Yes, the first and last stitch are bigger than the rest, don't know why. Just be sure to pull them tight. They will look fine when the project is done.

If you have trouble with stitches slipping off the needles, I think the wood needles have a little more traction, and you can make them yourself out of wooden dowel. Just cut a short length, sharpena point on one end in a pencil sharpener, finely sand in one direction, rub with waxed paper and voila!

You said: I've slipped stitches, never on purposes, picked up an extra stitch along the way, lost stitches and never figured out where or how, worked on unraveling stitch by stitch (will I ever get the hang of it?) and somehow managed to lose all the stitches off the needle more than once.

Yes, this is knitting. Sounds like you are doing just fine. Don't give up. LOL

Sheila Joyce gave you some good advice. When I am using an especially slipper yarn, I always use bamboo. It "holds" the stitches better than metal or plastic.

Yes, if I pull that end stitch tight after I slip it off the left needle it does help, so thank you, Sheila Joyce. Make my own needles? Cool idea, I'll have to give it a try.

Hey, socks, if this is knitting and it sounds like I'm doing fine, I have to wonder why? Why am I doing it? Oh yeah, there's a sweater pattern I hope to tackle in this lifetime, that's why.

So much for picking up cheapo plastic needles. Guess I knew somehow I'd pay for that mistake. LOL OK, Donna, guess I want some bamboo needles. And since I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it (I'll probably take a vow to never pick up a knitting needle again before the evening's over! LOL) I'll have to go get some more needles in different sizes and while I'm at it I'll look for bamboo ones.

Thanks, all. :Dcolor>

I'm not sure this may solve your problem, Purple, but when knitting, I always just slip the first stitch of every row onto the right-hand needle without knitting it at all.
I find this makes a nice, clean edge without any lumpy bumps on it. Perhaps give that a go?

As for finding, losing, dropping etc stitches, it truly does get better, but perfection is not something one should expect in this matter! ;-D

Just relax and enjoy!
And yes, needles do make a difference. I've always heard how good bamboo ones are, but they are pricey, and my Michael's coupons are still being used for the yarns! LOL
I use Aero and find they don't get too warm to use, and stitches slip nicely along them without sticking and causing me to yank or pull them along, which can also cause a loss of stitches.

Hope you keep it up! ;-D

I do like plastic needles too. I bought some kind of plastic nylon circular needles on ebay that I really like. Plastic as well as wood do not make your hands cold on a cool day like metal needles will. But plastic is a little more slippery than wood needles.

You sound exactly like me when I first started knitting a couple of years ago. I learned everything out of a book and with the help of these nice ladies on this forum. I have never been into a yarn shop - there isn't one around here for about 500 miles and I've never had anybody actually show me in person knitting techniques. Like I said, this is the place to come for help. Just hang in there, you'll get used to and like Socks said, you sound like you are coming along just fine. Just don't give up.
:-)

Glitter, slipping that first stitch is a wonder! I'm getting a nice neat edge now and I love it! Perfection? Handmade positively isn't going to be perfect and besides isn't producing something perfect supposed to invite the wrath of the gods or something like that? LOL Life's got enough trouble without inviting more in.

I've decided I'm making a long scarf. What better way to practice and practice and practice getting the tension right? When I start crocheting and get bored with what I'm doing I sometimes use a different stitch for a while. I'm wondering what a length of garter stitch followed by a length of stockinette would look like. Can't quite picture it.

lawmar, thank you! that is so encouraging. LOL I have a habit of quitting anything like this I start but the fact is I'm not a good quitter and keep going back and starting again until eventually I figure it out. Now it's starting to get fun, almost routine to do those knit stitches. So I'm currently not quitting and thinking one day soon I'll actually be able to do something fun and a little more complicated.

Thank you, all of you!

If you knit a scarf in garter stitch (K every row), it will lay flat. If you knit a scarf in stockinette (alternating K and P rows), your scarf will roll, which is OK, just a different look.

If you combine the two in one scarf, the sections which are stockinette might curl, but the garter areas will lay flat.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Why don't you do an internet search and find a scarf pattern you like?

Purple, socks is right. If you would like to alternate garter and stockinette in your scarf, in the stockinette sections use a simple border of 4-5 stitches beginning and end of EVERY ROW in that section. It will keep it from curling and be pretty at the same time.

Sounds like you are doing fine, just keep practicing and your knitting needles will soon be flying!

Tami....who also likes bamboo needles over all the others!

:Dcolor>
This is getting to be fun! My needles aren't flying yet but at least I don't feel like they're taking on a life of their own and trying to attack me. ;pcolor> Someone recommended the Continental method and I like it. Maybe because I already crochet and was wanting to hold the working yarn like that anyhow, but switching from knit to purl is a breeze now. Slipping stitches--on purpose!--is easy and now I'm wondering what the difference between slipping knit-wise and purl-wise actually is. As I've been working on the different stitches and learning to hold the yarn and maintain tension comfortably, I decided I was just working on a sample piece and will start something for real now. More knitting needles are a must and I think I'm OK with the plastic ones for now. While I love to have good tools I have to keep the cost down.

The help here is amazing. When I've actually finished knitting something you all will have to share the blame. *snicker*

Purple, to see the difference between slipping stitchs knit wise and purl wise use bigger needles and thicker yarn. Then do a little knitting. Now, put your needle in the next stitch as if to knit, slip it onto the working needle, then slip the next stitch also. Now, slip them BOTH back onto the holding needle and knit the two together. Knit a few more stitches so you have some space between. Now, put your needle in the next stitch as if to PURL, slip it onto your working needle and slip the next stitch also. Slip them both back onto the holding needle and knit the two together. Knit a few more stitches, then do another few rows of just plain knit. Now, stop and examin your sample. See how the two different stitches lay? One will slant one way and the other will slant the opposite. For socks at the heel and toe, when we want our decreased stitches to look like they go the direction of the decrease, on one side we will just knit 2 tog. On the other, so the stitch lays in the direction of the decrease, we slip, slip, knit. Just like I told you how to do above. It lays the stitch in a certain direction. Clear as mud?! Play a little and you can see how the stitches lay. The stitches are easier to see on plain, light colored yarn in a heavier weight and bigger needles.

And when you actually finish knitting something, take a picture, post it, and we will all be very happy to share the blame with you!

Tami

Buy a length of wood dowel at the hardware store or lumber yard or craft store, and then make your own needles as I described above. For well under $1, you will have a set of wood needles. If you buy the dowel at a craft store that also has knitting supplies, you can measure the dowel for knitting needle sizing by using their knitting needle measuring device, available in the store's knitting notions section.

Tami, thanks for the slipping tips, I'll try that.
I've got about 15" on a scarf and am amazed at how fast it's going since a week ago I didn't know how to knit.
I broke down and bought a book with some needles and other stuff in the same pkg. as it turned out to be fairly cheap. It actually has a needle gauge in it so if I take it with me I can measure dowels anywhere! I'm trying to figure out where to mount a pencil sharpener I've got so I can sharpen those dowels. This is more fun than I thought it would be.
:o)color>

You are welcome, Purple. I'm sure you will find somewhere to mount that pencil sharpener! Or use a hand sharpener. Keep us posted on your progress and post a picture when it's finished, please.

Tami

Here's a stockinette scarf with a border which should keep it from rolling. I'm making this one now. It is rolling a bit as I make it, but I think it will lay flat with blocking or washing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Scarf

Thanks, socks, I've printed the pattern and saved the link!
Life got hectic and more complicated and my knitting got laid aside. Now I look at what I've started and think I'll ravel and redo. Perfection I'm not aiming for but I would like both sides to look sort of straight!
:o)color>