I'M FLICKING!!!!!!! I'mflickingI'mflickingI'mflicking!!!!!I tried and tried and TRIED and I wasn't catching on and decided to use a different approach. Maybe it will work for some of you. I made a series of simple knit disclothes. First, I got used to knitting with the yarn over my index finger. I could not initially stand the feel, but I persevered. That took me two dishcloths. Haha. Then I did the needle pivot for another two dishcloths, and then the left index finger supporting the needle. I had to do it in baby steps because trying to learn it all at once was not working. Now I can flick with the best of them, but it wasn't easy for me to learn this technique. I agree - it is so much more enjoyable and I LOVE IT. THANK YOU, Staci, for constantly sharing your wisdom and knowledge! I love your videos!!!!!
Born in England, my grandmother taught me how to knit, which was the flicking style apparently. I thought knitting was knitting and this was how to knit, period. I didn’t know there were other styles until I immigrated to the USA when I was 20 and joined a kitting group and discovered that I was the only person knitting by flicking; everyone else was knitting continental style. I can hold the yarn in my right hand index finger just above the first joint so I hardly move any of my fingers and don’t let go of either needle;can knflicking, and at this stage of my life, I
I cannot thank you enough for your three flicking videos, once I wrapped my head around the idea that you don't wrap the yarn with flicking it started making sense, pivot the right needle tip around the yarn. I have a clear schedule for today, a full pot of coffee, a full skein of practice yarn and a Netflix queue full of shows to watch--practice practice practice! (Now if only I could get my nails to be as pretty!)
I love how you talk to us as friends. You are very "down to earth" and not condescending to the beginners! I just discovered your videos as I want to practice flicking and I will be watching many more. They are clear and easy to understand...thanks again!
Here it is, five years after the post, and what a help! I'm knitting a scarf, one particular stitch's been bugging me. Now I see that a tiny change in the way my needles are held will solve the problem! Thank you, Staci! (from a flicker).
Just wanted to say thank you, after watching and watching I tried to flick ... nope. Got frustrated and stopped trying ... the next day the same ... but on the third day I got it until I tried to move the stitches along the needle ... they were way to tight, so then made an effort to loosen my death grip on the yarn and needles and now I am so happy to say yes I am now a flicker. I am actually enjoying my knitting more now if that is possible ... so a big heartfelt thanks for showing us in depth how you knit. Have a good one :)
It’s so great seeing someone else who knits the same style I do!! Somehow, when I started learning 20+ years ago, the flicking style ( not realizing that’s what it’s called) was what I began doing. I just wrap the yarn once around the pinky then over my pointer finger with the yarn feeding from the backside of the finger. It’s the most comfortable and efficient for me.
I self taught 10 years ago, right about the time you were first releasing videos. Watching this makes me smile, I’m a flicker and I assume I probably started knitting this way just by watching you without even realizing it.
Thank you, especially for that last part of the video. I’ve been knitting for 30+ years, and while I can knit just about anything reasonably well, I still knit as though I’m 8 years old- right hand holding onto the yarn and throwing (more like heaving) the yarn over the left needle. I’ve tried learning more effective and ergonomic ways, but I always give up too quickly out of frustration. But you’ve inspired me with your blanket story, and emphasizing how much practice it takes to master this technique. I do want to learn, because my crude technique affects my tension, speed and comfort! Love your videos, they are the only knitting help videos I watch- and they have helped me learn so many new and improved techniques. Thanks again!
I taught myself how to flick - after seeing your videos - three years ago and have been enjoying my knitting so much more since! Thanks for the inspiration, as always :)
I always wondered what that style of knitting was called. I watch my friends at knit and natter in awe. whilst I just took my crocheting. my mother knitted like That too. click click click went the needles faster and faster. and I sat watching knitting 1 stitch.every few seconds. thanks so so much for making this video, it's bought back so many wonderful memories of my mother. and now I'm going to practice hard. gosh thats bought a tear to my eye. Thankyou. xx
Thank you for this video! Between this and a few others I finally have flicking figured out. If others are struggling....pay attention to how you wrap the yarn around the needle....most use a "western" style where they wrap their yarn counterclockwise. That's what we see in this video. Turns out I wrap mine clockwise, aka "eastern" style. Once I realized this difference I switched how the yarn wrapped around my pointer finger (from project to left side of my finger, over the top, and down the right side to my other fingers, and everything worked great. We are all so wonderfully made and beautifully unique.... hopefully this helps others learn a little more about their unique knitting style.
Wooooow!!! You just lit the lighthouse for me!! I was looking at your vids not understanding how flicking was working so good for you. I just couldn’t get it right. It’s the ´put the yarn around the finger the other way around’ that cleared everything for me. Thank you so much. Also I started giving knitting lessons, but on my own knitting time, I’ve been watching your videos lately. I find it helps me explain tips better (and learn in the process as well...) Love you so and thanks again for your time and preparation.
This is exactly how I have always knitted! I honestly didn't know there was any other way to knit till I started watching UA-cam videos of other knitters. Thanks for all of the tips!
To avoid pinkie cramping, I hold a crochet hook with an (improvised) ergonomic handle in my yarn hand. I don't use the hook, and it doesn't get in the way--it just keeps me from having to curl up my pinkie so tight. I hold/tension my yarn the same way as in the video; even though I try to use different methods, I can't seem to stick with anything; I end up dropping the yarn all the time, and if I pick it up without thinking about it, this is just what's "natural" to me. Recently, though, my pinkie knuckle started cramping and hurting, so I started using a crochet hook. I don't have an actual ergonomic handle at the moment, so I just wrapped a bunch of yarn around the middle of it to make it thicker. You could also try holding a small ball of yarn or a wooden egg or something--anything that will keep your fingers in a more relaxed position. The object itself helps keep tension without having to wrap it around your fingers
When I took up knitting again, about 4 years ago, I knew I wanted to knit faster and more efficiently. You were my teacher, so I was determined to learn to flick! I tried continental but couldn't maintain a consistent stitch. It took me about a year to really get the method in my brain. Now it's automatic and fast! I hold my yarn differently and I have it on the front of my finger.....it works and I thank you soooooo much. You have to find the best way for you and be patient!
I'm a flicker - who knew? I'm self taught, just motivated to find efficiency in movements. I didn't want to waste time dropping and picking up the needles each stitch, so I figured out how to hang on. I wrap the yarn over my index finger front to back, not your way, but I don't find I have any issues with the arm movements like you described. Also, I weave the working yarn through my fingers and over the pinky to keep tension. I love your videos. Thanks for all of your information.
I also am a flicker and wrap the yarn over the front. I've just tried to do it with the yarn over the back and it was a disaster! I guess it's just personal preference. I think the elbow issue is also a tension issue. With a too loose tension I have to move my arms about a lot.
I finally figured out why your flicking method works. I slowed down the video and noticed that you are moving the right needle into an almost vertical position. This puts the tip of the needle in a position closer to your right hand. As you move your finger over the tip of the needle the tip of needle catches the yarn. Then the right needle is moved back into a more horizontal position as the tip is inserted to start the next stitch. This is mentioned in a previous comment but I finally see it myself.
That is almost creepy. You published these video just in time for my fair isle knitting. I just watched your old flicking video and with the new video all my existing problems are solved. now nothing can stop me from 2 handed knitting. Thank you very much, from a continental knitter :-)
I knitted traditional English style, throwing my yarn for probably 50+ years. After seeing your video, I tried flicking. It just clicked all at once! My speed and tension has improved immeasurably. Thank you for teaching an old dog a new trick!
I posted your original video on Knitting Paradise site. I really want to learn how to flick. Turns out many veteran knitters have been doing it this way for 40 years, one for 50! Wow, new to me and so glad you came out with the Q & A. I'm going to post this as a follow up for us "rookier" knitters. Good for you for coming up with this many years before You Tube. Very inspiring and helpful (as are all your videos) :)
I'm a "flicker" as well. I never knew it was different; when I taught myself to knit, it came naturally. It is more efficient, I guess, than letting go of the needle every stitch.
Thank you Staci. I really like the idea of this style of knitting. I've been knitting for over 45+ years and started with English, switched to Continental and now I'm going to try this method. It just seems more efficient and faster (after practice, of course).
It's amazing how seemingly small things can make such a difference in how easy, comfortable and efficient knitting can be. Thanks for helping make knitting even more enjoyable!
I'm a continental knitter and always admire English knitters because their stitches are most likely very neat however I can knit faster. I have tried this English flicking way but failed. Now I know why I couldn't do this. The way I grabbed yarn was wrong such as you exactly pointed out ! I will try this again! Thank you❤️
Thank you so much, Stacey! I taught myself to knit using the English method, but didn't like how slow I was. Then I taught myself Continental (and Combination) style. Now I'm working true Fair Isle and working with both strands in my left hand just wasn't working for me (losing tension on one of the yarns, slower speed), so I've been attempting (painfully slowly) to knit using yarn in both hands -- it's been so long since I knitted English I couldn't get my head wrapped around how to do it anymore! I remembered I had seen your "Flicking" video some time ago, and thought after a frustrating hour of knitting tonight that I needed to revisit that video. That one makes sense, and I get it... but the tensioning of the yarn was a perpetual issue. THIS VIDEO clarified that for me! So thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I'm pretty fast when I knit continental or combination, but now I think I'll really fly through Fair Isle work using both hands.
