i can knit both continental and english. I prefer english…only because after awhile knitting continental, my right wrist begins to ache. Just the way I grab the yarn. English way is more relaxing to me…something about the wrapping of hte yarn…I don’t know. 
Yeah, I’ve read that many need to go down 1 or even 2 needle sizes when switching from English to Continental to get the same gauge…
But, if you like patterns with a lot of knit and purl switches it is so much easier/faster :happydancing:
I switched to the “sailboat” dishcloth so that my pattern had both knits and purls to practice on - so far I am loving it (even if I am a little clumsy right now :rollseyes: with the needles!)
How’s everyone else doing so far?
It’s not you. Continental just creates a slightly looser fabric, and you just have to go down a few needle sizes to get gauge, or, like me, just knit a swatch until you get the fabric you want, and then calculate your pattern from there. Good luck!
OK, I am starting this too. I really want to learn how to knit continental and these dishcloths are the best!! thanks for posting this Knit-Along!! Great idea!
Well, I spent the night knitting my dishcloth (I am doing this one) http://knittinghelp.com/knitting/images/patterns-sm/kitchen/Sailboat_Cloth.jpg
It was sailing along fairly well (no pun intended 
) when I discovered about 1/2 way through the cloth that I must have missed one of the knit rows and had half the design on one side of the fabric and half on the other:doh: Since it was knitting up a little looser than I really wanted I just 
it all and am starting over with a smaller needle - oh well, this KAL is all about the practice, right?!
Did figure out how to hold the yarn (for me) and am very happy with the tension consistency I am getting now. FWIW, I am wrapping the yarn once around my pinky then bringing it up between my ring and middle finger and then over the index finger - seems to be working for me with both the knits and purls :cheering:
I finally learned how to knit using the Cont… style last year. I remember from years ago…learning just to knit…my hands hurt when I did it until I finally got the hang of it and relaxed. I knew when I was learning the Cont…style that it would hurt until I could relax. It took a while…I would knit the old way for a while…then go back to my Cont project.
Now, I can knit Cont without hurting! You will too. Just keep it up!
i got some sugar and cream this morrning and am working on my dishcloth. i got some rainbow color for my kitchen and some blue/green/white for washing my toddler. going okay so far…speeding up a little bit now!
I can’t do the dish cloth as I cannot spend on extra yarn. I can however try knitting squares ‘Conti’ style.
(A very nice lady sent me some of those dish cloths, but they are soooo soft I’ve been using it as a face flannel! Opps!)
Maybe those of you who are successfully knitting Continental could post pictures of how you hold the yarn. It’s really hard for me to visualize what you’re describing.
he you tube video posted earlier in this thread was the most helpful in how to hold the yarn and move the needles. it has finally clicked for me. i’m 3/4 done with my first one!!!
this finger injury is actually helping me learn faster because i can’t knit english right now…but continental, all i need to do is hold the yarn on that finger!
Here’s a couple of photos of how I hold my yarn for knitting. I wrap it over my ring finger, under my middle finger, and over my index.
The Lord works in mysterious ways…
Glad you didn’t have to give up knitting for a week!
Here’s a couple of pictures of what is working for me. I am wrapping it around my pinky then up through my ring and middle fingers then over the index…
(hope I loaded the pictures right!) Chris
Nope - let me try again…
Oh NO! So very sorry…think I have it this time:
I’ve already finished and given away my dishcloth. good luck to the rest of you!
Congratulations Madametj!!! :cheering:and thanks for starting this KAL - it has been very helpful to me!
Just wanted to specify that when I hold my yarn, I don’t hold my finger curved, it’s straight, and not that far up. I guess that’s from trying to take the photo with one hand and hold the knitting with the other. But, those photos are exactly how I tension my yarn.
How did you do? Will you keep at it?
What I’m also curious about it how to keep the yarn from coming off of the pointer finger. Mine comes off every once in a while.