You are most likely losing your stitches at the end of your row. Or, you lose them in the middle (if you put it down and it slips off) and don't notice it. You really wouldn't get a large gap in the piece unless you dropped a few, since knitting is much tighter than crocheting.

Screw the whole "don't knit and just transfer the stitch". It NEVER works for me and I've been knitting for a few years. I just learn to knit it as normal and then remember to try not to knit that last one too tightly, b/c if it's tighter on some rows than on others, you get lopsided sides.

It will get better with time, TRUST me. I was a crap knitter (and a great crocheter)... all because I couldn't get the needles to settle in my hand comfortably. Just relax and eventually you'll find your own rhythm.

Are you sure you don't have them confused? Knitting is what happens when you place your needle from front to the back and then loop, and bring the needle back towards you and then off. Purl is when you bring the needle towards your body first, loop around and push the needle through. Same stitch, just in reverse of each other.

You know what? Gimme a minute and I'll show you. :D