I’ve seen so many neat ways to knit… I am a thrower. When I learned to knit, I learned on my own, so I learned to throw with the yarn held at tension in my index finger and thumb - I grasp the yarn with the index and thumb, wrap that way, and tighten the tension that way. My tension has always been extremely even because of that. Unfortunately, my knitting is very slow because of the way I throw. But honestly, I am a process knitter, so it doesn’t really bother me that I’m slow. Occassionally, when I see those that flick (like the Harlot and others), I think about how great it would be to finish my projects in half the time… but otherwise, I just like knitting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRLFl36tDY&feature=related
Hi! :waving:
I found this to be THE definitive (for me) way to knit continental style. Once I learned to properly hold the yarn (across the back of the left hand fingers) the purl stitches just fly! So does the rest.
And I find it’s faster because it’s so smooth and efficient, not because I’m rushing things. I can just smoothly glide along, and it’s incredible to get my projects finished almost before I know it. I’m working on a project that I started last year (when I re-discovered knitting!) to make afghans for each of my close family members. Right now I’m on #8 of 9.
So it might be helpful if you concentrated on smoothing out your motions rather than speeding them up. If you do the first, the second will follow!
Happy knitting,
Ruthie :clink:
So it might be helpful if you concentrated on smoothing out your motions rather than speeding them up. If you do the first, the second will follow!
Good point, and it works no matter whether you knit english, contior something else.
I knit Continental as well (nice for me since I’m a lefty). But I am pretty slow. I never knew how slow till I saw that video of Stephanie! OMG!!! Even when they slowed it down, I was confused. I have never heard of Irish Cottage knitting. She’s like John Freaking Henry.
Anyway, slow as I am, my speed has improved over time without me doing anything specific. I say, knit as much as you can! 
I find myself wishing that I was a little slower knitter this past year. I have finished so many projects I’ve had to order yarn 4 times this year plus what I bought locally.
You people here have so inspired me that I have a drawer full of socks, I’ve completed 2 tops, a couple of afghans, a shawl and a scarf, and a couple of dishcloths. I currently have 2 different socks on the needle plus another shawl.
I am an english left handed knitter and find that the difficulty of the pattern determines speed for me.