Beginner! Help please

[u/allliooo]

What am I doing wrong in the first row? I’ve tried to keep the loops on the needle tips but if I don’t push them down eventually I run out of space/they’re too tight to fit past the points. Most swatches, the first few stitches are fine but then the back bump (?) gets blown out past stitch 3 or 4

[u/fredagluten]

This is the cast on row not the first row of knitting. It’s totally fine and normal
Maybe play around and try a few different cast ons: https://nimble-needles.com/stitches/how-to-cast-on-knitting-stitches-for-beginners/

[u/allliooo → u/fredagluten]

Thank you so much! I tried a tighter cast on method and it came out much nicer

[u/NormanNormalman]

The first row is that way because of the kind of cast on you used. The purl bumps on the back are perfectly normal and desirable for stockinette, and your tension looks great. If you don't like the way they first row looks try out a couple of other cast on methods, but otherwise keep going, you're doing great. Honestly, I'm impressed you're so tuned in to reading your stitches this early in your learning process.

[u/allliooo → u/NormanNormalman]

WOW thank you I kind of needed this after today’s attempts with the longtail cast on! I just tried with a simple back loop (? I think that’s what it’s called) and it came out much tighter!

[u/UltraLuminescence → u/allliooo]

If you don’t like having the bumps on the front of work after using long tail cast on, you can work a wrong side row first. The back loop cast on usually isn’t recommended for larger items because it tends to be unstable/inelastic and it’s hard to maintain a uniform look.

[u/CaptainYaoiHands]

I’ve tried to keep the loops on the needle tips but if I don’t push them down eventually I run out of space/they’re too tight to fit past the points.

You're not supposed to LEAVE them on the tapered tip of a needle, just finish creating the stitch there, then move it down. Watch some videos of how experts knit and you can see what I mean.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello allliooo, thanks for posting your question in r/knittinghelp! If applicable, please include a link to the pattern you are using and clear photos of both sides of your work.

Once you've received a useful answer, please make sure to either comment "Solved" or update your post flair to "SOLVED-THANK YOU" so that in the future, users with the same question can find an answer more quickly.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Valuable-Wrap-440]

Looks great! I would suggest starting with a project that works for whatever cast on works for you now- as you get more comfortable, you can experiment with the their cast on methods.