I am self taught. I learned to knit from books before there was a UA-cam. I did the throwing method for most of my knitting career. I decided to learn a different method when I saw a tv show on knitting. I tried several methods and fell in love with the continental method. My knitting speed more than doubled! It was fantastic and that is the way I knit today.
A Huge Heartfelt Thank You for this video and it's explanations! I was taught to knit as a child with the British Throwing Technique (but I did not know it had a name!) Skip forward 20 years and I am at my Mother-in-Law's knitting to keep her company as she was always knitting. To my acute embarrassment I was knitting blissfully away and my dear MIL stopped with a horrified gasp and announced to all present "Look at the way she is knitting!!! I have NEVER seen anyone DROP THE NEEDLE that way!" I have been SO self concious about my knitting ever since that I will never knit in public! She taught me how to knit "properly" as she told me but I have always found it awkward and uncomfortable so I just started hating knitting and never did it unless I could hide in my bedroom and guiltily do it my "wrong" way. Your video finally tells me that she knit the "American Flicking" way. Makes sense - my intolerant knitting snob Mother in Law (may she Rest in Peace) was Canadian & American... I however am first generation Canadian of British decent and was taught by my British Mother (may she Rest in Peace). I was wanting to do some "sneaky knitting" and was double checking UA-cam to see what else I was doing wrong and came across your Tutorial. For the rest of my life I can now knit Proudly and Publicly with a smile and know I am knitting in my British Heritage way if anyone else is rude enough to criticize me!
+Katlin Suzanne Johnston I'm so glad you found me! Your message made me smile and I really hope you have been knitting everywhere and anywhere with pride.
I'm sorry you were shamed for the way you knit! As long as the product looks good, the stitch is the one intended--not twisted--and you're happy, then any way you knit is right. I'm a continental knitter and it's more comfortable for me. I recommend that people learn both ways, esp of they want to do color work. It's also good to switch up if you find you're having repetitious stress. But rock on! Some of our best knitters in my knitting club knit English!
Rest easy. I don't consider there to be any "right" or "wrong" way to do needle work as long as the outcome is satisfactory! Do whatever is right and comfortable for you and be proud of what you do!! Many people would like to learn to knit and crochet but don't want to take the time to learn, so you have a skill to be proud of!!
Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate. I started out continental, then throwing, then flicking, one lever knitting with 16" straight or double pointed needles as well as circular. I knit quit a bit faster on lever knitting. It took a week of knitting the style to become very comfortable. Thank you again!
I taught myself to knit over 30 years ago. I didn't do too much knitting because it took me so long to finish anything with the throwing method. When PBS had several knitting shows, I noticed different ways to knit and saw how fast the knitters where knitting. I went to the library and learned the continental way. I have never been happier. I can make a pair of socks in a few days. I can whip up a hat in a few hours. I have found that it is easier to keep track of my needles because I don't ever drop them like I used to. I also found that using DP needles and knitting in the round on the magic loop is also so much faster and easier doing the continental way. I am now a happy fast knitter.
Just watched this again (10 months later) ----- I took a break until about 3 weeks ago (seems I can only find interest in winter!!) and have learned continental, but also reverse knitting - which does-away with purl altogether. I'm happy to say I'm actually LEARNING this time around! Cool to find this video of yours again and I'm now in s better state to put it into use. So...thank you again for this tutorial.
I dont have good coordination in my left hand so I was starting to feel a bit of distress at the fact that I keep seeing people say that continental knitting is way easier on your hands or way faster when i really couldn't pick it up whatsoever, no matter how I tried to alter which finger does the tension, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who prefers using the flicking technique. It just makes so much more sense to my body to use my right hand to do the work when my strength is better in that hand. And I hate the awkward floaty index finger you get going on in continental too
Wow! I'm so glad I found your tutorial! I learned to crochet first, so holding the yarn in the left hand as I knit is most comfortable for me. Thanks for sharing!
I searched the internet for the "neck knitting method" - which my mom and my grandmother uses and I couldn't find anything. Then I came to your video and I learnt that this is called "Portuguese technique". Interesting. That's the way I learned to knit, also, but now I force myself into another method because the "Portuguese" one is thought to be for old ladies.. :) But I will have to think again, I believe that I can knit much faster that way. Thank you for your explanations!
I'm not old and use the Portuguese method often depending what mood I'm in or what project I'm doing. Don't feel you can't use it if it is what you want to do
Emanuela Jalbă you can also use a pin or a safety pin & pin it to The front of shirt rather than loop the yarn around your neck, that works to for the tension on your yarn, love Português style knitting
I know you said you were a bit uncomfortable about producing this video, but you did a fantastic job! I'd never heard of the last two methods, so thanks for opening my eyes to them! Keep creating videos--you're great at it, and the speed and pitch of your voice are perfect too! Good Job!
I knit using the flicking method and came by it naturally. I just thought it was a waste of effort to bring that hand around and decided I was going to train myself to not let loose of that right needle. If you want to see really fast knitting, look at speed knitting. I'm currently trying to teach myself Portuguese knitting (also called Greek knitting) and it's very fast. I just ordered a beautiful pin to hold the yarn. Great video!
Interesting! I'm actually German but my Grandmother and Mum always knitted in the English style, because we are right handed. Anyways I actually hold the thread on my right finger the same as you do on your left finger. And I hold it tighter, that's why I think that's easier and faster and more relaxing for your hands. What I have also seen is the way Miss Marple knits: she knits English style, but holds the needle like a pencil... I don't really like that, although it does look cool. What I don't like about the Continental style is that you have to "pick" up the thread. It can easily slip away. Anyways, great video!
