knitting woes...

[bronhoffer.livejournal.com]

okay, so as my first knitting project, i'm making a simple bag sort of deal. it was originally going to be a scarf, but i think the needles i used were to small, so it came out really thick... but i have the main part of the bag done, and now i just need to do the strap. i did the main part in all knit stitches, and i wanted to do the strap in the stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) but i can't seem to get it to work. i honestly don't know what i'm doing wrong, it should be really easy (i even taped one of my needles to remind myself to purl for that row...) i've tried it like four times, and every time i do it, it sort of looks like it's going to work, but then it turns all pebbly and just looks like a normal knit... help me please!!!!