How do YOU knit?

#1

During the Christmas season, I knit ALOT… I get “repetitive stress” and have to quit. and then Im upset cuz I cant work on the piece and get it done so I can move on to the next present.

I just got an email from Knitting Daily (heres the link for those interested) about Continental Knitting. Im a thrower and have often entertained the idea of learning continental knitting. Im also a crocheter so a friend of mine once told me it would be very easy to learn how to knit continental and would be easier on my hands to be able to switch ways of knitting when needed. She also told me I already know how to knit continental because she watches me knit socks one inside the other. Both hands are holding yarn and working. I would just need to take the yarn outta my right hand and just knit that way and… viola yea ok i said…lol

I never tried untill…
I got this email today…they must be reading my mind that im on this computer because my hands hurt and im taking a break…HOWD THEY KNOW THAT??? LOL

Anyway… i looked up some stuff and found this
and am trying my hand at it. Its very fiddly but it was that way when i first started throwing too. I must get to know how to tention my yarn. I am pulling from how i hold my hand when i crochet. Its helping. I will get it and may be a convert? who knows but it is gonna be nice knowing how to knit in different ways. And I hear this way is faster. Maybe eventually…

I would like to hear what yall think about this subject and any tips for me in my new endevor.

Melissa

#2

I can knit both ways. I taught myself continental when I was making a ribbed scarf and it was a lot easier. I also use the two handed fair isle technique. I still tend to go with english knitting when I start a new project, but that’s probably because I’m very familiar with it. It’s also not as slow and there’s not as much movement as she makes out in that video. I knit english pretty much like this and it really is pretty fast other than the ribbing.

#3

I learned continental and that’s how I knit the most. I have some problems with my hands and it’s just so so much easier for me

#4

Melissa
I switched from English to Continental, but was still having some pains in my arm. I changed the position of my hand and how I fed the yarn over my fingers and I’ve not had any pain since. Keep practicing and once you master that you might want to try Norwegian Purling, you don’t have to move the yarn to the front to purl. It makes ribbing and seed stitch much faster for me.

Terina

#5

I knit whatever way works for me at the time. I originally learned to throw, then learned to work in Continental by doing two color stranded work. (Which is weird that it’s weird, because I’ve always been a crocheter and have no problems with the yarn in my left hand.)

I have a hard time with purling in Continental, and so mainly use it for garter stitch so I don’t have to deal with it just at the moment. Right now I’m working on the Dwarven Battle Bonnet for the guys on my Christmas list, and I’m ready to scream from the boredom of endless seed stitch and garter stitch, so I’m switching up from Continental to throwing whenever I feel like stopping out of boredom. (Luckily my tension is about the same both ways.)

I imagine sooner or later I’ll learn Portuguese or Norwegian or one of the other ways to deal with purling, but I’m too busy at the moment churning out Christmas presents…

#6

[COLOR=“DarkGreen”]I knit both ways also, when it comes to gifts for christmas… I start my knit gifts in July so it doesn’t become repetetive I can put it down and throw a different project in between. I do it this way because most bulky yarns are on sale. Not only does it cut down on my spending it puts me in a good mood. I even go as far as playing christmas music to keep it light and not a chore. It is amazing sometimes the love you can put into each project. When I finish my christmas knits (gifts) I store my gifts in a box with minty smelling packaged soap. So when december comes the gifts are wrap ready. Hope this helps. I know it helps me feel prepared for the winter blues. :woot: :thumbsup: [/COLOR]

#7

Continental.
I can’t grab the needle with my left to throw with any speed. I like the idea of English picking and flicking but I’m too used to Continental.

#8

I started out knitting English and then switched to Continental.

The Continental is A LOT faster. I don’t really notice a difference in the rate at which I fatigue. Both of my hands get tired after a while regardless of the style that I’m knitting in. I also find ribbing to be way way way faster in continental. Switching the side that the yarn is on is just so much easier with continental. The one thing that I miss about English though is purling. Purling is easier english. If I purl over and over again my fingers will get a little tired. Although I’ve found a way to purl recently that doesn’t require me to move my fingers, this has alleviated the purling problem. On occassion, if I’m doing stockinette, I’ll use my thumb to purl. Which also makes it easier.

I think its best to learn both though. They both have their merits. But just for the record. I do almost all my knitting in continental now.