Thank you so much!!!! That is exactly what I've wanted to see for a few years! Sharing with beginning knitter friends to get them started thinking about different ways to hold the needles & yarn.
I love sewing and in my winter knitting is what I do most. I also hold my yarn on my right between last two fingers. I also love how you show many style of knitting, I also subscribed and Thank you for your class video. Looking forward in seeing more from you. God bless!
that was an excellent video and summary of the various styles of knitting -- and to repeat what many others have said, you really do have a lovely voice :)) Thank you!
I loved this tutorial. When I learned to knit, it was with the method you referred to as that American stitch thing. I never felt comfie with letting my right hand leave the needle to make that wide swoop. I also learned continental, which I like pretty well. The thing about the Scottish method is long ago when the ladies would be walking home from wherever, or going about their business, they would have a special needle attached to a needle harness about their waist and a long needle would hold the stitches they knitted. The history of it was pretty interesting. I've tried the armpit knitting and it's not all that easy or comfie to do. Anyway, thanks for sharing these techniques with us.
N H -- Yes, my mother has lived in Italy for years now and says [they] knit with a long dbl pnt under left arm so they can knit WHILE doing other things! (AMAZING!) Then, several years ago, Vogue Knitting Magazine made reference to a 'knitting belt', as you describe, which has attatched to it a sort of padded 'pod' with indentations to stabilize one end of the long dbl pnt needle while you knit, most logically, continental style. Most interesting, you can actually purchase one as it is making a come-back as a useful tool for those desiring to explore those methods further! 👍
That was very interesting seeing all the techniques all together like that. I’ve tried them all and settled on the continental method because I have become faster with that one. I learned with the English method and finally switched because I wanted to knit faster. I’m glad I did!
Excellent tutorial! Although you say your a novice, you proceed with expertise & utmost professionalism. I really enjoyed this video, will be looking forward to more!
Great video. Ravelry which is the hub on the internet for all things knitting does refer to the technique you are talking about as English Flicking. Since the same technique is used in Britain and America, it is still English style. You could fine tune your demo on it as the means of speed is to throw as little as possible so it involves pushing the left hand into the right. Then you are actually catching the yarn or picking it in the knit stitch. On the knit stitch the left hand collapses towards the right hand to complete the stitch, whereas I've found to do the opposite with purling so the movement of the collapse goes from right to left for purling. It isn't a big movement, just for the means of making catching the yarn easier. The movement of the hands tilts the needles so it is easier with circular needles than straight and find that Portuguese is easier for the same reason with circulars. Both Portuguese style and English Flicking has the advantage of a consistently good purl stitch so there is no rowing (loose rows appearing on the purl side of the work -- typically about every 4th row or part of that row). I know how to knit Continental and do so for socks mostly because knitting in the round makes beautiful stockinette, but sock work up equally nice with English Flicking. It is good to know both as that is how I knit Fair Isle most often. It also is the way I do with Double Knitting. Knitting is not only for leisure recreation and relaxation, but you get finished projects (hopefully) but that has to do with satisfaction of the final outcome. If your making an Aran cable and have lots of background reverse stockinette, and the cables are tight together, it may not matter but if you have open fields of reverse stockinette, you may find Continental purling, which is often looser, produces rowing. There is knitting backwards which avoids the purl stitch for Continental. All in all, it is always good to know more than one technique. Use the technique you like. Knitting backwards changes the motion of knitting enough to rest fingers which may get sore and has the advantage of always working on the front of the work, particularly nice for Entrelac or even for lace knitting. I love Continental for ribbing a it is fast but then I do Combined Continental which has a different mount, but the output knitting can look the same. The purl wraps then the easiest way and I know how to correct the mount in the next row knitting in the back of the stitch. If you like your knitting, enjoy what you do, the finished result is good, that is what matters.
yes you are right this is a great video but me you please talk about the efficiency of speed knitting because speed knitting is fantastic but slow knitting is really really really really not fantastic four letter word beginning that's good but I'm good I'm good Xperia atspeed knitting
ogon make um well there is a video on UA-cam about me and it is a really really fantastic amazing Race tarnishing website and you just get every tip it's 11 hours so if you can take it there you go and it is called alarm Lalloz does the speed knitting champion race which is and really really fast because I am a champion and my name is a Lara Lalloz not alarm Lalloz alarm Lalloz just sucks alien ate it 8 isn't it do they donating really have been eating it
+Alara Lalloz If the whole world of knitting was knitting stockinette, but it isn't. The most efficient style in any given project is what works best. One example not shown is Combined which is when you really have no tension and the purl means the knit stitch is mounted with the leading leg in back. If you knit a really dense Aran pattern such as for a purse strap, it is the best because if you do it tightly, your hands may hurt and the work becomes too tight. There is good in everything one learns, you just have to find when to use it. If the work shows rowing as Continental may, you can race away and not end up liking what you knit. So long as the result works for you, what other people think is up to them. I use whatever style works for the project.