I love how this video explains the different ways of knitting. everyone who has seen me hold the working yarn in my left hand and know I'm right handed always question me. I never had a real answer other than I thought it took more time to let go of the right needle and wrap the working yarn again....but now I know that the way I knit has a name!!!! lol thank you! love your videos!
My grandmother taught me how to knit where I grew up in England, and I never knew there was any other way to knit except what apparently is called the flicking style. When I immigrated to the USA and joined a knitting group, I was astonished that I was the only person knitting this way and everyone else was knitting what they called the continental style. I can knit quite fast, never letting go of either needle, and flicking the yarn around the needle by catching it between my index finger first joint and the tip of my nail on my right hand, as I am right handed, and flicking the yarn around the needle in both knit and purl stitching, making very small movements with my fingers. I really enjoyed this video and have looked at other knitting styles, but I am happy to keep on flicking.
I am a continental knitter but I really need to become ambidextrous when it comes to knitting. Thank you so much for this additional help in figuring it out!
Thank you, Staci. I am an English knitter who used to throw but recently changed my technique after seeing you and Hazel Tindall. I hadn't appreciated that the yarn could go to the back of the index finger first and had an interesting cat's cradle going on trying to work out how to do it! Love your videos. So practical and reassuring. Please keep creating them for us!
Dear Staci, I started trying to teach myself flicking before your first flicking video. I was so happy to find that video, I've never looked back. I had been trying continental style but just couldn't get the hang of it. The thing I like best about flicking is ( unlike continental style) all the movements are nearly the same. You don't have to change the movements between knitting and purling, even moving the yarn from front to back and back to front is the same movement. It makes everything so much more efficient, and much faster! Keep up the good work Staci, I always look forward to the next video!
Dear Amanda Sheriff, It took me about a month of practicing every day to feel like I was getting "fast". My tension has gotten much better and much more even with flicking.
I'm sure you get comments like this _all_ the time, but you're really an inspiration. I haven't been knitting for very long, and I still mess up pretty frequently ("eh? why are there more stitches this time around?" "where did that one come from?" "when did I drop that??" "oh man, I don't remember where in the pattern I left off..."), but your videos really help me. Someone below said something like "You're my knitting mom", and I think that's a spot-on sentiment. Thank you for all that you do! You've really helped out the knitting community in so many ways.
You are such a life saver! I'm a continental knitter, but I've been working on stranded colorwork and trying to keep a color in each hand and couldn't figure out why my elbows were making everything so awkward in my right hand. Your videos are always so good!
Thanks to you Stacey I am now flicking. It took me about a year to get efficient but now I love it so much! I keep my yarn the other way around my index fi get though 😅 couldn't make it work your way. But thank you so much for the inspiration! ❤️
So, yesterday I decided that I was going to teach myself to flick. Which was even more difficult since I'm a continental knitter and never could get the hang of English style. And I finally figured it out and have been working on my tension, which took a lot of getting used to. Also, I tried your way of holding the yarn back to front, and I couldn't manage it! My yarn is front to back, with it wrapped once around my pinky, then over the middle finger and index finger which gives me enough control. Thanks so much for your awesome videos, and like the others, I cannot believe you're old enough to be knitting for over 40 years! Mind blown. :)
As an English/American taught knitter, I taught myself to flick from this video a few months ago, and I love it! It really speeds up the knitting for me and I'm able to finish patterns more quickly. Like Staci said, the main problem for me was keeping good tension, to keep the yarn up on the top of the finger. From when I committed to learning, to when I mastered it, it definitely took a couple months of constant practice. DON'T GIVE UP!! 😊
I am an Engish or American style knitter and have always been amazed at how fast you knit using your flicking method. Thank you for going into more detail about your style of knitting. I need to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!
I know this is 4 years old but I finally found someone who knits like me! I learned american knitting almost 20 years ago and then learned how to crochet with stitch diagrams--so never knew to hold the working yarn in the left hand--and crocheted with the working yarn and the hook in my right hand. Then I started knitting like I crochet and ended up doing this!
I taught myself to knit before the age of 10 from a book of my grandmother's. It showed holding the right hand needle similar to a pencil, resting between the thumb and the index finger. The action of the needle is controlled by the thumb and index then throwing (or flicking) the yarn with the middle finger. Over my 50+ years of knitting this way, I noticed I knitted faster than most throwers and realized it was because I did not drop my right hand needle. I recently learned my method of knitting is known as Cottage Knitting and is very similar to flicking.
Thank you!!! I've been trying to find a name for the way I knit. I was taught as a child by my Irish mother and knew my style was different than all my American friends, but had no clue what to call it. This video was the closest I'd seen to my knitting method, but I do hold the right hand needle like a pencil and am able to knit extremely quickly because I don't drop the needle. Instead, I keep my fingers close to the points of the needles and 'flick'. Thanks for solving the mystery of the knitting method name! :)
I'm fliiiiiiiickiiiinnnnggg!!!! I've been knitting for only three weeks and my style has TOTALLY transformed because of this technique! Thank you! The stitches and gauge are even, a little tight but workable AND it's not taking me 15 minutes to wrangle through one knit stitch! I feel accomplished! :D
I just wanted to say that it is possible to flick knit with the yarn in front. Just like you, I learned how to crochet first before knitting but I hold my yarn in the front instead of the way you hold it with the yarn going towards the back. Took me about 3 days to learn and now I’m knitting faster than before. Thanks for both of your vids. They were a great help!
OMG I have knitted like that since I was 5 years old that's 60 yrs ago and never knew it had a name, I find I never have a tension issue using this way of knitting, I love the needles you use. TFS.......Mary
Exactly. This is just normal (English) knitting, the way I've always done and my grandmothers taught me. Dropping the needle to wrap is only something I've seen beginners doing.
I have a knitters pride set I just love. I've only had two issues, one of my chords has a too small hole for the key and once I was in a hurry and over tightened one of my needles and it sort of striped it - going past where it would normally be tight. I'd buy them again if I ever needed another set. As always, I love your Wednesday episodes! Thanks for all the hard work.
A few months back, I saw the way you knit in several of your videos and was intrigued. I taught myself to knit, years ago, using one of those 'big box store' "Learn to Knit" kits (which I later learned was English style) and was rather slow and it was frustrating me. So, after trying many times (quite unsuccessfully I might add...), to incorporate Continental knitting into my skills so that I could learn to knit faster. When I saw you knitting that quickly, even while holding the working yarn in your right hand, I made a conscious effort to give it a try. I had a gauge swatch to knit and made the decision to try the whole swatch the way you were doing it. After about 20 rows, in half my normal time, I have definitely adopted flicking as my preferred way to knit! Thank you!
I always wanted to be able to flick, even before seeings your videos. I'm pleased to say I finally cracked it! I still need practice, but I'm nearly finished one of a pair of socks using the technique and it's looking good so far. I have always tended towards being a tight knitter, so I learnt quite quickly that bamboo needles and flicking do not mix for me, fortunately the DPNs I bought were metal, so I've not had that problem. It look a while to get how to hold the yarn so it flowed through my fingers and didn't tighten my knitting horribly. Purling isn't as much fun, but because i'm mostly plain knitting for the socks, this hasn't been an issue. Again, practice will be needed.
thank you so much for this video. I've just managed to flick by changing the direction of the yarn on my finger... I have been trying to figure it out for a while but held the yarn around the front of my finger, so it never worked! thanks again from a novice knitter who learned to knit by watching your videos! from Rebecca in the UK
I watched this video years ago when I really wanted to learn how to knit faster. I can flick now Thank the Lord but I hold my yarn around my index finger the way staci shares not to hold it hahahaha. I love these videos I always come back and rewatch them all thank you Staci!
OMG, I don't know how many times I've watched this video in the last couple of weeks, but I finally could! I was convinced that to knit in the round I had to stop letting go of the right needle, because as an English knitter I helped myself by holding it with my arm (I use long needles), but I wanted to be able to use circular needles more efficiently and I'm so happy I'm starting to get the hang of it!
I've been a teacher ( Pre K) for a long, long time. I'm newly retired now but I feel like I know a good teacher when I see one in action- you are truly great. I am going to keep trying bc I have all the issues that you spoke about! haha. Thanks!
Just to give a different perspective, I hold the yarn over my index fing from front to back, the opposite from what Staci suggests, and I am still able to flick just fine, and have been knitting that way for a couple years now. I think the problem some people have with their elbows may be because they aren't pivoting the right needle enough to catch the yarn. When I knit, I pivot the needle so that it is vertical and perpendicular to the floor, or at least very nearly. I don't have any problems with that causing my speed to decrease, and can go just as fast as she does. It just takes practice and dedication to to keep from forming bad habits like that.
