OK, don't laugh. I have been trying for about 3 hours now trying to "cast on" i am getting frustrated, i can't figure it out. Any tips? LOL, before i move onto the patterns i suppose I should know how to get the yarn onto the needles!

Here are a couple instruction sites that might help:

http://www.craftown.com/knitlesson.htm

http://www.learntocrochet.com/instructions_kn.php3

http://www.learntoknit.com/home.php3

Thanks CJ, maybe you know what I am doing wrong. Second link you gave me...somewhere between step 6 and 7 when i am moving stitch to left needle it comes un-done...

any ideas?

I feel silly, but i am all excited about figuring out how to cast on! Here's my pic!!! My question now is.... my stitches are wicked tight, how do I "loosen up a little" so that my stitches aren't so tight?

Melissa, what I do when that happens, it just knit a row. Put your knitting needle where it belongs, (the first loop,kwim) and loosen it with your needle, then knit. Continue to do the same through the whole row. Now that your done, then you can begin your pattern.

Glad you figured out how to get those stitches on.

You might also want to take them off and do them again, this time trying not to get them so tight!! Again, its all practise!! :)

It took me a long time before I got it so those stitches weren't so tight. When dd learnt how, it was almost impossible to get the needle in to knit, so I had to do it over for her.

You can also cast on- on a needle that is one size bigger than the pattern requires, or put 2 needles side by side and cast on, then remove on needle.

Thanks ladies. I took it off and tried again, and now and somewhat better, I tired over and over for a few hours. Now I am looser with the stitches, and I am (at least I think so) better at it. here's how it looks now:

There are a few spots on it I don't understand though. They look funny to me and I don't quite know what is wrong, any ideas? I have circled the areas in red. Each time I have done it and redone it, the side still comes out that way.

Oh, and I was trying to follow the directions to "knit" but from the pics it looks more like "purl" to me...lol, what have I done???:D

Melissa, where those red spots are, you've gots holes, which are either caused by missing a stitch or by putting your one needle in the wrong place and knitting.

Time to take it out and start over again, probably not what you wanted to hear right. But if you leave them there, trust me - they'll drive you nuts if your like me.

Your doing great though, nice even stitches. Great job!!

Yep, your doing great! Perseverance is a good thing when you are learning a new craft. Kudos to you for hanging in there.:clap:

CJ could be right or you may have purled the stitches instead of knit them. Are you coming out with the same number of stitches you started with?

The reason it looks like 'purl' stitches is because that pattern stitch is called the 'garter' stitch, which is knit every row. So you are always seeing the back of the stitch which is the purl side.

The end where you have it circled just looks like a loose stitch to me or possibly you turned your work in the opposite direction, not a mistake per se.

CJ is right, the best way to learn is to rip it out and start over. :(

BTW - Congrats on sticking with it, it isn't easy to learn knitting by looking in a book. :fdance:

Thanks!

The front and back look virtually the same, what do i do to make it look more like the "knit" instead of the "purl"? I am commint out with the same number of stithes... is that right? or should it be a different amount?