Thanks for this. I find it really useful to see all these different techniques, thank you kindly for bringing them all together. My grandmother taught me to knit and one of the things she taught me was to only put a little bit of the needle through the stitch, then when you put the yarn round the needle it doesn't have to go as far, which is quicker. I find it odd that the flicking method is called american and the throwing method is called English. I'm English. As a tiny girl I was first taught to knit throwing style, then as my hands got bigger my grandmother taught me the proper way to knit, flicking style. It is how she was taught by her grandmother. I'm pretty sure that no Americans were involved at all! You watch, they'll have invented the wheel next 😂😂😂
I knit using the lever method (without realizing it) the trouble was if I was doing a bigger project, or wanted to use circular needles...I was hopeless 😕. I then discovered 'Portuguese knitting, which is fabulous for purling, but I found it not so good for knit (my tension was too tight) so now I'm practicing continental for knit and Portuguese for purl in a chunky blanket I'm knitting. It does feel,like starting again, but I'm improving all the time, and it's a good project to play with. Look up Portuguese (or Turkish I think). Another bow for your needles 😃
Thanks so much for making this video, I wish I had seen it when I first starting learning to knit. I didn't know there were different ways to knit. I gave up a few different times because my fingers wouldn't cooperate.
Such a helpful video! I've just started knitting using the English style (crocheted for 7 years first), and it feels so slow! I tried continental and it didn't feel right, because I'm already pretty set in English. But I am super intrigued by your English/Lever hybrid style. I'm going to try it tonight!
Great tutorial. I like the Irish cottage knitting method. It's very sophisticated and you don't really feel tension in your hands when knitting. Its also very fast. So, if your trying to improve your speed , that would be a good method to use.
I'm an Irish cottage knitter from Italy. I've only seen it done this way in Italy as we used to have many avid knitters. It is a dying art unfortunately. I now live in the US and most are continental knitters which I find very awkward. Thanks so much for the video. It was well done.
Hi there, Felicia! I just wanted to share my own experience with purling technique. I always use continental way of knitting. And maybe you or other youtubers would like to try the way for continental purling that I use: so, I keep a yarn at my left hand, and my right needle goes through a loop, just as you have shown, but that right needle goes above the yarn (which at that moment I start to tighten with my left index finger, so it is almost perpendicular to the left needle) and I just push the yarn from left to right trough the loop. Just to let you guys know :)
Ha, so there it is, I been knitting PORTUGUES style all my life, that the way I learn growing up in Portugal, love it so easy & you can go pretty fast, I tried doing they way I seen people do it here in the US, but it’s like crocheting with you left hand 🤣😁
I knit english style and since getting fybromyalgia it really hurts my shoulders...i will try some of these as there is less movement! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for assembling these techniques in your video! It's helpful to have them all in one place. Would it be possible to place some links to the videos you mention in your video description? Many thanks!
The old Shetland islanders were the fastest knitters, using a knitting belt or sheath,(different again), they are still very fast knitters, even when using two colours. The old ladies could knit two or three stitches a second, there is still film of them working, incredible to see,(or not see, a blur so fast).
If you try the purl stitch with the yarn tension on the right index as you show , you can do it in portuguese style with the thumb and yes is very fast , thank you for the lesson
I have been knitting with what you called the "American Flick" method. I knit very fast and one of my friends who teaches knitting told me that I knit as fast as anyone who knits continental. I have long fingers and I suppose this helps me.
Love all these techniques! My sister does that under the armpit one but she ended up bending loads of needles from pressing it into her body. I was taught (in the UK) to hold my right needle like a pencil and then flick the wool round, which is much faster (in my view!) than holding over the top.
Katie Lee i find with the Norwegian purl that my stitches' feet sit differently on the needle than my knit stitches. This would affect the overall tension between the stitches and the tension of fabric.
I'm learning how to knit and I use that one under the armpit and I thought I was weird by doing that. I use metal, I think the material is metal and I don't destroy or bend the needles. I'll try the other styles. This is a great video :)
Katie Lee -- Check-out the Cowichan natives of the Northwest US. They are FAMOUS for their knitting__they hold the right needle the same way. Very interesting history! 👍
This was really informative! Interesting to see so many different styles in one video. I do the first method (English) but I'd like to convert to a different style because it seems so cumbersome and slow compared to other styles.
Norwegian technique you didn't mention. It's similar to continental but your finger isn't sticking out to help with wrapping the yarn. And the purl is more complicated. But it's super fast when you get the hang of it. Check out the videos by Arne & Carlos. Arne uses the Norwegian technique. I've never seen anyone faster.
So glad that you decided not to use a stark white background. I will not watch videos that use do. The blue tone is more gentle and appealing for my eyes, therefore, making me more able to concentrate on your tutorial.
Have you tried picking on the purls too? I do it that way continental style, it twists the stitches around but is a lot less awkward and faster. Also, I noticed you push your right needle too far in all the methods, including the under arm method, which is the first one I was taught as a child.
I start out as a crocheter so continental knitting seems to suit me more. I wanted to learn flicking so much but my hands just wouldn't listen to me and the tension just messy and couldn't keep it on the index finger.
You forgot Norweigian Purl! And combination method----picking with yarn in left hand on knit row and right hand held yarn flicking for purl row. OR, if you like left hand held yarn picking, but hate the purl as you do, do the purls backwards (very fast method) which results in twisted stitches--just knit them in the back of the stitch on the next row. This works well for large areas of stocking stitch, but can get confusing with fussier patterns. It will change your tension a bit too as you are using up the same amount of yarn for each stitch (whereas with the “proper” method, the purl stitch used more yarn than the knit stitch. This can result in a rather uneven stocking stitch fabric--which is why I use the backwards purl when I have a lot of st stitch. Just make notes as you go so you do ribbing the same for different parts of a sweater and so sleeves will be done with a consistent method. When I teach, I show all of these and have the person try a few while they are still open to choosing a method that feels good to them. Oh yes, there is aso Russian method, which is picking with yarn in left hand, but no tensioning. You just hang yarn over left index finger right on the left hand needle. It sounds simple, but I cannot entirely master it. It is, in my view, the very fastest method because there is absolutely no wasted movement. I actually learned it from a Polish girl and I wish I could get better at it.