I also hold my yarn from front to back and am able to flick. I was thinking this same thing but didn't know how to word it. I also think it may be a lot easier to pivot the needle on short needles rather than long ones. Instead of using the long 14 inch needles, cable needles would be easier to use and knit this way.
Daniel, I'm exactly the same. I find the bigger pivot and holding the yarn this way helps me get the reach. If I wrap it around my finger the other way I can't maintain the tension with my itty bitty hands lol.
I agree on the needle length. I use circulars and double points exclusively because, when I knit with straights, the stopper on the needle continually hits me in the leg, and frequently gets tangled in my yarn due to the amount of pivot.
I have also tried to hold the yarn from front to back, and I had tension issues with that as well. I actually had trouble with my tension being too tight with that method. So whatever. Probably some side effect of the way I wrap the yarn around my fingers.
I also hold my yarn front to back. When I try it the other way, I end up catching the wrong part an end up with a weird yarnover in my stitches. I think it has a lot to do with how you tension your yarn, because when I hold it the way shown in the video, I can do it, but it's not as comfortable. I've been flicking for thirty years and never realized it was unusual. I also do my purls "backwards", flicking under rather than over the needle in almost a picking motion, (I think it's called "combination knitting" ) because it helps my tension on the purl side. You just have to remember to knit into what Cat Bordhi calls the "winning leg" of the stitches on the knit side to avoid twisting the stitches. I also taught myself to knit backwards (left to right) for my return rows, rather than purling. I'm slower at it, but it's also great for even tension. It's a useful technique in certain situations, such as entrelac. Found this video today while exploring and trying to learn Irish cottage knitting style. Honestly, I think flicking is almost as fast, so I doubt I'll pursue it beyond mastering how to do it.
I just came across your video - I have been knitting this way for 72 years ! I had no idea it was a ' thing ' ! I did know that I have always knitted faster than everyone else but I had no idea why .
I've finally learned each method and I dont feel I knit like others. Working yarn coming off my pointer finger. my needles rotate a lot during a stitch, and they move like a sewing machine bobbin I use a movement akin to reeling in a fish. I feel it helps with rythym, which I think is bketter than speed. Thankyou for all of these videos !!!
I love watching you knit. I hold my yarn around the opposite side on my finger then you do. The one where you have a hard time getting the yarn around the needles to make a stitch. I try your way and can’t do it. Thank you for sharing how you do things.
Thank you so much for this video! I've been knitting pretty much exactly the same but holding that darn yarn wrong. I just took 10 minutes to play with a random swatch and pulled that yarn around my finger correctly. It definitely feels little weird and the tension is off but I can already tell that once I get it down it will go much better, like you said practice makes perfect. Yay! Knitting efficiency at it's finest! :)
I find I have to alternate between English and Continental methods to avoid tendinitis. Since I’m normally a right handed knitter, it took practice to train myself to knit Continental. The rewards were immense, for knit-purl projects and Fair Isle color work. When I knit English style, I notice the yarn wraps around my index finger in the same direction as your yarn. So, I’m confident that with practice, I’ll be able to start flicking - and stop letting go of the right needle! Thanks, Staci ❤️
Thank you Staci, I have been struggling with the tension for months and kept going back to the throwing but I was determined to do the flicking so I watch you video again and realized my yarn was wrapped wrong on my pointer. I've been practicing and NOW I am finally flicking and pivoting. Thank you for your help and your videos sharing your knowledge.
I changed to flicking from throwing after starting to watch your videos four years ago and it's the way I knit now. I couldn't knit any other way, it's totally comfortable for me 😄
UGHHH!! You’re correct! It is the tension! I’m not sure I have the patience (or want it badly enough yet) to continue practicing flicking for the duration of this shawl!! I am a relatively new knitter though, so I’m going to give myself some grace. I’ll finish this project and then when I start my next project, I’ll give flicking another try!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful and beautiful work!!
This is such a helpful video! I’m a continental knitter, but I want to learn to flick! I feel like I have all the info I need to try this after watching this video. I love hearing that you committed to knitting a whole Afghan like this when you first taught yourself this method. Thank you! ❤
I saw one of your videos earlier this week and I tried to flick but had trouble controlling my tension. This video was really helpful because you explained how to hold the working yarn. I wrapped the yarn twice around my pinky finger and my ring finger. It worked! Now I just have to practice on my speed. Thanks.
I always thought I was strange in my knitting style. I always seen people do the English style of knitting and I tried knitting that way and it was supper uncomfortable for me. With your video I just found out I knit I wasn't strange. My style is continental! I have been knitting for three or four years now and I am an addict! I just woke up one day and said I want to learn. Took me two to three years to step outside my comfort zone and still I find myself panicking. lol. But I keep my head up and keep going. Thank you for your videos! I find them very helpful and informative!
I've been knitting for many years and this is how I knit. It is so fast and my tension is always spot on! I'm glad to know that I am not the only flicker out there!
Good advice on practice. I learned to knit the English way as a child and recently decided to learn the Continental/Norwegian way. I am encouraged to hear that you too had to practice to get it because it is very frustrating but it's worth it in the end.
I've always been a flicker. That's how my Grandmama taught me in 1981. I have an unusual way of tensioning my yarn that does leave the working yarn on the front of my finger. I wrap it around my pinkie, over my ring finger, under my middle finger and back over my index finger. It works for me and I never have to let go of the needle until I finish the row or need to push stitches along the needle.
This is how I learned to knit as a child by watching how my Mom knit. I find it lets me knit fast with very consistent stitches and my knit and purl stitches are the same size. Now I’m teaching a friend how to knit this way and I’m realizing how difficult it is to teach. Hang in there if your learning this. It makes knitting fun, fast and easy with beautiful results.
Hi! I am a new knitter. You are great, thank you for all your resources and vids. I want to either flick or do continental because I also do not want to let go of the needle. I am glad you discussed your blanket/afgan commitment. I have tried continental for two days and am ready to throw in the towel because I am still struggling. But it seems that it all takes a lot longerto master a style and I am working on a simple throw (98 stitch row, 4 colors, each color 45 rows, alt knit/purl for each row) so I will commit to that project and practice both styles, perhaps each style for one knit and one purl row or perhaps one style for each color!
Thank you for explaining this! I taught myself how to do basic stitches to make a scarf and pot holders in high school and would pick it up here and there but never got around to learning anything more complicated. About 2 weeks ago I decided I was going to learn how to make socks on dpn’s and I then learned there was continental knitting and I was an English style knitter. The English style is so much more comfortable for my hands but I still wanted to try a flicking way to help keep my pointer finger from cramping and we hold the yearn very similar 😅 but you tension it slightly differently and I’m going to try your way since I’m making my stitches too tight. Love your channel and I’m so glad I found you!
This is so helpful. I've made flicking sort of work for knit stitches but not at all for purl. Now that I've seen the behind the finger trip I'm off to the races!
That same "blanket" determination is what got to become a continental knitter and am now attempting to master the Portuguese way. I am sooooo glad I did.
I kinda laughed at the last part when you said you were determined to knit that way. I am one of those knitters that holds the working yarn in my left hand. I learned to crochet like that. So when I saw people letting go of the working yarn to knit I remember saying to myself "I'm not doing that! I'm knitting this way!". I thought I made it up too, then later realized there were a bunch of people that knitted the same way I do! There is even an elderly German woman in a charity knitting/crochet group I'm in that loves when I'm knitting because she says "You knit just like I do!". It makes her so happy.
I tension my yarn the same way. I was happy to finally see someone else do it the same way I do. I tension the same way for crochet. Not sure how or why it works but it does.
When I first started knitting I was "throwing" with my right hand and almost gave up on knitting because of the muscle fatigue and pain in my shoulder it was creating. I was very attracted to continental knitting because it seemed like an easier faster way to knit. Like yourself, I made a commitment to myself to knit dishcloths until I got the hang of it. After all, it didn't matter if a dishcloth has great tension or is pretty so I knew I wouldn't stress over those factors while I learned the technique. Now I knit with comfort and ease in the continental style and without the fatigue and pain. I highly recommend to throwers to try flicking or continental knitting on easy projects and see what a difference it can make to you! Great video Stacie!!
I almost gave up on knitting (coming from the crochet world) until a friend of mine suggested continental knitting - I found Stacey's videos and the rest is history. All true, practice makes perfect.
I’ve been knitting 50 years using the throwing method. I feel so childish. How I wish I’d tried to flick so much earlier. Your suggestion to do washcloths to practice is great! I’m determined at age 59 to do it this way.
Thank you thank you thank you, you’ve helped me so much. I was holding my yarn in front of my finger instead of in back and I’m sure it’s going to make all the difference in the world. Again thanks!
I am a self-taught flicker, but with less movement than you show, with yarn going front to back, over my bent index finger. My arms are kept close to my body or supported on a table, so I can knit for hours without tiring. This style felt the most natural to me and allowed me to develop some speed.
Wow. In less than 30 seconds, I went from weird inconsistent tension to really seamless tension. I've been trying your style for a month now, but could never get the same results. It was all in the wrap, like you said - I was wrapping the yarn over my finger the other way. Can't believe a tiny adjustment like that made such a crazy difference!
thank you so much for this tutorial. I'm knitting so much faster than normal now. I'm still perfecting the tension but I love this flicking style so much more than the throwing.
Like you say it takes practice. I do hold my yarn the 'wrong' way, but it goes fine for me, and I do not move my elbow to much (I think) :-) I did learn it from your video and was so happy I figured it out so I finally could knit with circular needles. So thank you! :-D
Me too. Instead of the yarn going behind or under my finger, it goes over the top or in front. I've tried it Stacey's way but my joints don't seem to be built in a way I can make that work, and my elbow takes on the movement instead of my finger. I think people trying to learn flicking should just try both ways and see which gives them the smallest and most comfortable movement.
I am a left handed knitter that taught myself how to knit. I know I am a slower knitter that throws the yarn from my right hand and my mom in law cringed when she watched me knit but it works. I wrap the yarn around my index finger 2-3 times to get my tension but it comes off from the top, and now that I see how you do this, I will attempt to do it wrapping the other way to see if I can flick. Thanks for a great video!
That’s what I was missing, Staci!!! The direction of the yarn wrapped around the index finger makes a VAST difference! Thank you for clarifying that part.
I am SO GLAD I Found your Site!! My Go Too.. 😁.. I am fairly new to knitting. I learned crochet from my Nanny at about 9 years old . I taught my Mom & cousin. I learned to knit on UA-cam.. I found your videos..SO HELPFUL!! I am Continental & english knitting.. Im wanting to learn Flicking.. You have a Fast pace rythem.. Oh it looks so easy..😁.. I know ita not.. You are Honest saying it TAKES TIME.. I want to do a blanket. My issue IS..I keep having a TOO TIGHT CAST ON.. I end up taking hours worth of knitting apart.. Now I'm home the carona virus all around..and I am going to LEARN THIS..
I personally have the yarn in front of my finger, because when I tried to do it like how you demonstrated, I ended up having to move a lot more and the yarn in front of my finger (which is leading to the yarn ball) gets caught by my needle. I'm not sure why this is the case. Love your videos! They have taught me so much about knitting!
I agree. I have been flicking for years and I learned from you, Stacie. But after watching your newer video on flicking I noticed you hold your yarn over your finger differently. I tried it. Couldn’t do it. My elbows were everywhere. I guess it’s whatever you get used to. I LOVE all of your tutorials. I have learned so much from you!!! Keep ‘em coming!!!!
I'm so Excited!! My Daughter bought me the knitters Pride wooden cubics long tapered.. before that I bought a few singles. Both Cubics, wood and patina.. my mistakes..Because they where the shorties.. I also bought a couple singles 9 & 10 of your Tunisian crochet wooden kneedles.. Well I see them for a good price and I bought the set.. Fortunately the size goes to an 8 & the 2 I bought are bigger.. I have a few more single Dreamz.. at a store Beautiful colors.. I am now SAVING For the KNITTERS PRIDE PLATINA CUBICS SET.. I Like the shortie I have .. but to have the Long tips would he AWESOME.. I Love your Videos.. I'm searching for Newer ones.. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU TEACH..THA K YOU SO MUCH!! PRAYERS🤟🙏💗
Hello Stacey. This is a good follow up. Now I know why the yarn is moving from the tip of my index finger to a point very much lower: it is a matter of tension! For me it is hard to tension the yarn, because of a mild form of arthritis: my hands are easily fatigued or cramped. But I will try and find a way to be able to continue learning this technique. I tried to learn continental style, but somehow my knitting became much more loose, especially when ribbing. When I rib this way, the way you explain, I am more pleased with the result (also thanks to your tip on tightening the yarn when going from knit to purl stitch). So far, it seems to me that the essence of this method is: the pivot. Besides the tensioning and the right way of holding the yarn, which I have to practice to master I guess, I already find that it really helps to move the right needle to the right, turning it towards where the yarn is. That way I don't feel like I'm throwing it, but it feels more like 'picking', with only a small movement extra needed. I learned to knit in the Netherlands, in the seventies, on straight needles, back and forth. I used to hold the right needle under my right arm. I kind of 'flicked' the yarn, because I never dropped it, but after a few hours the muscles in my shoulder often started to complain. And anyway, since I read Susanne Paghold's book on Scandinavian knitting, I want to knit in the round, to make all those beautiful hats and mittens. Thank you for all your great tutorials!
I actually had to pick up my knitting project to see how my yarn wraps on my finger. It's so ingrained I dont think about it. Like you, from the back to the front. I tension it with a wrap around my little finger.
I learnt to knit with the working yarn in my right hand and holding the tension between my first finger and thumb. It created excellent tension but I could see how much faster you were able to knit and so I started to wrap my waiting yarn in a similar way to you. Then I did actually come across your five yo flicking video and it wasn't until you said you keep hold of the needle that I was able to pick up speed and it all made sense. Interestingly I still wrap the yarn the other way around my first finger. I've tried it the way that works for you but my entire hand span is much smaller and I found my finger just couldn't keep it up high enough to wrap the needle. (I have very small hands, only 6 inches from top of the middle finger to the base of my palm. It certainly is a lot faster knitting this way. I committed to doing a beanie in that position as you suggested here now and by the end of it I felt the same. I was happy with how it worked and loved the speed. Thank you as always!
Hi Staci! Your videos are just a wealth of information for a new knitter like myself, I love all your insights! One thing that I've noticed in the way you knit that might help with flicking is that you move your left hand to get the right needle into the stitch and off of it again. I was keeping my left hand pretty much stationary so relying on my right hand to insert the needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn then off again. I feel like knowing the complete motion of both hands working together might help. I'm still practising to get it right though hopefully it'll click for me soon.
I am SO excited! Thank you for being the first person to make this make sense. I no long let go of my needle. ((happy dance)) I also just bought your toe up two at a time magic loop sock pattern. I hope to dive into that today. =o] What really helped is you hold your yarn the same way I do and it made sense to me.
I knit similarly but different to the way that you do. My Grampa taught me to knit as a child. I flick with the yarn wrapped the'wrong' way as described in your video -with absolutely no elbow movement. I hold tension in my yarn holding it exactly the way you do with ring and pinky cuddling it softly up to my palm. Instead of holding my needle with the tips of my fingers I rest it in the crook between thumb and flicking finger- much like I hold my pencil. The needle pivots much the same way as yours as I flick .When I do colorwork I flick with both index and 2nd finger, each with a different color. I think much of what works or does not work depends on which movements and holds suit the individual or what our hands are used to doing. I am pretty sure that if i held my pencil or fork differently all my life the way I hold my needles would be tricky. Thank you so much for sharing your technique with others . I find it somewhat painful to watch the slow progress of knitters who drop the needle to pick up the yarn and wish I could help. I crocheted for years because I could not flick and knitting was so slow- and then, voila, I could. But I cannot explain how!! As to the person who commented that we only look like we are knitting fast, can she explain away the fact that I can turn 600m of yarn into a shawl in 2 days?? And, yes, I do eat, sleep and work ( gotta have money to buy yarn).
Omg this is SO helpful!!!!! I was holding my yarn wrong and doing the elbow thing! I can't wait to keep practicing and get better at this! Awesome videos! Thank you!!!
thanks for sharing the video. i'm a continental knitter (because that is how i was taught to knit). however, i use a setup on my right hand that is very similar to this one when i am doing fair-isle patterns, as it really is the best way i've found to match tension with the yarn in my left hand. whenever i tried to use the English/American style of throwing with the second color of yarn in my right hand, those stitches ended up very loose and sloppy compared to the ones done with the tensioned yarn in my left hand. don't know if i would use this flicking setup for single-color knitting, as i prefer to keep the working yarn in my non-dominant hand so that i can use my right hand for other stuff (grabbing the phone, finding stuff to watch on the 'puter, wrestling fiber away from cats, etc) without having to constantly retension the yarn. still, it is good to practice something different every once in a while so that we have options for different situations.
Stacy, you’re my knitting “Mom”. I always turn to you when I need help. My knitting has come a long way since I found your channel.
Stacy really is THE BEST teacher and the best explainer. Have been watching her for like 12 years and I’m STILL learning from her.
I'M FLICKING!!!!!!! I'mflickingI'mflickingI'mflicking!!!!!I tried and tried and TRIED and I wasn't catching on and decided to use a different approach. Maybe it will work for some of you. I made a series of simple knit disclothes. First, I got used to knitting with the yarn over my index finger. I could not initially stand the feel, but I persevered. That took me two dishcloths. Haha. Then I did the needle pivot for another two dishcloths, and then the left index finger supporting the needle. I had to do it in baby steps because trying to learn it all at once was not working. Now I can flick with the best of them, but it wasn't easy for me to learn this technique. I agree - it is so much more enjoyable and I LOVE IT. THANK YOU, Staci, for constantly sharing your wisdom and knowledge! I love your videos!!!!!
How long did it take you?
Born in England, my grandmother taught me how to knit, which was the flicking style apparently. I thought knitting was knitting and this was how to knit, period. I didn’t know there were other styles until I immigrated to the USA when I was 20 and joined a kitting group and discovered that I was the only person knitting by flicking; everyone else was knitting continental style. I can hold the yarn in my right hand index finger just above the first joint so I hardly move any of my fingers and don’t let go of either needle;can knflicking, and at this stage of my life, I
I cannot thank you enough for your three flicking videos, once I wrapped my head around the idea that you don't wrap the yarn with flicking it started making sense, pivot the right needle tip around the yarn. I have a clear schedule for today, a full pot of coffee, a full skein of practice yarn and a Netflix queue full of shows to watch--practice practice practice! (Now if only I could get my nails to be as pretty!)
I love how you talk to us as friends. You are very "down to earth" and not condescending to the beginners! I just discovered your videos as I want to practice flicking and I will be watching many more. They are clear and easy to understand...thanks again!
Here it is, five years after the post, and what a help! I'm knitting a scarf, one particular stitch's been bugging me. Now I see that a tiny change in the way my needles are held will solve the problem! Thank you, Staci! (from a flicker).
Just wanted to say thank you, after watching and watching I tried to flick ... nope. Got frustrated and stopped trying ... the next day the same ... but on the third day I got it until I tried to move the stitches along the needle ... they were way to tight, so then made an effort to loosen my death grip on the yarn and needles and now I am so happy to say yes I am now a flicker. I am actually enjoying my knitting more now if that is possible ... so a big heartfelt thanks for showing us in depth how you knit. Have a good one :)
It’s so great seeing someone else who knits the same style I do!! Somehow, when I started learning 20+ years ago, the flicking style ( not realizing that’s what it’s called) was what I began doing. I just wrap the yarn once around the pinky then over my pointer finger with the yarn feeding from the backside of the finger. It’s the most comfortable and efficient for me.
I self taught 10 years ago, right about the time you were first releasing videos. Watching this makes me smile, I’m a flicker and I assume I probably started knitting this way just by watching you without even realizing it.
Thank you, especially for that last part of the video. I’ve been knitting for 30+ years, and while I can knit just about anything reasonably well, I still knit as though I’m 8 years old- right hand holding onto the yarn and throwing (more like heaving) the yarn over the left needle. I’ve tried learning more effective and ergonomic ways, but I always give up too quickly out of frustration. But you’ve inspired me with your blanket story, and emphasizing how much practice it takes to master this technique. I do want to learn, because my crude technique affects my tension, speed and comfort!
Love your videos, they are the only knitting help videos I watch- and they have helped me learn so many new and improved techniques. Thanks again!
I taught myself how to flick - after seeing your videos - three years ago and have been enjoying my knitting so much more since! Thanks for the inspiration, as always :)
Amanda Center I don't like instruction on how to use the interchange knitting needles that were no instructions in my bag
I always wondered what that style of knitting was called. I watch my friends at knit and natter in awe. whilst I just took my crocheting. my mother knitted like That too. click click click went the needles faster and faster. and I sat watching knitting 1 stitch.every few seconds. thanks so so much for making this video, it's bought back so many wonderful memories of my mother. and now I'm going to practice hard. gosh thats bought a tear to my eye. Thankyou. xx
Thank you for this video! Between this and a few others I finally have flicking figured out. If others are struggling....pay attention to how you wrap the yarn around the needle....most use a "western" style where they wrap their yarn counterclockwise. That's what we see in this video. Turns out I wrap mine clockwise, aka "eastern" style. Once I realized this difference I switched how the yarn wrapped around my pointer finger (from project to left side of my finger, over the top, and down the right side to my other fingers, and everything worked great. We are all so wonderfully made and beautifully unique.... hopefully this helps others learn a little more about their unique knitting style.
Wooooow!!! You just lit the lighthouse for me!! I was looking at your vids not understanding how flicking was working so good for you. I just couldn’t get it right. It’s the ´put the yarn around the finger the other way around’ that cleared everything for me. Thank you so much. Also I started giving knitting lessons, but on my own knitting time, I’ve been watching your videos lately. I find it helps me explain tips better (and learn in the process as well...) Love you so and thanks again for your time and preparation.
This is exactly how I have always knitted! I honestly didn't know there was any other way to knit till I started watching UA-cam videos of other knitters. Thanks for all of the tips!
To avoid pinkie cramping, I hold a crochet hook with an (improvised) ergonomic handle in my yarn hand. I don't use the hook, and it doesn't get in the way--it just keeps me from having to curl up my pinkie so tight. I hold/tension my yarn the same way as in the video; even though I try to use different methods, I can't seem to stick with anything; I end up dropping the yarn all the time, and if I pick it up without thinking about it, this is just what's "natural" to me. Recently, though, my pinkie knuckle started cramping and hurting, so I started using a crochet hook. I don't have an actual ergonomic handle at the moment, so I just wrapped a bunch of yarn around the middle of it to make it thicker. You could also try holding a small ball of yarn or a wooden egg or something--anything that will keep your fingers in a more relaxed position. The object itself helps keep tension without having to wrap it around your fingers
When I took up knitting again, about 4 years ago, I knew I wanted to knit faster and more efficiently. You were my teacher, so I was determined to learn to flick! I tried continental but couldn't maintain a consistent stitch. It took me about a year to really get the method in my brain. Now it's automatic and fast! I hold my yarn differently and I have it on the front of my finger.....it works and I thank you soooooo much. You have to find the best way for you and be patient!
I'm a flicker - who knew? I'm self taught, just motivated to find efficiency in movements. I didn't want to waste time dropping and picking up the needles each stitch, so I figured out how to hang on. I wrap the yarn over my index finger front to back, not your way, but I don't find I have any issues with the arm movements like you described. Also, I weave the working yarn through my fingers and over the pinky to keep tension. I love your videos. Thanks for all of your information.
I also am a flicker and wrap the yarn over the front. I've just tried to do it with the yarn over the back and it was a disaster! I guess it's just personal preference. I think the elbow issue is also a tension issue. With a too loose tension I have to move my arms about a lot.
I finally figured out why your flicking method works. I slowed down the video and noticed that you are moving the right needle into an almost vertical position. This puts the tip of the needle in a position closer to your right hand. As you move your finger over the tip of the needle the tip of needle catches the yarn. Then the right needle is moved back into a more horizontal position as the tip is inserted to start the next stitch. This is mentioned in a previous comment but I finally see it myself.
Yes, absolutely. I address this in the first Flicking video.
That is almost creepy. You published these video just in time for my fair isle knitting. I just watched your old flicking video and with the new video all my existing problems are solved.
now nothing can stop me from 2 handed knitting. Thank you very much, from a continental knitter :-)
I knitted traditional English style, throwing my yarn for probably 50+ years. After seeing your video, I tried flicking. It just clicked all at once! My speed and tension has improved immeasurably. Thank you for teaching an old dog a new trick!
I posted your original video on Knitting Paradise site. I really want to learn how to flick. Turns out many veteran knitters have been doing it this way for 40 years, one for 50! Wow, new to me and so glad you came out with the Q & A. I'm going to post this as a follow up for us "rookier" knitters. Good for you for coming up with this many years before You Tube. Very inspiring and helpful (as are all your videos) :)
I'm a "flicker" as well. I never knew it was different; when I taught myself to knit, it came naturally. It is more efficient, I guess, than letting go of the needle every stitch.
Thank you Staci. I really like the idea of this style of knitting. I've been knitting for over 45+ years and started with English, switched to Continental and now I'm going to try this method. It just seems more efficient and faster (after practice, of course).
It's amazing how seemingly small things can make such a difference in how easy, comfortable and efficient knitting can be. Thanks for helping make knitting even more enjoyable!
I'm a continental knitter and always admire English knitters because their stitches are most likely very neat however I can knit faster. I have tried this English flicking way but failed. Now I know why I couldn't do this. The way I grabbed yarn was wrong such as you exactly pointed out ! I will try this again! Thank you❤️
Thank you so much, Stacey! I taught myself to knit using the English method, but didn't like how slow I was. Then I taught myself Continental (and Combination) style. Now I'm working true Fair Isle and working with both strands in my left hand just wasn't working for me (losing tension on one of the yarns, slower speed), so I've been attempting (painfully slowly) to knit using yarn in both hands -- it's been so long since I knitted English I couldn't get my head wrapped around how to do it anymore! I remembered I had seen your "Flicking" video some time ago, and thought after a frustrating hour of knitting tonight that I needed to revisit that video. That one makes sense, and I get it... but the tensioning of the yarn was a perpetual issue. THIS VIDEO clarified that for me! So thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I'm pretty fast when I knit continental or combination, but now I think I'll really fly through Fair Isle work using both hands.
