is there a style of knitting, whether on regular needles, or DPNs, or circs, that lets you avoid purling, by turning the needles somehow? maybe by using dpn’s and sliding the stitches to the opposite end of your needle and turning your work, etc?
i’m thinking something where if the pattern says:
knit 5, purl 10, knit 5, slip 2 purlwise
you could instead just:
knit 5, abracadabra turn and knit 10 the fancy way, abracadabra turn and knit 5, abracadabra turn and slip 2 knitwise the fancy way…
regular purling is a nonstarter. many many hours of practice and i’m still some combo of dyslexic and spastic. and backwards knitting seems to be a nonstarter too. just too hard to convert that into a regular pattern.
so, is there some level-35 knitting master technique that makes it all better and means you never have to purl again?
I’m guessing that you knit continental and have trouble purling.
Try purling English style (yarn in the right hand). Not much different than knitting, really, and avoids sliding the stitches from one end of the needle to the other and turning and finding a magic way to knit from the back to create purling. . .:teehee:
Don’t give up on purling. Sometimes it helps to insert the righthand needle into the stitch and hold the now crosed needles with your left thumb to stabilize them, then take the yarn round the needle.
You’ll make it work.
Have you tried other styles of knitting, such as Continental or maybe Portuguese? I’m an odd duck and could not learn English style for love nor money. I learned Continental finally and yes! I can knit and purl. I kept trying the English style and got so I can do knit stitches pretty well and not too long ago was actually able to do some purls. There is almost certainly a style that will work for you. It seems that you really do want to be a knitter. I hope you can work it out.
yeah, i see the yarn back purling but it’s a norwegian technique and is part of the larger umbrella of continental/left-hand-dominant style. i tried looking for an english version and doesn’t seem to be a thing. will keep looking. thanks for the idea.
i’m really thinking there has to be something to just being able to use DPNs and turn the work around when it comes to the purls, and do them as a knit stitch instead, and then turn the work around again when the purls are over… but so far i’m getting the internet equivalent of blank stares so i could be way out on a phantom limb with that… may have to seriously revisit the knitting-back technique and look as spastic as necessary until something sinks in.
Continental vs. English isn’t dependent upon which hand is dominant. I’m right handed and knit Continental and lots of lefties knit English style, but knit as if right handed. It all comes down to what works for each individual.
Like you I knit English and I also despise purling. I’ve been playing with “backwards knitting” for some time. It can be done on stockinette, but I’m trying to branch out into other endeavors. T’is true you would never have to purl again with “backwards knitting”. There are a few videos on youtube that have really helped me.
I see no need to suffer needlessly if there is a better and more efficient way of doing things. Especially if it’s more enjoyable.
EtA: misread a few posts into this. I also misrepresented: I knit continental. I think backwards knitting is easier with continental. Sorry for the confusion.
i’ve been checking out the different videos about it. some are better than others, just like everything online/youtube the part that i’m struggling with/practicing a lot is when it’s as part of a full row… like, knit4, purl 3, knit 5, purl 2… becomes regular knit 4, backwards knit 3, regular knit 5, backwards knit 2… so the transitions take some work… even still, i find it easier on my brain, and much easier to maintain even tension, than purling.
and my balloon just got popped… just read on a knitty back-issue: “You can’t use it for mixed knits and purls on a single row” ( http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/FEATreverse.html ) well, so much for that idea… no wonder i couldn’t find videos/instructions showing that. hmm… how else can i belabor this…
When knitting backwards, just learn to purl instead of knit those stitches. Or would that defeat the purpose? Seriously, if you’re going to knit you need to purl or you’ll be doing nothing but flat garter stitch or working stockinette or garter stitch in the round and nothing else. Yes, it’s possible to work garter stitch in the round without purling. I noticed in your link it said something about purling in Continental being difficult; that I can do easily, purling English is a joke where I’m concerned. If you haven’t explored other styles of knitting you might want to. Norwegian purling took some real practice for me but sometimes I find it useful. Purling Portuguese style is perhaps the easiest of all but since it requires the yarn to be held in my right (dominant) hand it doesn’t come easy for me. I can and do knit backward for things like sock heels and entrelac, places where it’s not that manys stitches and turning is a pain.
I also knit continental. So much faster than english once you get the hang of it. (I have done both.) I learned to knit backwards and then to purl backwards. You can also do it to rib once you get the hang of it. Its only a matter of pulling the yarn back or forward. I can do both but hate flipping over my work!
Speed is relative. If someone is more comfortable knitting English they’ll be faster knitting English. For me, going fast takes a back seat to enjoying knitting. I’ve thought about trying to purl going backwards. I only knit backwards if it’s a short row.
the part that i’m struggling with/practicing a lot is when it’s as part of a full row… like, knit4, purl 3, knit 5, purl 2… becomes regular knit 4, backwards knit 3, regular knit 5, backwards knit 2… so the transitions take some work… even still, i find it easier on my brain, and much easier to maintain even tension, than purling.