I started off throwing then went to continental knitting & now knit Greek/Portugese, I find I knitvavlot faster particularly as I use just the tips of my needdles
I nerded out on this so hard. Totally recognize the hardship with continental purling, so the alternative techniques are very welcome, they look promising. Could I suggest direct links in the description to the masters/video's you are referring to? (also found the blog though, a nice read)
there is no such thing as american technique or WHATVEr....I knit this way and english style and continental(took me 2 yrs to learn master continental) ...i knit however i feel like , on whichever given day...its actually interesting how your brain wants to do different things..but depending on the project i knit differently and i don't know why. But you have made a great video..I love it.
I started continental and my fingers hurt so i go to english style and now im learning the flicking, tension is a problem in this, but practice i hope can improve
I love my English knitting it is what I know. sometimes I find myself flicking. I would love to learn Portuguese knitting. Have not had time to devote to it.
How are you wrapping the yarn around your fingers. I saw that it's around your pinky but I cant tell exactly how its wrapped pr on the other fingers so I cant get any of these methods. will you send a video reply to show me
You didn't try British knitting, where the right hand needle is held like a pencil, and the wool is curled round the needle tip with the first finger, been knitting for over sixty years, and saw recently, "English knitting" for the first time, looks most awkward, all that gripping of wool. British knitting ( as done by English, Irish, Welsh, and some Scots,)is held lightly in the left hand, and the right needle is held like a pencil, just balanced between thumb and finger pressure .
Thanks for this video, I'd love to knit faster and I think with some practice at this I might be able to :) I love the Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl McPhee I have a few of her books, my gosh she is fast isn't she!!xx
glad I was not taught at young age to do cottage style seems many have hard time transiting to circulars and I love my cir's..although do enjoy watching the cottage style and speed
My mother is Welsh/Scottish and she does the flicking movement with her right hand. She learned that from her mother in Wales. I don't think it is American.
+sewsassy1 No you didn't. I just thought I was rambling on a little too much. I am sure there will be a good single video of Portuguese on youtube that will demonstrate a purl. Thanks!
Beautiful accent because I am pretty sure she is Australian as I am! I have just developed RSI having knitted 5 jumpers this winter in Australia. can someone recommend the best style for avoiding RSI as I fear I shall never knit again and that would be tragic.
I dont feel so bad about the way that I knit now ahaha. Because I have tendinitis in my right wrist, I tend to rest the end of my working needle in my lap (or stomach if I'm slouching), leaving my right hand free to use the English Throwing Method. Its what irritates my wrist the least ahaha
@The Craft Sessions. For continental purling I use the technique demonstrated in the following video around 5:00 ua-cam.com/video/gjRdy47-S38/v-deo.html. The string tension is constant the hands can be used to hold on to the loops if needed and the working thread moves minimally without any fancy twists to give a nice purl stitch. With time I find this technique to be quite fast. Hope it helps.
HERE IN TURKEY THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE KNIT WITH PUTTING THE YARN AROUND THEIR NECK, AND THEY USE THEIR THUMB TO KNIT 😒.AND THEY REALLY KNIT SO FAST BY THIS METHOD..I LOVE CONTINENTAL STYLE BUT HAVEN'T PRACTICE IT. I KNIT ENGLISH STYLE USING MY INDEX FINGER FOR 50 YEARS.
I am really getting tired of hearing how superior Continental knitting is. It is only faster in the knit stitch, more difficult with the purl stitch. So, why switch?
![How to knit a perfect sloped bind-off [no more steps!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/H5a8jUGK7Nw/mqdefault.jpg)
Your hands have the remarkable ability to knit the way a sewing machine dips its needle! You are truly incredible!
I am self taught. I learned to knit from books before there was a UA-cam. I did the throwing method for most of my knitting career. I decided to learn a different method when I saw a tv show on knitting. I tried several methods and fell in love with the continental method. My knitting speed more than doubled! It was fantastic and that is the way I knit today.
You may not see this since you've posted this 3 years ago, but thank you for this explanation. Very precise instructions. Appreciated it very much.
Excellent tutorial!! Thank you so much for making this video. I could listen to your lovely accent teach knitting all day!!!
Rex Decker I know so beautiful
+Rex Decker Thanks Rex for your lovely words. Much appreciated.
i have a pattern in mohair would like to knit but it is in mohair can I use any ply wool to substitute this
A Huge Heartfelt Thank You for this video and it's explanations! I was taught to knit as a child with the British Throwing Technique (but I did not know it had a name!) Skip forward 20 years and I am at my Mother-in-Law's knitting to keep her company as she was always knitting. To my acute embarrassment I was knitting blissfully away and my dear MIL stopped with a horrified gasp and announced to all present "Look at the way she is knitting!!! I have NEVER seen anyone DROP THE NEEDLE that way!" I have been SO self concious about my knitting ever since that I will never knit in public! She taught me how to knit "properly" as she told me but I have always found it awkward and uncomfortable so I just started hating knitting and never did it unless I could hide in my bedroom and guiltily do it my "wrong" way. Your video finally tells me that she knit the "American Flicking" way. Makes sense - my intolerant knitting snob Mother in Law (may she Rest in Peace) was Canadian & American... I however am first generation Canadian of British decent and was taught by my British Mother (may she Rest in Peace). I was wanting to do some "sneaky knitting" and was double checking UA-cam to see what else I was doing wrong and came across your Tutorial. For the rest of my life I can now knit Proudly and Publicly with a smile and know I am knitting in my British Heritage way if anyone else is rude enough to criticize me!