I can't believe its been 5 years! I taught myself to knit from youtube and I am so thankful for you!
I am a beginning knitter. I have found your videos are the most helpful and easiest to follow. Thank you for the guidance :)
I love how this video explains the different ways of knitting. everyone who has seen me hold the working yarn in my left hand and know I'm right handed always question me. I never had a real answer other than I thought it took more time to let go of the right needle and wrap the working yarn again....but now I know that the way I knit has a name!!!! lol thank you! love your videos!
My grandmother taught me how to knit where I grew up in England, and I never knew there was any other way to knit except what apparently is called the flicking style. When I immigrated to the USA and joined a knitting group, I was astonished that I was the only person knitting this way and everyone else was knitting what they called the continental style. I can knit quite fast, never letting go of either needle, and flicking the yarn around the needle by catching it between my index finger first joint and the tip of my nail on my right hand, as I am right handed, and flicking the yarn around the needle in both knit and purl stitching, making very small movements with my fingers. I really enjoyed this video and have looked at other knitting styles, but I am happy to keep on flicking.
I am a continental knitter but I really need to become ambidextrous when it comes to knitting. Thank you so much for this additional help in figuring it out!
Thank you, Staci. I am an English knitter who used to throw but recently changed my technique after seeing you and Hazel Tindall. I hadn't appreciated that the yarn could go to the back of the index finger first and had an interesting cat's cradle going on trying to work out how to do it! Love your videos. So practical and reassuring. Please keep creating them for us!
Dear Staci, I started trying to teach myself flicking before your first flicking video. I was so happy to find that video, I've never looked back. I had been trying continental style but just couldn't get the hang of it. The thing I like best about flicking is ( unlike continental style) all the movements are nearly the same. You don't have to change the movements between knitting and purling, even moving the yarn from front to back and back to front is the same movement. It makes everything so much more efficient, and much faster! Keep up the good work Staci, I always look forward to the next video!
How did you go with flicking? How long did it take before you got fast at it, and did you notice much change in your tension?
Dear Amanda Sheriff, It took me about a month of practicing every day to feel like I was getting "fast". My tension has gotten much better and much more even with flicking.
I'm sure you get comments like this _all_ the time, but you're really an inspiration. I haven't been knitting for very long, and I still mess up pretty frequently ("eh? why are there more stitches this time around?" "where did that one come from?" "when did I drop that??" "oh man, I don't remember where in the pattern I left off..."), but your videos really help me. Someone below said something like "You're my knitting mom", and I think that's a spot-on sentiment. Thank you for all that you do! You've really helped out the knitting community in so many ways.
You are such a life saver! I'm a continental knitter, but I've been working on stranded colorwork and trying to keep a color in each hand and couldn't figure out why my elbows were making everything so awkward in my right hand.
Your videos are always so good!
Thanks to you Stacey I am now flicking. It took me about a year to get efficient but now I love it so much! I keep my yarn the other way around my index fi get though 😅 couldn't make it work your way. But thank you so much for the inspiration! ❤️
I also couldn’t get it to work Staci’s way but I think it’s because I have much shorter fingers than her 😅
So, yesterday I decided that I was going to teach myself to flick. Which was even more difficult since I'm a continental knitter and never could get the hang of English style. And I finally figured it out and have been working on my tension, which took a lot of getting used to. Also, I tried your way of holding the yarn back to front, and I couldn't manage it! My yarn is front to back, with it wrapped once around my pinky, then over the middle finger and index finger which gives me enough control. Thanks so much for your awesome videos, and like the others, I cannot believe you're old enough to be knitting for over 40 years! Mind blown. :)
As an English/American taught knitter, I taught myself to flick from this video a few months ago, and I love it! It really speeds up the knitting for me and I'm able to finish patterns more quickly. Like Staci said, the main problem for me was keeping good tension, to keep the yarn up on the top of the finger. From when I committed to learning, to when I mastered it, it definitely took a couple months of constant practice. DON'T GIVE UP!! 😊
I am an Engish or American style knitter and have always been amazed at how fast you knit using your flicking method. Thank you for going into more detail about your style of knitting. I need to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!
I know this is 4 years old but I finally found someone who knits like me! I learned american knitting almost 20 years ago and then learned how to crochet with stitch diagrams--so never knew to hold the working yarn in the left hand--and crocheted with the working yarn and the hook in my right hand. Then I started knitting like I crochet and ended up doing this!
I taught myself to knit before the age of 10 from a book of my grandmother's. It showed holding the right hand needle similar to a pencil, resting between the thumb and the index finger. The action of the needle is controlled by the thumb and index then throwing (or flicking) the yarn with the middle finger. Over my 50+ years of knitting this way, I noticed I knitted faster than most throwers and realized it was because I did not drop my right hand needle. I recently learned my method of knitting is known as Cottage Knitting and is very similar to flicking.
Thank you!!! I've been trying to find a name for the way I knit. I was taught as a child by my Irish mother and knew my style was different than all my American friends, but had no clue what to call it. This video was the closest I'd seen to my knitting method, but I do hold the right hand needle like a pencil and am able to knit extremely quickly because I don't drop the needle. Instead, I keep my fingers close to the points of the needles and 'flick'. Thanks for solving the mystery of the knitting method name! :)
I'm fliiiiiiiickiiiinnnnggg!!!! I've been knitting for only three weeks and my style has TOTALLY transformed because of this technique! Thank you! The stitches and gauge are even, a little tight but workable AND it's not taking me 15 minutes to wrangle through one knit stitch! I feel accomplished! :D
I just wanted to say that it is possible to flick knit with the yarn in front. Just like you, I learned how to crochet first before knitting but I hold my yarn in the front instead of the way you hold it with the yarn going towards the back. Took me about 3 days to learn and now I’m knitting faster than before. Thanks for both of your vids. They were a great help!
I love your demonstrations so much. They make so much sense . Now summoning up the confidence to try and flick . Thank you .
You are my “go to gal”. You are a wonderful teacher!
OMG I have knitted like that since I was 5 years old that's 60 yrs ago and never knew it had a name, I find I never have a tension issue using this way of knitting, I love the needles you use. TFS.......Mary
Exactly. This is just normal (English) knitting, the way I've always done and my grandmothers taught me. Dropping the needle to wrap is only something I've seen beginners doing.
I have a knitters pride set I just love. I've only had two issues, one of my chords has a too small hole for the key and once I was in a hurry and over tightened one of my needles and it sort of striped it - going past where it would normally be tight. I'd buy them again if I ever needed another set. As always, I love your Wednesday episodes! Thanks for all the hard work.
A few months back, I saw the way you knit in several of your videos and was intrigued. I taught myself to knit, years ago, using one of those 'big box store' "Learn to Knit" kits (which I later learned was English style) and was rather slow and it was frustrating me. So, after trying many times (quite unsuccessfully I might add...), to incorporate Continental knitting into my skills so that I could learn to knit faster. When I saw you knitting that quickly, even while holding the working yarn in your right hand, I made a conscious effort to give it a try. I had a gauge swatch to knit and made the decision to try the whole swatch the way you were doing it. After about 20 rows, in half my normal time, I have definitely adopted flicking as my preferred way to knit! Thank you!
I always wanted to be able to flick, even before seeings your videos. I'm pleased to say I finally cracked it! I still need practice, but I'm nearly finished one of a pair of socks using the technique and it's looking good so far.
I have always tended towards being a tight knitter, so I learnt quite quickly that bamboo needles and flicking do not mix for me, fortunately the DPNs I bought were metal, so I've not had that problem. It look a while to get how to hold the yarn so it flowed through my fingers and didn't tighten my knitting horribly.
Purling isn't as much fun, but because i'm mostly plain knitting for the socks, this hasn't been an issue. Again, practice will be needed.
thank you so much for this video. I've just managed to flick by changing the direction of the yarn on my finger... I have been trying to figure it out for a while but held the yarn around the front of my finger, so it never worked!
thanks again from a novice knitter who learned to knit by watching your videos! from Rebecca in the UK
I watched this video years ago when I really wanted to learn how to knit faster. I can flick now Thank the Lord but I hold my yarn around my index finger the way staci shares not to hold it hahahaha. I love these videos I always come back and rewatch them all thank you Staci!
OMG, I don't know how many times I've watched this video in the last couple of weeks, but I finally could!
I was convinced that to knit in the round I had to stop letting go of the right needle, because as an English knitter I helped myself by holding it with my arm (I use long needles), but I wanted to be able to use circular needles more efficiently and I'm so happy I'm starting to get the hang of it!
I've been a teacher ( Pre K) for a long, long time. I'm newly retired now but I feel like I know a good teacher when I see one in action- you are truly great. I am going to keep trying bc I have all the issues that you spoke about! haha. Thanks!
Just to give a different perspective, I hold the yarn over my index fing from front to back, the opposite from what Staci suggests, and I am still able to flick just fine, and have been knitting that way for a couple years now. I think the problem some people have with their elbows may be because they aren't pivoting the right needle enough to catch the yarn. When I knit, I pivot the needle so that it is vertical and perpendicular to the floor, or at least very nearly. I don't have any problems with that causing my speed to decrease, and can go just as fast as she does. It just takes practice and dedication to to keep from forming bad habits like that.
