Learning all over again

#1

stumbled upon this site yesterday and was so inspired - pulled out the needles for the first time in months - i’ve always knitted using the english method - i never knew there was another way - and only used cable cast on. I love the long tail cast on, and i’m determined to learn the continental method of knitting now i’ve seen it - i’ve always avoided patterns with lots of moss stitch because it’s so slooow when throwing the yarn to swap between knit and purl! So now my left hand is complaining having to learn new finger moves, i’m extremely slow and unco again, but hopefully with practise i’ll figure it out… fingers crossed! Fantastic site, i’m looking forward to trying some new projects (and maybe another try at a jumper, as my first, while much worn, took me 2 years on and off and ended up with some peculiar holes… lol)

#2

I’ve wanted to switch to picking far awhile, but have never made the effort.

I’m impressed with you effort! I wonder if others here have switched after years of working the yarn a particular way?

knitbebe

#3

I’m slowly learning over. It’s taking quite a bit of time and I keep reverting back to old habits when I’m tired. But, I’m pretty determined.

But, yeah, this site is great. Last x-mas I taught myself how to do cables using this site and practiced my new skill on a flight from Detroit to Seattle. Boy did my hands hurt.

#4

well going on how difficult i’m finding the change, not many ppl would bother - i’m not convinced that i’ll make it as i keep winding the yarn on my right hand at the start of each new row, and my fingers are seriously cramped! still it does seem so much more precise with less wasted finger movements, which is a huge appeal to me (i love time and motion stuff) and so far, even with my crap progress, the tension seems even and i no longer get these weird holes in the first/last stitch on each row…not sure why i sometimes get that

#5

I learned English method when I was 7. For 22 years, that was the only way I knew how to knit.

When I saw the Continental style, I HAD to change to it. It just made so much more sense to me.

It took a little while, now I swoop along those rows of knitting with my yarn in my left hand.

Two reasons it feels more natural for me:

  1. I Crochet
  2. I Tat
    Both of which use the yarn in the left hand.

Persevere if you can, it truly is worth it.

#6

gives me hope after all - how long can i expect before my left hand stops cramping?! i’ve only been knitting for about 6 years, with breaks, so if you could change after 22, i can change too! it does seem to make more sense and i’m hoping i can get some speed up fairly quickly once my fingers relax. So many things to knit, so little ability!

#7

[quote=“kittiminx”]gives me hope after all - how long can i expect before my left hand stops cramping?[quote]

Well, this will also depend entirely on your style of knitting. I don’t tend to hold my yarn too tight or grip the needles too hard.

I also tend to put it down every 5-10 mins and give my hands a stretch’n’ shake… :smiley: