Oooooo I want to learn this now - I’m going to bookmark the thread so that I can watch the videos when I get back to the states.
Thanks!
That is very interesting. I might try it out tomorrow, too late tonight!
How has it effected your gauge, do you feel that is the same as before or quite a bit different? In other words would it be best to use this technique on a new project rather than part way through a current one??
i suspect your question was direct to Gina, but i too have been experimenting with KNITTING, portugues style (i knew how to purl)
the knit stitch is interesting… it is a backwards norwegian purl!
the yarn stays in the front of the work (purl position) --but goes behind the needle.
–in a norwegian purl the yarn stays in back of work (knit position) but goes in front of needle
my gauge didn’t change at all, but i have arthritis (an acute attach) and it effects my thumb joints, so it was uncomfortable to work.
YOUR gauge might vary–it depends on so many factors…
Thanks, Gina, it does look interesting. I do everything I can not to involve my thumbs when I knit, so this is probably not the style for me.
Thanks! I got it now! ^___^
How totally interesting! It’s amazing how many ways there are to knit. Every time I think I know (of) them all, there is more!
Hi Newamy,
My gauge is the same. It took awhile to get it that way, but I wanted to be able to switch between knitting styles to avoid repetitive motion strain. Here’s what I did while learning. I already had a swatch started for a project in brown sheep cotton fleece. I worked on it using the Portuguese knitting and kept adjusting how I hold the yarn to get the right gauge. Currently, I hold the yarn between my index and middle finger on the right hand and keep it looped through a stitch holder on a buttonhole or brastrap. Easy peasy!:woot:
I have to confess that my gauge in purling Portuguese style is looser. I haven’t worked as much on it though, as my current project is stockinette in the round. Purling English style bothers my hands, so I opted to keep this project as a KNIT rather than PURL in the round to get my stockinette, since I can switch between the two styles of knitting with the same gauge and no pain.:cheering:
Gina, thanks for the links.
I guess my question was also going to be about gauge. I would like to continue to knit conteninal style, but maybe purl in Portuguese style (purling is what bothers my hands the most) and was wondering how the gauge would be.
I guess, practice will make perfect. Thanks
No problem. I swap between the two quite seamlessly now. I can knit again, so it’s WONDERFUL!!!:woot:
I sent a message through Youtube to the creator of the Portuguese knitting videos thanking her for the tutorials. I also asked her a few questions about how to knit/pur front and back, or through back loops using this method.
She replied that she’s in the process of making more video tutorials and is open to questions/requests people have about portuguese knitting.
What would your requests be?
I sent her a message, too, but never heard back, except in Portuguese. I’m SO glad you heard from her!
I’d like to see how to knit in front and back of a stitch, different kinds of increases and decreases, you know…everything that we find so conveniently on KH!
Hmm, so far, I think if you think of it as knitting continental and just remember that working yarn is starting in front, you can do all of those things with a little practice. I know for my socks I’ve already done some k2tog and ssks, and yos. Don’t over think it. The stitches are formed the same way by the yarn, no matter how you knit, and Portuguese is very similar to conti, just the yarn at “rest” is held in front of the work instead of in back.
Yep. The TOGs are easy, but kf&b is awkward. I’m wondering if there is an easier way.
One more thing - as I go along I’ve adapted this and now my style is certainly not traditional, I’m sure, but when I’m just knitting, I find that I use my index finger still to hold the yarn to the back. So even though the yarn is around my neck, I’m holding to the back to knit and picking my knit stitches just like conti. So where in the videos she uses her thumb to move hte yarn back, I’m still employing my index finger, and I’m knitting hte back instead of Then I let go and purl with by picking, as in Portuguese.
The important thing to remember, imo, is whether you throw or pick, and if the yarn is starting in back or front, each stitch is always made the same way as far as the yarn itself is concerned (combination knitting and some forms of purling being the only one I’ve seen so far that is truly different, since purl stitches are wrapped “backwards” in comparison with the knit stitches where in other styles both stitches are wrapped in the same direction around the needle).
So when it comes time to translate a ssk, it is no different, as far as the yarn is concerned, if you are going to throw or pick, or where the yarn started. So, for a ssk, you need the yarn in back. If you’re using your neck or a holder to hold the yarn to the front, you have an option of putting it there first (which I do) or flipping it over the right needle after it is in place, which is easier if the right needle is in front of the left one, as per the videos linked in this thread.
Have any of you who knit Portuguese learned how to K or P in BACK of the loop without switching how you hold the yarn? I’m finding it very cumbersome. Ideas, anyone?
Thanks for posting this… I love learning new things, and this will help me greatly when my hand starts to ache.
Question:
I knit 4 rows this way, then 4 rows in my usual English method. Looking at the stitching I see a difference but I don’t know what it is.
What is it?
The reason I ask is that I’d like to be able to switch back and forth if I feel like. I don’t want to affect the way the stitching looks though.
I’m not sure, but be sure you go into the stitch in the right direction or it will twist it. I switch back and forth all the time and it looks identical. I’m guessing you’re going into the TOP of the stitch for the knit stitch instead of the bottom. Know what I mean? If you still have trouble, let me know!
Thanks for the great post. I have carpel tunnel which I’ve been able to work with by really concentrating on economizing my movements but I suspect it will eventually catch up to me and I want to have options when it does.
I’ve also heard that in South America Andean knitters knit in the round tensioning the yarn in the same way but knitting “inside out” by purling all the stitches with the needles on the far side of the tube. For some reason the purl stitch looks more intuitive than the knit stich using that method to me so I might try that.
This is the SAME concept! It’s called by many different names. ANd you’re right…the purl stitch IS more intuitive. When I teach this method, I always teach the purl stitch first. The knit stitch requires a little more needle manipulation…
I made my own knitting pin by taking a picture hanger clip (the style that has a v-hook) , removed the nail and slipped a safety pin through it… works perfectly