+Katlin Suzanne Johnston I'm so glad you found me! Your message made me smile and I really hope you have been knitting everywhere and anywhere with pride.
LOL so much drama for knitting , really Oo
I'm sorry you were shamed for the way you knit! As long as the product looks good, the stitch is the one intended--not twisted--and you're happy, then any way you knit is right. I'm a continental knitter and it's more comfortable for me. I recommend that people learn both ways, esp of they want to do color work. It's also good to switch up if you find you're having repetitious stress. But rock on! Some of our best knitters in my knitting club knit English!
Katlin Suzanne Johnston i
Rest easy. I don't consider there to be any "right" or "wrong" way to do needle work as long as the outcome is satisfactory! Do whatever is right and comfortable for you and be proud of what you do!! Many people would like to learn to knit and crochet but don't want to take the time to learn, so you have a skill to be proud of!!
Great tutorial! You made me feel more skilled than I thought I was using the English Flicking method. Thank you! 😊
Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate. I started out continental, then throwing, then flicking, one lever knitting with 16" straight or double pointed needles as well as circular. I knit quit a bit faster on lever knitting. It took a week of knitting the style to become very comfortable. Thank you again!
+2twinszz You are welcome!
I taught myself to knit over 30 years ago. I didn't do too much knitting because it took me so long to finish anything with the throwing method. When PBS had several knitting shows, I noticed different ways to knit and saw how fast the knitters where knitting. I went to the library and learned the continental way. I have never been happier. I can make a pair of socks in a few days. I can whip up a hat in a few hours. I have found that it is easier to keep track of my needles because I don't ever drop them like I used to. I also found that using DP needles and knitting in the round on the magic loop is also so much faster and easier doing the continental way. I am now a happy fast knitter.
Just watched this again (10 months later) ----- I took a break until about 3 weeks ago (seems I can only find interest in winter!!) and have learned continental, but also reverse knitting - which does-away with purl altogether. I'm happy to say I'm actually LEARNING this time around! Cool to find this video of yours again and I'm now in s better state to put it into use. So...thank you again for this tutorial.
I dont have good coordination in my left hand so I was starting to feel a bit of distress at the fact that I keep seeing people say that continental knitting is way easier on your hands or way faster when i really couldn't pick it up whatsoever, no matter how I tried to alter which finger does the tension, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who prefers using the flicking technique. It just makes so much more sense to my body to use my right hand to do the work when my strength is better in that hand. And I hate the awkward floaty index finger you get going on in continental too
Wow! I'm so glad I found your tutorial! I learned to crochet first, so holding the yarn in the left hand as I knit is most comfortable for me.
Thanks for sharing!
I searched the internet for the "neck knitting method" - which my mom and my grandmother uses and I couldn't find anything. Then I came to your video and I learnt that this is called "Portuguese technique". Interesting. That's the way I learned to knit, also, but now I force myself into another method because the "Portuguese" one is thought to be for old ladies.. :) But I will have to think again, I believe that I can knit much faster that way.
Thank you for your explanations!
I'm not old and use the Portuguese method often depending what mood I'm in or what project I'm doing. Don't feel you can't use it if it is what you want to do
Emanuela Jalbă you can also use a pin or a safety pin & pin it to The front of shirt rather than loop the yarn around your neck, that works to for the tension on your yarn, love Português style knitting
I know you said you were a bit uncomfortable about producing this video, but you did a fantastic job! I'd never heard of the last two methods, so thanks for opening my eyes to them! Keep creating videos--you're great at it, and the speed and pitch of your voice are perfect too! Good Job!
+Barb F Thanks Barb for your lovely words! I appreciate them.
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Great video, thank you! I learned that I knit the continental way. I have never seen anyone knit like me but my Mom taught and that's the way I do it.
I knit using the flicking method and came by it naturally. I just thought it was a waste of effort to bring that hand around and decided I was going to train myself to not let loose of that right needle. If you want to see really fast knitting, look at speed knitting. I'm currently trying to teach myself Portuguese knitting (also called Greek knitting) and it's very fast. I just ordered a beautiful pin to hold the yarn. Great video!
Interesting! I'm actually German but my Grandmother and Mum always knitted in the English style, because we are right handed. Anyways I actually hold the thread on my right finger the same as you do on your left finger. And I hold it tighter, that's why I think that's easier and faster and more relaxing for your hands. What I have also seen is the way Miss Marple knits: she knits English style, but holds the needle like a pencil... I don't really like that, although it does look cool. What I don't like about the Continental style is that you have to "pick" up the thread. It can easily slip away. Anyways, great video!
Thank you so much!!!! That is exactly what I've wanted to see for a few years! Sharing with beginning knitter friends to get them started thinking about different ways to hold the needles & yarn.
+Harriet Dickerson You are welcome Harriet. I'm glad it was useful.
