I just started knitting yesterday. I already know how to do the knit stitch and purl stitch, and my tension seems good and even. My problem is that I feel like I need a third hand to hold the yarn and wrap it around my needles. I am having a hard time holding the yarn correctly. I cannot decide whether to knit the continental style or the English style. I’m left handed, but I don’t think that really matters. I crochet left handed, and it’s most natural to hold the yarn in my right hand, but even in crochet, I don’t hold the yarn right, I’ve just gotten use to my own way of holding it. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
:yay:Welcome to the wonderful, wacky, weird world of knitting! The first thing you need to know is: There is no one right way to hold the yarn. Second: There are no knitting police. I knit Continental because it works for me (therefore for me it is the right way) and English style just seems awkward. Some of my best mentors knit English style because that’s what they like. Which is better for you is up to you. Practice both ways and eventually one should feel more natural. I crocheted first and I’ve thought that was why holding the yarn in my left hand worked better but that may not be the real reason. If you check videos such as the ones available here and on youtube you’ll be able to see different ways people hold the yarn and one of them or a variation on it might be what you’re trying to find or figure out for yourself. Don’t stress over it too much and just try to relax and make some stitches. You will probably work out a way to do it more comfortably soon. I’m still trying to learn to hold the yarn for English style. Happy :knitting: and remember that it took a while to get comfortable and confident with with crochet and give yourself some time to get comfortable and confident with knitting. It took me more than a day to get knits and purls down! You’re making great progress. 
Hello and welcome to KH and knitting in general.
Like GG said, there is no right way to hold the yarn whilst knitting. Its all about what works for you and feels most natural. I knit contental style and find its most convienent for me to let go of the right needle completely while crossing the yarn over the knit stitch and holding both needles in my left hand. Of course, all I’ve done thus far is knit stitches, aka garter stitch, but I am still learning.
When my mother taught me how to do knit stitches, my first attempt at making a potholder wasn’t going so well. I kept on picking up stitches at the end of the row and somehow, a piece that was meant to be square ended up looking rather trapezoidal. It also had a ton of holes and places where I picked up the wrong part of the stitch, or only a fragment of the stitch, as the yarn was rather old and the twist in it was separating somewhat. It wasn’t pretty. :ick:
What I eventually frogged (tore out and rewound up into a ball) couldn’t rightly be called anything, much less a pot holder, though it looked rather unique and interesting. Maybe it could have been some sort of abstract/modernistic fiber art? :teehee:
Now I am pleased to say that I much smoother with my knit stitches and found out the secret to keeping the original number of stitches per row consistent throughout the work. No more trapezoidal, abstract looking yarn art for me!!:mrgreen:
Anyways, I digress. If it works for you, then its right for you.
I understand the feeling of needing a third hand all too well. Trying English style many times and giving it up I always felt that there were simply too many moving parts: 2 hands, 10 fingers, 2 needles, 2 yarn ends, just too too many moving parts and I couldn’t figure out what to do with any of them. You can knit and purl so I’m confident you’ll work out the details.
We all feel that way in the beginning. Knit whatever way feels most comfortable for you. One is NOT better than another. It’s valuable to know both methods later, but one is fine for now.
This is how I hold the yarn. Around the little finger, across the inside of the middle two and then between and over the top of the index finger. Some people hold it different, but this is fastest and most comfortable for me. Sorry the needle is in the way. Hard to take pix with your non dominant hand.:teehee:
Thanks for the quick replies! I have another question, but I’m not sure to put it in this thread, or make a new one. I’ll make a new one since it is a different topic.
Jan, thanks for that photo! I keep telling myself that I can do it and one day I will get the hang of English style. As you say, it’s valuable to know both methods.
I said my some of my best mentors knit English! 
Here’s proof.
Thanks for all the replies. All of you have been very helpful. I have been practing, for hours, every day and now can comfortably knit and purl in both continental and english style…and hold the yarn without feeling like I need a third hand. It just takes practice!
I forgot to mention, that I have been making swatches of purl stitches, and knit stitches… then i fold them in half and do an invisible stitch with the needle…and make them into fingerless gloves. My 6 year old daughter loves them. lol Tonight I’m going to make her some using the seed stitch.