've got a knit stitch next, you again need to move the wool back between the needles before continuing.

Stocking stitch shouldn't result in a different size square - it just won't look quite as interesting texture wise.

KnittingHelp.com has some very helpful videos. I taught myself last December with the help of a book (How to Knit by Hamblyn) and these videos.

And once you get hooked (needled etc...) you can join ravelry.com and use their forums for all your questions (if MN needs augmenting at all)

Aha, moving the wool from front to back is probably where I have been going wrong. Will try again later on when I have regained patience. For something so relaxing, it has made me swear a lot!

Anything is going to look more interesting than what I have at the minute - namely, the casting on row!!

For moss stitch - knit one stitch then swap the yarn from the back, between the needles, to the front, then purl one, then swap the yarn back between the needles to the back before knitting the next stitch.

Moss stitch is lovely and I think totally worth it. One of the first things I knitted was a moss stitch baby hat.

(also, American patterns call it "seed stitch" so if you see any instructions referring to that, it's the same thing.)

Knitting does tend to be quite stressful when you're starting out. It doesn't really get relaxing until you get into the rhythm of it.

I'd say do it all in knit if you're comfortable with that. Moss stitch will take longer and sounds like you have a deadline!

I think I have cracked it!
Only completed 3 rows x 11 sts of moss stitch, but it actually looks like real knitting!

It was moving the yarn about that was eluding me before...

I did look on YouTube (the only time I have ever searched for something on there) but for some reason, all the clips were American, and none of them explained the yarn moving thing.

MN saves the day again (don't know why I didn't just start here)

Thanks all!

Glad it helped and explained the extra stitch!

Glad you're getting on OK! And thank you Voila - Knittinghelp.com was the fab website i had bookmarked on my old PC when I didn't know how to do thumb cast-on.

My sister has a knitting related website and has pulled together a page of useful links for beginner knitters. Includes some stuff on moss stitch (although sounds like you have cracked that now anyway!) but may be useful for future stuff like casting off, picking up dropped stitches etc.?

MillaMia Making Knitting Easy