I love sewing and in my winter knitting is what I do most. I also hold my yarn on my right between last two fingers. I also love how you show many style of knitting, I also subscribed and Thank you for your class video. Looking forward in seeing more from you. God bless!
that was an excellent video and summary of the various styles of knitting -- and to repeat what many others have said, you really do have a lovely voice :)) Thank you!
+nyperi13 Thanks! Very kind of you to say.
I loved this tutorial. When I learned to knit, it was with the method you referred to as that American stitch thing. I never felt comfie with letting my right hand leave the needle to make that wide swoop. I also learned continental, which I like pretty well. The thing about the Scottish method is long ago when the ladies would be walking home from wherever, or going about their business, they would have a special needle attached to a needle harness about their waist and a long needle would hold the stitches they knitted. The history of it was pretty interesting. I've tried the armpit knitting and it's not all that easy or comfie to do. Anyway, thanks for sharing these techniques with us.
N H -- Yes, my mother has lived in Italy for years now and says [they] knit with a long dbl pnt under left arm so they can knit WHILE doing other things! (AMAZING!) Then, several years ago, Vogue Knitting Magazine made reference to a 'knitting belt', as you describe, which has attatched to it a sort of padded 'pod' with indentations to stabilize one end of the long dbl pnt needle while you knit, most logically, continental style. Most interesting, you can actually purchase one as it is making a come-back as a useful tool for those desiring to explore those methods further! 👍
That was very interesting seeing all the techniques all together like that. I’ve tried them all and settled on the continental method because I have become faster with that one. I learned with the English method and finally switched because I wanted to knit faster. I’m glad I did!
This was a HUGE help! Thank you!! I tried the continental from previously English knitting and it went a lot faster within a few minutes
Excellent tutorial! Although you say your a novice, you proceed with expertise & utmost professionalism. I really enjoyed this video, will be looking forward to more!
Great video. Ravelry which is the hub on the internet for all things knitting does refer to the technique you are talking about as English Flicking. Since the same technique is used in Britain and America, it is still English style.
You could fine tune your demo on it as the means of speed is to throw as little as possible so it involves pushing the left hand into the right. Then you are actually catching the yarn or picking it in the knit stitch. On the knit stitch the left hand collapses towards the right hand to complete the stitch, whereas I've found to do the opposite with purling so the movement of the collapse goes from right to left for purling. It isn't a big movement, just for the means of making catching the yarn easier.
The movement of the hands tilts the needles so it is easier with circular needles than straight and find that Portuguese is easier for the same reason with circulars.
Both Portuguese style and English Flicking has the advantage of a consistently good purl stitch so there is no rowing (loose rows appearing on the purl side of the work -- typically about every 4th row or part of that row). I know how to knit Continental and do so for socks mostly because knitting in the round makes beautiful stockinette, but sock work up equally nice with English Flicking. It is good to know both as that is how I knit Fair Isle most often. It also is the way I do with Double Knitting.
Knitting is not only for leisure recreation and relaxation, but you get finished projects (hopefully) but that has to do with satisfaction of the final outcome. If your making an Aran cable and have lots of background reverse stockinette, and the cables are tight together, it may not matter but if you have open fields of reverse stockinette, you may find Continental purling, which is often looser, produces rowing.
There is knitting backwards which avoids the purl stitch for Continental. All in all, it is always good to know more than one technique. Use the technique you like. Knitting backwards changes the motion of knitting enough to rest fingers which may get sore and has the advantage of always working on the front of the work, particularly nice for Entrelac or even for lace knitting.
I love Continental for ribbing a it is fast but then I do Combined Continental which has a different mount, but the output knitting can look the same. The purl wraps then the easiest way and I know how to correct the mount in the next row knitting in the back of the stitch.
If you like your knitting, enjoy what you do, the finished result is good, that is what matters.
yes you are right this is a great video but me you please talk about the efficiency of speed knitting because speed knitting is fantastic but slow knitting is really really really really not fantastic four letter word beginning that's good but I'm good I'm good Xperia atspeed knitting
ogon make um well there is a video on UA-cam about me and it is a really really fantastic amazing Race tarnishing website and you just get every tip it's 11 hours so if you can take it there you go and it is called alarm Lalloz does the speed knitting champion race which is and really really fast because I am a champion and my name is a Lara Lalloz not alarm Lalloz alarm Lalloz just sucks alien ate it 8 isn't it do they donating really have been eating it
+Alara Lalloz If the whole world of knitting was knitting stockinette, but it isn't. The most efficient style in any given project is what works best. One example not shown is Combined which is when you really have no tension and the purl means the knit stitch is mounted with the leading leg in back. If you knit a really dense Aran pattern such as for a purse strap, it is the best because if you do it tightly, your hands may hurt and the work becomes too tight.
There is good in everything one learns, you just have to find when to use it.
If the work shows rowing as Continental may, you can race away and not end up liking what you knit. So long as the result works for you, what other people think is up to them. I use whatever style works for the project.
Thanks for this. I find it really useful to see all these different techniques, thank you kindly for bringing them all together. My grandmother taught me to knit and one of the things she taught me was to only put a little bit of the needle through the stitch, then when you put the yarn round the needle it doesn't have to go as far, which is quicker.
