That’s the difference between videos and live. I find plenty of english videos if I look for them and not all knitters make videos anyway. I’ve only seen knitters who drop the yarn between stitches on the videos and none in real life.
I’ve knit in yarn stores, and in knit in public day as well as seen a few in airports around the country and other places where people are waiting. Most of them knit english. Or maybe I just don’t notice the difference - they’re all just wrapping the yarn around needles…
I prefer English due to the tension of the stitch, I was taught crochet first, at three years old, but even though the yarn is held the same way, I end up with very loose stitches, even after years of practice, so I prefer the original (English) style of knitting, and I do not have to “throw” my whole arm to knit this way, I simply move my right index finger.
I knit english style because I did crocheting first for years and as a lefty have always held my yarn in my right hand. I may not be a fast knitter, but my tension is right on. I guess I’m too lazy to go through the learning curve to learn continental;)
I agree that the tension is great with english. For me it’s so great that I think I knit too tightly. I avoid patterns that say things like k3tog or p3tog just because I can’t imagine actually having to do that. I have enough trouble with 2 together. I also find purling way to tedious the way I do it. I actually have to let go of the right needle to wrap the yarn. That’s why I want to learn continental. I need to find a smooth way to knit, and also avoid poking myself with the dpn’s!
You can probably find a smoother way to knit english style that doesn’t involve completely letting go of the needle. It sounds like your tension is too tight, if you wrap the yarn around your fingers you might drop ones of the wraps. Here’s some other ways to hold and move the yarn english -
Be kind to yourself and work on knitting more loosely. It is easier on your hands, wrists, arms, your whole body. Since I’ve started knitting more loosely, my neck and shoulders aren’t tensing up so much. I get the idea that your problem may be more technique than the style of knitting you use, I know that’s true for me.
There’s the old expression: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you’re used to the English method, there’s no reason you can’t continue using it. Stephanie (can’t think of her last name) the Yarn Harlot does English and she’s quite fast. I saw videos of her doing something called Irish cottage knitting. As to the k3tog and p3 tog, everyone has problems with this. That’s why you need this forum to learn knitter’s tricks and shortcuts. You slip those stitches onto a smaller size double point needle and then knit them together. You never insert the entire needle through those stitches, just use the tip.
I don’t use a hook or smaller needle for k/p3tog, but I don’t have a tight tension or gauge. However, there’s a lot of ways to hold the yarn and needles without making the sts so tight it’s hard to knit into them. And if you wrap the yarn backwards for a purl stitch, that can make them too tight to knit tog through the front legs. Are your stitches twisted, Lizars?
I don’t think they are twisted. I know the knit stitches are fine. When I purl I wrap counter clockwise (is that the right way?), and I know that I purl tight because I let go of the right needle and wrap it.
As far as not being broke, I think it is. I’ve been knitting a lot this past week to finish a birthday gift, and I’m in pain all the way from my right wrist to the elbow. I think it’s from the way I move my wrist and index finger. There is no guarantee that continental style will ease this, but it is a different motion from the right. Also, if I try to adjust my English style to knit fasterand not let go of the right needle to purl it will be just like learning a new way to knit anyway.
It is frustrating. I love knitting, but I don’t like how slow I go, that I knit too tight, and of course, the recent pain. When I started knitting, I wanted to knit tight, but now that I have been doing it for a few years, I’m seeing the problems it’s causing and now I feel like I need to learn all over again. But I’m so glad I found this forum. People are so helpful and full of great ideas.
Thank you all so much!
You may be holding the needles too tight, and if you have tight purl stitches that’s going to make it harder on your hands to knit into them. Don’t wrap the yarn so tight, or if you pull on the yarn after you make a stitch, stop that. Doing the next stitch tightens up the previous one so you don’t have to pull the yarn; nice even stitches happen when you wash or block the item, less in how tight you make the stitches.
I started out knitting in the English style, but now use Continental. Here’s the method I use for purling:
It took me a loooong while to get the hang of this and don’t really remember where I learned this particular method from, but I do remember being so happy to have finally gotten the hang of it!!
This is how I currently purl. My left index finger goes up and down all the time; however, it creates a lot of hand fatigue, which is why I want to try the method illustrated in the German short row video.
I purl pretty much the same as in the knitpurlhunter video, but I sort of rock my left hand toward me and there is generally less movement with my index finger. I doubt that makes much sense but it’s the only way I can describe it. Which German short row video are you referring to?
The German short row link is in the 13th post on this thread. She uses her right index finger to pull the yarn down and through so she doesn’t have to move her left index finger that’s holding the yarn. I want to try it when I get back to trying continental knitting. I also want to try that norwegian purl.
This method really shines when you are working ribbing or seed stitch and you no longer have to switch the yarn from back to front as you move from knit to purl. Then miles of moss stitch become fun! happydance:
You can always use it just for the ribbing of sweaters and then use the regular method for stockinette. I know I already mentioned this, but I just love talking about how much this method has helped my hands and wrists!
Rie, I just tried the Norwegian purl and I love it!! It’s so great to purl with the yarn behind. I did a practice ribbing and it was great. My stitches are totally loose and I need a lot of practice (for all I know, I’m supposed to knit that loose), but it will definitely go along way with my continental knitting practice. Since I just learned continental, doing the Norwegian purl doesn’t feel awkward, it feels good. I just have to watch out for accidental yarn overs…
That’s great to hear! I think I hit a new knitting level when I learned this method because I can knit for hours now without fatigue.
Your stitches will tighten up over time and those yarn overs will disappear as well. You might want to try a project like a basic ribbed scarf or the GAP-tastic cowl in an inexpensive frog-forgiving yarn and you will have that muscle memory by the end of it guaranteed. :knitting:
Hi again! I just remembered this video from Beth Brown-Reinsel where she addresses a common cause of mistaken yarn overs when using the Norwegian Purl method. The mistake section starts around the 2:00 mark.
It’s from this thread of the NP Ravelry group which has several nice videos. Hope this helps.
I think I hit a new knitting level when I learned this method because I can knit for hours now without fatigue.