knitting help for a begginer?

Question

Well I recived a pair of knitting needles and a how to book for Christmas. I have been knitting non-stop and am pretty proud of what I can do so far. But my one little problem is I end up with more rows than I orignally cast. Example A... I was making a scarf started out with 20 rows and ended up with thirty. Example B I was making a...I'm not sure what it was but statred out with nine and ended up with 14. Please help I'm not enjoying anymore wiht crooked scarfs.

Answer 1

well, im not sure i can explain what you are doing wrong, but i know what is happening and i know how to help, all you hve to do is knit two together until you are back to the number you started with, only do it once per row though. good luck and have fun. :-)

Answer 2

by rows I think you mean stitches (that is the number of "loops" around your needle).

Probably the reason you are gaining stitches is that you are twisting the last stitch so that it "flips" over the needle and creates "two" loops. The only way I could possible describe this is by showing you. Since I can't the best solution is for your to either count the stitches for EVERY ROW you knit for awhile until you get the hang of what is a normal stitch and what is a "flipped" stitch. Knit the first row and turn knit the second row and count while you knit - if at the end of your row of 20 stitches, you have counted and knit 19 and have 2 left, simply knit the two together to make one. You do this by sliding your needle through BOTH stitches and knitting the 2 as if they were one.

Here's a tip for you - when you turn your row to knit the next row - SLIP the first stitch instead of knitting it. That is, slide the needle through the stitch and take it off of the needle without knitting it - then knit the row as usual. This will not only give you a nicer finished edge to your work, it will also help solve your problem of flipping the last stitch to form 2.

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

I got bored reading all the other answers, so forgive me if this is a repeat.

First of all, never put down your knitting until you finish a row. That will help you to not make the mistake of knitting the other way.

Second, every single time you finish a row, count your stitches. If you have more than you started off with, undo your stitches.

Use big needles for practice---like 9's or 10's. Big needles help you see what you are doing when you are new.

Good luck!

Answer 4

OK. This is a really common problem, and hard to explain without pictures.

Pull your knitting down on your needles so all your stitches line up. Then turn it a little and look at the underside of the stitches. Every time you make a stitch, you form a loop around the base of the old stitch, and if your knitting's not pulled down and lined up correctly, it is very very easy to turn the loops from the old stitch into new stitches. Mess around with it a bit, just looking at it on the needle; you'll see where the loops can pull across the needle and look deceptively like stitches. Once you learn to see the difference, it's not hard at all to tell the real stitches from the loops.

Answer 5

I think you are trying to say you end up with more 'stitches' not rows than you originally cast on because you dont cast on rows....the problem is quite common when you start out knitting...you are duplicating stitches...the only way I know to help you with this until you get more proficient is to count the number of stitches after every row and if you end up with more than you started with just take the row back and start again...its easier than you think to take it back...put your needle in the bottom of the stitch and pull it off the needle...it will end up undone on the other needle...this wont happen when you get better at it...happy knitting...hope this helps...stick at it...I was self taught and can know knit everything...

Answer 6

You could be knitting in the same stitch at the end of your row. Instead of knitting in the stitch that is on your needle at the end of the row knit in the next stitch. While you are knitting your rows count the stitches as you go. See if you have the same amount. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

A tip:

Count how many stitches you have after every row. This usualy happens to beginers. To keep it from happening knit slowly instead of fast. You will catch what you are doing. It is hard to help with knitting over the internet. So, try asking someone who can watch you knit and show you what you are doing wrong. God bless and Happy New Year!

Answer 8

ok this happens to me a lot.
be careful when you are knitting
count stitches each time you make a new one
if you see what you're not sure is a loop, count all your stitches before picking it up.
if you have one of those double loops-dont treat each one as a separate loop. just shove the needle through the little x it forms.
hope this helps=]

Answer 9

THINK YOUR TALKING ABOUT EXTRA STITCHES RATHER THAN MORE ROWS. YOUR PICKING UP AND MAKING NEW STITCHES WHEN YOU KNIT OR PURL. TRY TO LOOK AND JUST DO EACH STITCH. HOPE THIS HELPS. I'VE BEEN THERE TOO AND LEARNED WITH THE BOOK. HAVE FUN.