I also hold my yarn from front to back and am able to flick. I was thinking this same thing but didn't know how to word it. I also think it may be a lot easier to pivot the needle on short needles rather than long ones. Instead of using the long 14 inch needles, cable needles would be easier to use and knit this way.
Daniel, I'm exactly the same. I find the bigger pivot and holding the yarn this way helps me get the reach. If I wrap it around my finger the other way I can't maintain the tension with my itty bitty hands lol.
I agree on the needle length. I use circulars and double points exclusively because, when I knit with straights, the stopper on the needle continually hits me in the leg, and frequently gets tangled in my yarn due to the amount of pivot.
I have also tried to hold the yarn from front to back, and I had tension issues with that as well. I actually had trouble with my tension being too tight with that method. So whatever. Probably some side effect of the way I wrap the yarn around my fingers.
I also hold my yarn front to back. When I try it the other way, I end up catching the wrong part an end up with a weird yarnover in my stitches. I think it has a lot to do with how you tension your yarn, because when I hold it the way shown in the video, I can do it, but it's not as comfortable.
I've been flicking for thirty years and never realized it was unusual. I also do my purls "backwards", flicking under rather than over the needle in almost a picking motion, (I think it's called "combination knitting" ) because it helps my tension on the purl side. You just have to remember to knit into what Cat Bordhi calls the "winning leg" of the stitches on the knit side to avoid twisting the stitches.
I also taught myself to knit backwards (left to right) for my return rows, rather than purling. I'm slower at it, but it's also great for even tension. It's a useful technique in certain situations, such as entrelac.
Found this video today while exploring and trying to learn Irish cottage knitting style. Honestly, I think flicking is almost as fast, so I doubt I'll pursue it beyond mastering how to do it.
I just came across your video - I have been knitting this way for 72 years ! I had no idea it was a ' thing ' ! I did know that I have always knitted faster than everyone else but I had no idea why .
I've finally learned each method and I dont feel I knit like others. Working yarn coming off my pointer finger. my needles rotate a lot during a stitch, and they move like a sewing machine bobbin I use a movement akin to reeling in a fish. I feel it helps with rythym, which I think is bketter than speed. Thankyou for all of these videos !!!
I love watching you knit. I hold my yarn around the opposite side on my finger then you do. The one where you have a hard time getting the yarn around the needles to make a stitch. I try your way and can’t do it. Thank you for sharing how you do things.
Thank you so much for this video! I've been knitting pretty much exactly the same but holding that darn yarn wrong. I just took 10 minutes to play with a random swatch and pulled that yarn around my finger correctly. It definitely feels little weird and the tension is off but I can already tell that once I get it down it will go much better, like you said practice makes perfect. Yay! Knitting efficiency at it's finest! :)
I find I have to alternate between English and Continental methods to avoid tendinitis. Since I’m normally a right handed knitter, it took practice to train myself to knit Continental. The rewards were immense, for knit-purl projects and Fair Isle color work. When I knit English style, I notice the yarn wraps around my index finger in the same direction as your yarn. So, I’m confident that with practice, I’ll be able to start flicking - and stop letting go of the right needle! Thanks, Staci ❤️
Thank you Staci, I have been struggling with the tension for months and kept going back to the throwing but I was determined to do the flicking so I watch you video again and realized my yarn was wrapped wrong on my pointer. I've been practicing and NOW I am finally flicking and pivoting. Thank you for your help and your videos sharing your knowledge.
I changed to flicking from throwing after starting to watch your videos four years ago and it's the way I knit now. I couldn't knit any other way, it's totally comfortable for me 😄
UGHHH!! You’re correct! It is the tension!
I’m not sure I have the patience (or want it badly enough yet) to continue practicing flicking for the duration of this shawl!!
I am a relatively new knitter though, so I’m going to give myself some grace. I’ll finish this project and then when I start my next project, I’ll give flicking another try!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful and beautiful work!!
This is how I have always knitted as I was taught at 5 by my Grandmother.....Love this style!!!!!
This is such a helpful video! I’m a continental knitter, but I want to learn to flick! I feel like I have all the info I need to try this after watching this video. I love hearing that you committed to knitting a whole Afghan like this when you first taught yourself this method. Thank you! ❤
I saw one of your videos earlier this week and I tried to flick but had trouble controlling my tension. This video was really helpful because you explained how to hold the working yarn. I wrapped the yarn twice around my pinky finger and my ring finger. It worked! Now I just have to practice on my speed. Thanks.
I always thought I was strange in my knitting style. I always seen people do the English style of knitting and I tried knitting that way and it was supper uncomfortable for me. With your video I just found out I knit I wasn't strange. My style is continental! I have been knitting for three or four years now and I am an addict! I just woke up one day and said I want to learn. Took me two to three years to step outside my comfort zone and still I find myself panicking. lol. But I keep my head up and keep going. Thank you for your videos! I find them very helpful and informative!
I've been knitting for many years and this is how I knit. It is so fast and my tension is always spot on! I'm glad to know that I am not the only flicker out there!
Good advice on practice. I learned to knit the English way as a child and recently decided to learn the Continental/Norwegian way. I am encouraged to hear that you too had to practice to get it because it is very frustrating but it's worth it in the end.
I've always been a flicker. That's how my Grandmama taught me in 1981. I have an unusual way of tensioning my yarn that does leave the working yarn on the front of my finger. I wrap it around my pinkie, over my ring finger, under my middle finger and back over my index finger. It works for me and I never have to let go of the needle until I finish the row or need to push stitches along the needle.
This is how I learned to knit as a child by watching how my Mom knit. I find it lets me knit fast with very consistent stitches and my knit and purl stitches are the same size.
Now I’m teaching a friend how to knit this way and I’m realizing how difficult it is to teach. Hang in there if your learning this. It makes knitting fun, fast and easy with beautiful results.
Hi! I am a new knitter. You are great, thank you for all your resources and vids. I want to either flick or do continental because I also do not want to let go of the needle. I am glad you discussed your blanket/afgan commitment. I have tried continental for two days and am ready to throw in the towel because I am still struggling. But it seems that it all takes a lot longerto master a style and I am working on a simple throw (98 stitch row, 4 colors, each color 45 rows, alt knit/purl for each row) so I will commit to that project and practice both styles, perhaps each style for one knit and one purl row or perhaps one style for each color!
Thank you for explaining this! I taught myself how to do basic stitches to make a scarf and pot holders in high school and would pick it up here and there but never got around to learning anything more complicated. About 2 weeks ago I decided I was going to learn how to make socks on dpn’s and I then learned there was continental knitting and I was an English style knitter. The English style is so much more comfortable for my hands but I still wanted to try a flicking way to help keep my pointer finger from cramping and we hold the yearn very similar 😅 but you tension it slightly differently and I’m going to try your way since I’m making my stitches too tight. Love your channel and I’m so glad I found you!
This is so helpful. I've made flicking sort of work for knit stitches but not at all for purl. Now that I've seen the behind the finger trip I'm off to the races!
That same "blanket" determination is what got to become a continental knitter and am now attempting to master the Portuguese way. I am sooooo glad I did.
I kinda laughed at the last part when you said you were determined to knit that way. I am one of those knitters that holds the working yarn in my left hand. I learned to crochet like that. So when I saw people letting go of the working yarn to knit I remember saying to myself "I'm not doing that! I'm knitting this way!". I thought I made it up too, then later realized there were a bunch of people that knitted the same way I do! There is even an elderly German woman in a charity knitting/crochet group I'm in that loves when I'm knitting because she says "You knit just like I do!". It makes her so happy.
I tension my yarn the same way. I was happy to finally see someone else do it the same way I do. I tension the same way for crochet. Not sure how or why it works but it does.
When I first started knitting I was "throwing" with my right hand and almost gave up on knitting because of the muscle fatigue and pain in my shoulder it was creating. I was very attracted to continental knitting because it seemed like an easier faster way to knit. Like yourself, I made a commitment to myself to knit dishcloths until I got the hang of it. After all, it didn't matter if a dishcloth has great tension or is pretty so I knew I wouldn't stress over those factors while I learned the technique. Now I knit with comfort and ease in the continental style and without the fatigue and pain. I highly recommend to throwers to try flicking or continental knitting on easy projects and see what a difference it can make to you! Great video Stacie!!
I almost gave up on knitting (coming from the crochet world) until a friend of mine suggested continental knitting - I found Stacey's videos and the rest is history. All true, practice makes perfect.
I’ve been knitting 50 years using the throwing method. I feel so childish. How I wish I’d tried to flick so much earlier. Your suggestion to do washcloths to practice is great! I’m determined at age 59 to do it this way.
Thank you thank you thank you, you’ve helped me so much. I was holding my yarn in front of my finger instead of in back and I’m sure it’s going to make all the difference in the world. Again thanks!