#9

Nice video…That’s the first time I have ever watched a You Tube Video that’s so clear…anyway, back to the subject…I have always been an English Knitter…and have dabbled with Continental…just can’t get the purl and on this particular video it seems as though “I” might not be “holding” my working yarn tight enough…is that my problem? Am I not pulling tight enough with my working yarn???:figureditout: for tension…?

#10

I saw that same email today from knitting daily. I’ve been thinking about learning continental too. I wish it would be easier for me to learn b/c I’m a crocheter, but sigh I knit right-handed, and I crochet (and just about everything else) left-handed. Gonna give it a try, just the same though. Wish me luck!

#11

[B][COLOR=purple]I have also always been a thrower and during the Christmas season I find myself sleeping about 4 hours a night because i have so many gifts to knit. I can’t start my Christmas knitting in the summer months because I work 2 jobs, so I start knitting in October for Christmas and it just isnt enough time. I looked at the video and decided that i am going to try the continental way when i start my next scarf, hopefully that will be tomorrow right after i finish this Santa Hat for my daughter’s American Girl doll that she is getting! SHHHHH dont tell her! :o)[/COLOR][/B]

#12

I can knit both ways but I’m much faster knitting Continental since that’s what I learned first. I can knit English but get all messed up with the purling. Don’t ask me to do a rib with the English method – all that flipping the yarn back and forth makes me crazy :eyes:

I like to garter stitch with the English method because I find my stitches are much more even. I knit English every now and then because it slows me down and makes me pay attention.

#13

I knit English (throw). I learned that way.

I’ve tried Continental. Didn’t cotton to it. :pout:

However, I’ve found that using circs [I]lessens hand & wrist stress. [/I]

And, using the ‘right needle’ for a particular yarn and stitch pattern [I]lessens hand stress. [/I]

#14

I knit Cottage Style, a version of American/English, on small projects like socks, mittens, etc. because I LOVE dpns and learned that way from my mother. On larger projects, I knit a modified Cottage Style, closer to American. I can knit Continental but find it awkward and slow…knitting cottage style I can knit as fast as any Continental knitter! I keep trying to perfect my Continental style as I think it would be very useful. I see so many styles of knitting, that I think what is right for you is right.

#15

Interesting…please explain the technique!!!:hug:

#16

I started with “throwing” with the right hand, cuz that’s how my grandma taught me. Then just a couple of years ago I saw a book (and this site) that showed the Continental method and now I use that almost exclusively.

When I teach new knitters, I teach them the “Throw Method”. Sometimes cabling is easier using that way too, it all depends on what feels comfortable. I have also found that it’s easier to throw when I’m using needles size 35 or 50. They’re too big to hold AND do the continental method at the same time.

So I go back and forth between the 2.
knitcindy

#17

:passedout: Wow good for you…I went ahead and found a video of that…Yikes!!!

#18

WOW you guys!! This is AWSOME im soooo glad i asked that question. I have learned alot by reading your posts and have checked out all your ideas…

Rubyjane…:notworthy: I looked a couple of videos on that method and there is NO way!!

and to all of you that use both. I may be jumpin in the pool with ya.

Heres my findings…

I am getting the hang of the knitting but purling is something imma have to have alot of work on. I keep losing my working yarn :!!!: and my left hand is getting cramped. Ill get it.

Sooooo… Ill prob knit this way on an item with alot of stockinette in the round. but for flat knitting imma prob throw because on the swatch i did, it changed my gauge when i picked my knits and threw my purls. (did that after i gave up on the purls for now) Maybe after Christmas ill do a washcloth or something with the rule that i only knit contenental on this project. Practice makes perfect yanno…

Thanks for all your comments and tips and opening up new ways of knitting for me to check out and try in the comming year. :muah: :hug:

I LOVE THIS SITE!!!:heart: :grphug: :heart:
Melissa

#19

Cottage Style is one where the right hand needle is held like a pencil and the 2nd finger does all the work throwing the yarn. I know there is a video on it out there, and that Stephanie Purl McPhee knits this way. Its very fast and fun. I use it exclusively on small projects. When you are knitting this way the project backs up into your right hand; its really conducive only to smaller projects like socks, mittens, scarfs, etc.

#20

Its really quite easy. just hold your right hand needle like a pencil…there, you’ve got it!