I find it odd that the flicking method is called american and the throwing method is called English. I'm English. As a tiny girl I was first taught to knit throwing style, then as my hands got bigger my grandmother taught me the proper way to knit, flicking style. It is how she was taught by her grandmother. I'm pretty sure that no Americans were involved at all! You watch, they'll have invented the wheel next 😂😂😂
A wonderful tutorial. I learned a lot, didn't realize there were so many ways to knit
I've always used lever knitting but I always thought I was knitting wrong compared to other knitters I've seen. Thank you
I knit using the lever method (without realizing it) the trouble was if I was doing a bigger project, or wanted to use circular needles...I was hopeless 😕. I then discovered 'Portuguese knitting, which is fabulous for purling, but I found it not so good for knit (my tension was too tight) so now I'm practicing continental for knit and Portuguese for purl in a chunky blanket I'm knitting. It does feel,like starting again, but I'm improving all the time, and it's a good project to play with. Look up Portuguese (or Turkish I think). Another bow for your needles 😃
Thanks so much for making this video, I wish I had seen it when I first starting learning to knit. I didn't know there were different ways to knit. I gave up a few different times because my fingers wouldn't cooperate.
Such a helpful video! I've just started knitting using the English style (crocheted for 7 years first), and it feels so slow! I tried continental and it didn't feel right, because I'm already pretty set in English. But I am super intrigued by your English/Lever hybrid style. I'm going to try it tonight!
Great tutorial. I like the Irish cottage knitting method. It's very sophisticated and you don't really feel tension in your hands when knitting. Its also very fast. So, if your trying to improve your speed , that would be a good method to use.
Thank you for helping me. I have lots of arthritis and your video is a bit too fast, but it explains quite well.
I'm an Irish cottage knitter from Italy. I've only seen it done this way in Italy as we used to have many avid knitters. It is a dying art unfortunately. I now live in the US and most are continental knitters which I find very awkward. Thanks so much for the video. It was well done.
Hi there, Felicia! I just wanted to share my own experience with purling technique. I always use continental way of knitting. And maybe you or other youtubers would like to try the way for continental purling that I use: so, I keep a yarn at my left hand, and my right needle goes through a loop, just as you have shown, but that right needle goes above the yarn (which at that moment I start to tighten with my left index finger, so it is almost perpendicular to the left needle) and I just push the yarn from left to right trough the loop. Just to let you guys know :)
+aeshna777 Thanks! I'll have a try.
Thank you for embracing all styles of knitting. I am weary with all of the ‘knit shaming” that goes on.
Ha, so there it is, I been knitting PORTUGUES style all my life, that the way I learn growing up in Portugal, love it so easy & you can go pretty fast, I tried doing they way I seen people do it here in the US, but it’s like crocheting with you left hand 🤣😁
I knit english style and since getting fybromyalgia it really hurts my shoulders...i will try some of these as there is less movement! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for assembling these techniques in your video! It's helpful to have them all in one place.
Would it be possible to place some links to the videos you mention in your video description?
Many thanks!
The old Shetland islanders were the fastest knitters, using a knitting belt or sheath,(different again), they are still very fast knitters, even when using two colours. The old ladies could knit two or three stitches a second, there is still film of them working, incredible to see,(or not see, a blur so fast).
I do a mixture of your main style and the leavers(?) style. I hold the right needle under my arm and use my right hand to tension the yarn.
If you try the purl stitch with the yarn tension on the right index as you show , you can do it in portuguese style with the thumb and yes is very fast ,
thank you for the lesson
Great to see all the different techniques there are.🤗
Very well done :)
I'm Portuguese ;) and i knit to!
I have been knitting with what you called the "American Flick" method. I knit very fast and one of my friends who teaches knitting told me that I knit as fast as anyone who knits continental. I have long fingers and I suppose this helps me.
I put the right needle on my thigh as I'm sitting, keeping it stable and upright and work with my hands.
I'll try and see if any of those work for me
Love all these techniques! My sister does that under the armpit one but she ended up bending loads of needles from pressing it into her body. I was taught (in the UK) to hold my right needle like a pencil and then flick the wool round, which is much faster (in my view!) than holding over the top.
Oh also, the Norwegian Purl fixed all the problems you're having with continental purling (for me at least!)
Katie Lee i find with the Norwegian purl that my stitches' feet sit differently on the needle than my knit stitches. This would affect the overall tension between the stitches and the tension of fabric.
I'm learning how to knit and I use that one under the armpit and I thought I was weird by doing that. I use metal, I think the material is metal and I don't destroy or bend the needles. I'll try the other styles. This is a great video :)
Katie Lee -- Check-out the Cowichan natives of the Northwest US. They are FAMOUS for their knitting__they hold the right needle the same way. Very interesting history! 👍
This was really informative! Interesting to see so many different styles in one video. I do the first method (English) but I'd like to convert to a different style because it seems so cumbersome and slow compared to other styles.
I knit with the right needle stuck under my arm which goes really fast, but I'm def. going to try this for knitting in the round.
Norwegian technique you didn't mention. It's similar to continental but your finger isn't sticking out to help with wrapping the yarn. And the purl is more complicated. But it's super fast when you get the hang of it. Check out the videos by Arne & Carlos. Arne uses the Norwegian technique. I've never seen anyone faster.
Hahahaha i sent this to my sister as she will get a giggle at how many styles there is... Who knows lol. Thanks for sharing
When I do my purl stitches, I loop 'under' the needles instead of 'over'. works for me, but I'm self taught!!
So glad that you decided not to use a stark white background. I will not watch videos that use do. The blue tone is more gentle and appealing for my eyes, therefore, making me more able to concentrate on your tutorial.
