Hi Everyone,
I am so excited to have found this website. I am a new wanna be knitter. I have been watching and trying to replicate the video demonstrations on the site. I have been trying the Continental method because it’s suppose to be faster once you get the hang of it. My question is ~ Which method do you use and why? 
Esmeralda
Continental, because it’s faster and more comfortable for my hands
I used to do English (throw) Method…
Continental because I tried to learn English and I was hooorrrrible at it. I would have quit, but I tried continental and it totally clicked. Much easier for me.
English for me. I started continental, but even though I’ve crocheted for years it felt awkward. I had a hard time with english at first, too, but now I find it faster with LESS arm movement.
My vote is for continental. I tried both when I was learning to knit, and I had a much easier time with continental. It seemed (and still does) to be less work. Vicki Square says she chose it because “I like to finish one garment per season” in her episode on Knitty Gritty. Everyone I have taught to knit, I’ve taught continental.
However, do what feels best to you. If you are more comfortable knitting English, Combination, or the itchie-itchie-gouma-gouma way, than do it! Just as long as you’re consistent, you’ll be fine!
GOOD LUCK, and welcome to the fold!
Denise
I’d say that most people in general (at least, those who have tried it and worked with it) will vote for Continental. Once you get the hang of it, it can go really fast. English is somewhat easier to START with. It’s what I started with, and it can pretty much garantee that you’ll get the yarn where you want it to, but then again, with continental, you scoop the yarn instead of wrap it. Continental takes a little more practice, but I think it’s worth it to try to learn it.
It took me a while to get it, but I was also knitting half combined (in other words, I was doing it half twisted, half not. So, the purl stitch was sitting the right way, but the knit stitch was twisted). If you follow the vids, you should get it though. I learned English first, so switching to Continental was awkward, and I blame it on learning the English method first (and my relying on my memory since my mentor passed away) as to what made me knit oddly. I clap for you for trying to learn continental first! :cheering:
Some people knit continentally and purl English…so whatever floats your boat 
I say, eventually learn both just so you know what the big deal is.
I just love continental because there’s no extra steps…it’s just go through the loop and scoop, drop off. That’s all it is :)…With English, it’s a lasso-ing action, and that would throw my shoulder out even more than it goes (it will create more back tension - rhomboids where most people get their tension) And it could possibly aggravate a wrist problem depending on how you move your hand. I have some Carpal Tunnel Symptoms, so that’s another reason why. There’s less stress by doing Continental. So, you’ll be more comfortable for longer, once you get addicted to it lol.
And that means less massages needed :-p, but then again, who wants less massages?
-massage therapist in training :happydance:
I was taught Continental knitting when I was little and didn’t even know that other ways to knit existed before I started visiting knit related sites on the Internet. That was this summer!
To me it seems awkward to do that lasso-thing with your right hand at the same time as you’re supposed to hold the needle. It wouldn’t work for me. I’m not that coordinated.
Good luck with whatever method you decide on!
I am a pretty zippy speedy fast English knitter if I must say so myself…you will knit faster with the method that is most comfortable for YOU. I think everything involved in knitting takes some experimentation before you develop your own pace, tension, way of holding needles and yarn, etc.
I knit English. It’s the way I learned, and I’d say it’s fast enough for me. I certainly get plently of knitting done. I’ve tried conti just to see how it feels but I’m so comfortable with English that switching would make it seem like I wasn’t ‘knitting’ anymore, if you know what I’m trying to say.
I knit English. I tried continental, but it seems I’m not coordinated enough. :doh: But as everyone says, whatever feels right for you is best.
Another thrower here. I had a hard time with conti till I learned to crochet and the little lightbulb went off in my head :figureditout: but I feel more comfortable throwing.
Thanks Ladies,
Well I am definetly giving the continental a try. The only problem I seem to be having learning the knit and purl is how I hold my needles and yarn. I can get the stitches but it seems that my needle will slip or that my yarn comes loose from my left hand when doing the purl. I also get a little crampy on my left hand from trying to keep the yarn on it. Any suggestions for that? 
I’m a newbie. I started with Continental and haven’t tried English yet. I chose it because I like the French.
:roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard: (joe) :roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard:
Try wrapping the yarn around your pinky one or two times to help with your tension. I usually wrap twice.
I use my own version of conti… I crocheted for years, so it was the easiest for me since I can’t seem to train my right hand to hold the yarn. I say my own version because my left hand needle usually rests in my lap or against my stomach. It’s almost like I’m crocheting with knitting needles! :roflhard:
Continental here!! :waving: I’m a lefty so knitting conti. was the only option for me LOL as far as I’m concerned. I do everything left handed so my right (hand/arm) is just there for looks! LOL!!! :rollseyes:
I taught my 7yr. dd continental (she’s right handed)…cuz it is a bit faster/smoother. She learned it pretty fast and was doing ok…but I could tell maybe English would be better/easier for her. So I had to think about it for a minute…(hmm…english/right hand) ACK! Oh ok… :figureditout: So I showed her how to hold the needles and “throw” the yarn etc. and now she’s doing VERY well!! She’s sooo cute!! She goes and gets her needles and yarn and says," Mommy I’m gonna knit for awhile." 
So…it just depends on the individual and what feels more comfortable. Good Luck and Happy Knitting!
KNITBIT :XX:
Continental here!! :waving: I’m a lefty so knitting conti. was the only option for me LOL as far as I’m concerned. I do everything left handed so my right (hand/arm) is just there for looks! LOL!!! :rollseyes:
I taught my 7yr. dd continental (she’s right handed)…cuz it is a bit faster/smoother. She learned it pretty fast and was doing ok…but I could tell maybe English would be better/easier for her. So I had to think about it for a minute…(hmm…english/right hand) ACK! Oh ok… :figureditout: So I showed her how to hold the needles and “throw” the yarn etc. and now she’s doing VERY well!! She’s sooo cute!! She goes and gets her needles and yarn and says," Mommy I’m gonna knit for awhile."
So…it just depends on the individual and what feels more comfortable. Good Luck and Happy Knitting!
KNITBIT :XX:
[color=blueviolet]Continental all the way. I’m ambidextrous but a lefty by choice. I can pick and throw equally. I chose conti because it’s faster and because not everyone can do it. I like to stand out, go against the grain. I also chose it because of medical reasons. That’s important to me because I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, aka brittle bones, and as a result I have have broken my fingers multiple times and throwing hurts my index finger and wrist after a couple of hours of knitting even when I took breaks.[/color]
I am a weird knitter. I am technically a continental knitter, because I hold the yarn in my left hand. BUT the yarn in my left hand is just held there and as I make my stitches, I kinda throw the yarn with my left hand around the needle instead of picking it up with my right needle. This is bad because it took me a long time to learn to control my tension. But it is what it is, you know? It is how I’ve been doing it, so it’s how I do it!