okay, after having taught myself to knit from a book as a child, and deeply engraining this way of knitting into my head, I’d now like to learn how to knit properly!
I’d like to learn how to knit by throwing the yarn with my left hand (instead of all that wasted motion throwing over right-handed - it’s getting hard on my shoulder.) I seem to be able to knit by throwing over left, but purl is waaaaaaaay harder. And going back and forth between knit and purl is danged near impossible.
Check out Amy’s videos under “Basic Techniques” and there is a video for both the knit and purl stitch done in Continental and English knitting.
I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way to knit – ok, there is but I only say that because I twisted my purl stitch for years before someone showed me the error of my ways. I think my mother is still twisting her purl stitch and refuses to change.
I learned to knit Continental but both my kids knit English because they learned at school and the handwork teacher there knits that way. I think it just comes down to the way you are the most comfortable knitting. I know some VERY fast English knitters and some very slow Continental knitters.
I did the same thing when I learned to knit. I could already crochet, so it was normal for me to have my yarn in my right hand and throw, but I was adding zillions of extra stitches trying to do ribbing! I just started using Amy’s videos for Continental knitting (how to knit, how to purl, ect.) and made myself do it. It actually came alot easier than I thought it would and now I can knit much faster. Good luck!! Hope you find things easy to do!
Properly? :?? There is no properly, it’s what works for you. I used to crochet and held the yarn in my left hand, but couldn’t get the hang of purling that way when knitting so I started using the english method and it works just fine. I use both hands when I do fair isle, but find throwing easiest. I don’t move my hand enough when “throwing” the yarn to cause any wasted motion. It’s all very smooth.
If you want to try continental by all means give it a try, but don’t feel you are doing it wrong if you end up preferring english. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
When I switched to continental-style I just could not get the motion down for purling. For some reason it was just awkward and took forever and looked icky. All of which made me sad cuz I’m left-handed and continental knit stitches was so much more comfortable.
Anywho, I checked out that video of the Norwegian purling–and that’s how I purl now. It was just so much easier for me motion-wise and I like keeping the yarn in back. I know it looks finicky and like extra movements, but for me it’s faster and easier. So give it a try if continental purling feeling ooky to you!
Oh yeah…even now though, my gauge is different purling than knitting. But I don’t sweat the small stuff yet, I’m still a beginner and at least the gauge is consistently different, if that makes sense. :??:
Unfortunately, when attempting to view any of the videos, I get a blank green screen. I don’t know why. My computer just refuses to show them. I can hear them, I just can’t see anything.
by the way, my appologies for the “properly” - I didn’t mean to imply that right handed throwers were doing something wrong. I just meant that my present method wasn’t working for me. I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend anyone. (I meant it more in the imagery of the British “proper” sense…)
i had that problem, too, but clicking on the ‘direct link’ at the bottom of the pop-up got it to work for me… (perhaps it’s a ‘mac’ thing…)
That did the trick! Thanks!
Anywho, I checked out that video of the Norwegian purling–and that’s how I purl now. It was just so much easier for me motion-wise and I like keeping the yarn in back. I know it looks finicky and like extra movements, but for me it’s faster and easier. So give it a try if continental purling feeling ooky to you!
That one makes MUCH more sense to me! (Now that I can finally see it!)
Thank you everybody! Now to practice, practice, practice!
I just wanted to encourage you. I started out learning English last summer, and a couple of weeks ago, I set my mind to learning Continental. I love it for knitting, but HATE it for purling. I’ve watched all of the videos many times (including the youtube one), but I just cannot keep the yarn from slipping off of my left hand. Plus, I’m making mistakes that I’ve never made as a newbie.
I’ve just started my first pair of socks on teeny dpns (Options, to boot…very slippery), and, after doing the ribbing in Continental, I gave in to the urge to go back to English. While my tension is tighter, I am flying. I’m also not losing stitches like before.
So, give it a valiant effort, but don’t feel bad if you don’t quite get comfortable with it.
I’m teaching myself continental and I’ve almost finished my first anything, which is a sock. Watch the Youtube video! Its amazing and really easy on everything. Once I found the link, I have been using her method and its amazing. Even purling is fun!
I learned how to knit continentally from a video on youtube ( I didnt know about knittinghelp yet)
here’s the address
if that address doesn’t work then go to youtube.com and search under "continental knitting demo"
I am very glad that I found this video, I am now a very fast knitter with even tension (I don’t mean to brag, I am just saying, they are very good instructions).
Just get some yarn and some needles, watch the video, and listen very carefully.
youtube has many more helpful videos on knitting and even more about crochet.
This topic has been discussed (at great length) on the Socknitters yahoo group.
The consensus was: knit how ever it works for you. If you knit as fast as you care to, and don’t have hand problems, then it isn’t necessary to switch to Continental. If you are doing color work, it might be handy to know how to knit both ways, but not vital.
