[Xenalyte]

Knitting is the one needle skill I've never mastered. It defies and eludes me. Any hints about good teaching materials?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

There are some sites online that have videos of how different things are done, but if you are really having problems, you might want to take a class.

If you crochet, you might find doing knitting in the continental way easier than the American style, because you hold the yarn in a similar way, and it is perfectly possible to knit continental holding the yarn wrapped around your hand like you were crocheting.

If the problem you have is stitches falling off the needle, you can switch to bamboo needles, which can really help.

If casting on dismays you, you can crochet a base chain in a needle about the same size as your knitting needle. Then you can pick up the loops in the chain like you do if you are doing afghan crochet.

Another trick is to make sure your needles are long enough for the piece you are working on. Short needles tend to lead to stitches falling off.

I don't use single pointed needles much. I tend to use double points for working in the round and circular needles for straight knitting, in part because I find I am less likely to let stitches drop off by accident.

What sort of problems have you been having getting started? That might help us figure out something to help you!

[retrokitten]

I taught myself the basics about a year ago and found that much of the teaching materials out there are horrible. I have "Knitting For Dummies" and it's awful. The diagrams don't make any sense and her written descriptions are only slightly better.

I found this site Learn to Knit and it helped me more then anything. The drawings are actually helpful for a change. The only problem is the bright yellow background that burns the retinas. It's really basic, but it's a good start, IMO. Hope that helps!