I am a self-taught flicker, but with less movement than you show, with yarn going front to back, over my bent index finger. My arms are kept close to my body or supported on a table, so I can knit for hours without tiring. This style felt the most natural to me and allowed me to develop some speed.
Wow. In less than 30 seconds, I went from weird inconsistent tension to really seamless tension. I've been trying your style for a month now, but could never get the same results. It was all in the wrap, like you said - I was wrapping the yarn over my finger the other way.
Can't believe a tiny adjustment like that made such a crazy difference!
thank you so much for this tutorial. I'm knitting so much faster than normal now. I'm still perfecting the tension but I love this flicking style so much more than the throwing.
Like you say it takes practice. I do hold my yarn the 'wrong' way, but it goes fine for me, and I do not move my elbow to much (I think) :-) I did learn it from your video and was so happy I figured it out so I finally could knit with circular needles. So thank you! :-D
Me too. Instead of the yarn going behind or under my finger, it goes over the top or in front. I've tried it Stacey's way but my joints don't seem to be built in a way I can make that work, and my elbow takes on the movement instead of my finger. I think people trying to learn flicking should just try both ways and see which gives them the smallest and most comfortable movement.
me too yarn goes front to back...tried it back to front and had terrible tension issues and achy joints
I am a left handed knitter that taught myself how to knit. I know I am a slower knitter that throws the yarn from my right hand and my mom in law cringed when she watched me knit but it works. I wrap the yarn around my index finger 2-3 times to get my tension but it comes off from the top, and now that I see how you do this, I will attempt to do it wrapping the other way to see if I can flick. Thanks for a great video!
That’s what I was missing, Staci!!! The direction of the yarn wrapped around the index finger makes a VAST difference! Thank you for clarifying that part.
I am SO GLAD I Found your Site!! My Go Too.. 😁.. I am fairly new to knitting. I learned crochet from my Nanny at about 9 years old
. I taught my Mom & cousin. I learned to knit on UA-cam.. I found your videos..SO HELPFUL!! I am Continental & english knitting.. Im wanting to learn Flicking.. You have a Fast pace rythem.. Oh it looks so easy..😁.. I know ita not.. You are Honest saying it TAKES TIME.. I want to do a blanket. My issue IS..I keep having a TOO TIGHT CAST ON.. I end up taking hours worth of knitting apart.. Now I'm home the carona virus all around..and I am going to LEARN THIS..
Thank you for these great videos. I found out that I too knit this way. I love it. I am left handed. I crochet left-handed, but I knit right-handed.
Fyi for UK viewers, Knitter's Pride is known as KnitPro in the UK.
I personally have the yarn in front of my finger, because when I tried to do it like how you demonstrated, I ended up having to move a lot more and the yarn in front of my finger (which is leading to the yarn ball) gets caught by my needle. I'm not sure why this is the case.
Love your videos! They have taught me so much about knitting!
I agree. I have been flicking for years and I learned from you, Stacie. But after watching your newer video on flicking I noticed you hold your yarn over your finger differently. I tried it. Couldn’t do it. My elbows were everywhere. I guess it’s whatever you get used to. I LOVE all of your tutorials. I have learned so much from you!!! Keep ‘em coming!!!!
I'm so Excited!! My Daughter bought me the knitters Pride wooden cubics long tapered.. before that I bought a few singles. Both Cubics, wood and patina.. my mistakes..Because they where the shorties.. I also bought a couple singles 9 & 10 of your Tunisian crochet wooden kneedles..
Well I see them for a good price and I bought the set.. Fortunately the size goes to an 8 & the 2 I bought are bigger.. I have a few more single Dreamz.. at a store Beautiful colors..
I am now SAVING For the KNITTERS PRIDE PLATINA CUBICS SET.. I Like the shortie I have .. but to have the Long tips would he AWESOME.. I Love your Videos.. I'm searching for Newer ones.. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU TEACH..THA K YOU SO MUCH!! PRAYERS🤟🙏💗
Thank you for the opportunity to win this awesome set
Hello Stacey. This is a good follow up. Now I know why the yarn is moving from the tip of my index finger to a point very much lower: it is a matter of tension! For me it is hard to tension the yarn, because of a mild form of arthritis: my hands are easily fatigued or cramped. But I will try and find a way to be able to continue learning this technique. I tried to learn continental style, but somehow my knitting became much more loose, especially when ribbing. When I rib this way, the way you explain, I am more pleased with the result (also thanks to your tip on tightening the yarn when going from knit to purl stitch).
So far, it seems to me that the essence of this method is: the pivot. Besides the tensioning and the right way of holding the yarn, which I have to practice to master I guess, I already find that it really helps to move the right needle to the right, turning it towards where the yarn is. That way I don't feel like I'm throwing it, but it feels more like 'picking', with only a small movement extra needed.
I learned to knit in the Netherlands, in the seventies, on straight needles, back and forth. I used to hold the right needle under my right arm. I kind of 'flicked' the yarn, because I never dropped it, but after a few hours the muscles in my shoulder often started to complain. And anyway, since I read Susanne Paghold's book on Scandinavian knitting, I want to knit in the round, to make all those beautiful hats and mittens. Thank you for all your great tutorials!
I actually had to pick up my knitting project to see how my yarn wraps on my finger. It's so ingrained I dont think about it. Like you, from the back to the front. I tension it with a wrap around my little finger.
I learnt to knit with the working yarn in my right hand and holding the tension between my first finger and thumb. It created excellent tension but I could see how much faster you were able to knit and so I started to wrap my waiting yarn in a similar way to you. Then I did actually come across your five yo flicking video and it wasn't until you said you keep hold of the needle that I was able to pick up speed and it all made sense.
Interestingly I still wrap the yarn the other way around my first finger. I've tried it the way that works for you but my entire hand span is much smaller and I found my finger just couldn't keep it up high enough to wrap the needle. (I have very small hands, only 6 inches from top of the middle finger to the base of my palm.
It certainly is a lot faster knitting this way. I committed to doing a beanie in that position as you suggested here now and by the end of it I felt the same. I was happy with how it worked and loved the speed. Thank you as always!
Hi Staci! Your videos are just a wealth of information for a new knitter like myself, I love all your insights! One thing that I've noticed in the way you knit that might help with flicking is that you move your left hand to get the right needle into the stitch and off of it again. I was keeping my left hand pretty much stationary so relying on my right hand to insert the needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn then off again. I feel like knowing the complete motion of both hands working together might help. I'm still practising to get it right though hopefully it'll click for me soon.
I am SO excited! Thank you for being the first person to make this make sense. I no long let go of my needle. ((happy dance)) I also just bought your toe up two at a time magic loop sock pattern. I hope to dive into that today. =o] What really helped is you hold your yarn the same way I do and it made sense to me.
I am a new knitter. I would like to try this. I love you videos. Thank you for being clear and real!
I watched so many of your videos and basically learned from you so the other ways are awkward. I knit faster than most. Good video as usual.
I knit similarly but different to the way that you do. My Grampa taught me to knit as a child. I flick with the yarn wrapped the'wrong' way as described in your video -with absolutely no elbow movement. I hold tension in my yarn holding it exactly the way you do with ring and pinky cuddling it softly up to my palm. Instead of holding my needle with the tips of my fingers I rest it in the crook between thumb and flicking finger- much like I hold my pencil. The needle pivots much the same way as yours as I flick .When I do colorwork I flick with both index and 2nd finger, each with a different color.
I think much of what works or does not work depends on which movements and holds suit the individual or what our hands are used to doing. I am pretty sure that if i held my pencil or fork differently all my life the way I hold my needles would be tricky. Thank you so much for sharing your technique with others . I find it somewhat painful to watch the slow progress of knitters who drop the needle to pick up the yarn and wish I could help. I crocheted for years because I could not flick and knitting was so slow- and then, voila, I could. But I cannot explain how!! As to the person who commented that we only look like we are knitting fast, can she explain away the fact that I can turn 600m of yarn into a shawl in 2 days?? And, yes, I do eat, sleep and work ( gotta have money to buy yarn).
Omg this is SO helpful!!!!! I was holding my yarn wrong and doing the elbow thing! I can't wait to keep practicing and get better at this! Awesome videos! Thank you!!!
thanks for sharing the video. i'm a continental knitter (because that is how i was taught to knit). however, i use a setup on my right hand that is very similar to this one when i am doing fair-isle patterns, as it really is the best way i've found to match tension with the yarn in my left hand. whenever i tried to use the English/American style of throwing with the second color of yarn in my right hand, those stitches ended up very loose and sloppy compared to the ones done with the tensioned yarn in my left hand. don't know if i would use this flicking setup for single-color knitting, as i prefer to keep the working yarn in my non-dominant hand so that i can use my right hand for other stuff (grabbing the phone, finding stuff to watch on the 'puter, wrestling fiber away from cats, etc) without having to constantly retension the yarn. still, it is good to practice something different every once in a while so that we have options for different situations.