BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Tight Knitting

I am new to knitting and have not yet passed the stage of learning knit stitch and purl stitch.

I made a few practice swatches in each of the stitches. My tendency is to start relaxed, but as I progress the knitting gets tighter. The muscles in my hand and arm start to ache and get tired. That makes me use more force and then I lose control when the needles slip.

If I try to be relaxed the other problem is the stitches seem too loose. How do I correct that? More practice?

Any remedies for this situation? I should always knit relaxed right? I've seen women make enormous knitting projects and they look quite relaxed, yet the stitches look tight and uniform. :rolleyes:

Lucille

I have a hard time holding my project up for long periods of time and it leads to my arms hurting and then my neck, my back on and on. Here is how I got rid of all that, are you ready, heres the big secret......A Pillow. I put a queen size pillow across my lap and sort of position it so that my arms can rest on it also(thats why I use a queen size big enough to sort of wrap around your middle). Try this to see if it helps. It might help.

Eva, I don't mean tired from holding the work but the muscles in the hand and forearm from forming the stithes. The "knitting muscles" are overworked.

Maybe with more practice and concentration on relaxing will eventually solve the problem. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lucille

Hi! I'm new to the knitting board, but not new to knitting. I'd like to reassure you that your knitting will get more even as your "knitting muscles" relax and get used to doing what you ask them to do. Until then, I'd stick with projects like scarves, where the variation in tension won't be a problem at all (you can even call it a "design element" <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Enjoy your knitting--it'll feel natural before you know it!

Hi Becky!

Thanks for the advice. I will continue to use your phrase "design element" for exceptions from the original design. I like it! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Usually whenever I make a mistake and don't or can't fix it I call it "new design." It make me sound creative. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So now I have two explanations for the strange appearance of my work.

Thanks.

Lucille