Wow who knew! I like the flicking method, I want to learn that one!
Have you tried picking on the purls too? I do it that way continental style, it twists the stitches around but is a lot less awkward and faster. Also, I noticed you push your right needle too far in all the methods, including the under arm method, which is the first one I was taught as a child.
I start out as a crocheter so continental knitting seems to suit me more. I wanted to learn flicking so much but my hands just wouldn't listen to me and the tension just messy and couldn't keep it on the index finger.
Thanks so much. Efficient AND Effective teaching presentation! 😊
Pamela Spooner m
You forgot Norweigian Purl! And combination method----picking with yarn in left hand on knit row and right hand held yarn flicking
for purl row. OR, if you like left hand held yarn picking, but hate the purl as you do, do the purls backwards (very fast method) which results in twisted stitches--just knit them in the back of the stitch on the next row. This works well for large areas of stocking stitch, but can get confusing with fussier patterns. It will change your tension a bit too as you are using up the same amount of yarn for each stitch (whereas with the “proper” method, the purl stitch used more yarn than the knit stitch. This can result in a rather uneven stocking stitch fabric--which is why I use the backwards purl when I have a lot of st stitch. Just make notes as you go so you do ribbing the same for different parts of a sweater and so sleeves will be done with a consistent method.
When I teach, I show all of these and have the person try a few while they are still open to choosing a method that feels good to them.
Oh yes, there is aso Russian method, which is picking with yarn in left hand, but no tensioning. You just hang yarn over left index finger right on the left hand needle. It sounds simple, but I cannot entirely master it. It is, in my view, the very fastest method because there is absolutely no wasted movement. I actually learned it from a Polish girl and I wish I could get better at it.
I like continental knitting since I crochet as well, plus i find continental a bit faster and less tiring but I can also do english style.
Could you share links to the other knitters that you referred to with their respective techniques, please?
I started off throwing then went to continental knitting & now knit Greek/Portugese, I find I knitvavlot faster particularly as I use just the tips of my needdles
I nerded out on this so hard.
Totally recognize the hardship with continental purling, so the alternative techniques are very welcome, they look promising.
Could I suggest direct links in the description to the masters/video's you are referring to? (also found the blog though, a nice read)
Omg I learned the under arm method from my aut when I was a little girl - still trying to learn continental so I can knit socks
You can get very long dpns for circular knits
there is no such thing as american technique or WHATVEr....I knit this way and english style and continental(took me 2 yrs to learn master continental) ...i knit however i feel like , on whichever given day...its actually interesting how your brain wants to do different things..but depending on the project i knit differently and i don't know why. But you have made a great video..I love it.
I started continental and my fingers hurt so i go to english style and now im learning the flicking, tension is a problem in this, but practice i hope can improve
Thank you very much for putting this together!
I love my English knitting it is what I know. sometimes I find myself flicking. I would love to learn Portuguese knitting. Have not had time to devote to it.
wow i would never have guessed you are a novice at this! great vid, thanks.
Absolutely love this most informative vid!
+SIEDAH GARRETT Thanks Siedah
I love this video! I purl like you show at about 5:16. I'd never seen that in a video before. I will now think of it as the EZ purl.
How are you wrapping the yarn around your fingers. I saw that it's around your pinky but I cant tell exactly how its wrapped pr on the other fingers so I cant get any of these methods. will you send a video reply to show me
Could you kindly share the name of this knit stitch? Thank you for the nice video.
You didn't try British knitting, where the right hand needle is held like a pencil, and the wool is curled round the needle tip with the first finger, been knitting for over sixty years, and saw recently, "English knitting" for the first time, looks most awkward, all that gripping of wool. British knitting ( as done by English, Irish, Welsh, and some Scots,)is held lightly in the left hand, and the right needle is held like a pencil, just balanced between thumb and finger pressure .
Thanks for this video, I'd love to knit faster and I think with some practice at this I might be able to :) I love the Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl McPhee I have a few of her books, my gosh she is fast isn't she!!xx
glad I was not taught at young age to do cottage style seems many have hard time transiting to circulars and I love my cir's..although do enjoy watching the cottage style and speed
Flicking technique is how my mother knitted and how I learned. I'm in south africa.
05:20 great purl movement for continental knitting! Thanks :)
I do the continental... its very easy for me... but I have troubles increasing and decreasing...
My mother is Welsh/Scottish and she does the flicking movement with her right hand. She learned that from her mother in Wales. I don't think it is American.
Did I miss the Portuguese purl? Good video chock full of info
+sewsassy1 No you didn't. I just thought I was rambling on a little too much. I am sure there will be a good single video of Portuguese on youtube that will demonstrate a purl. Thanks!
sewsassy1 she did not show it in the video
I'm assuming that this can only be done with straight needles? I usually only work with circular needles...even for flat work
+knothead35 If you're referring to lever knitting, I would assume only straight needles would work. All the other types should work with circulars.
+knothead35 No they can all be done with circulars. I also use circulars for everything....except knitting videos ;).
+The Craft Sessions You can do the under arm method with circulars????
+The Craft Sessions ...I don't see how lever knitting can be done with circulars. would love to see a video of that if it can be.
Beautiful accent because I am pretty sure she is Australian as I am! I have just developed RSI having knitted 5 jumpers this winter in Australia. can someone recommend the best style for avoiding RSI as I fear I shall never knit again and that would be tragic.
A Feldenkrais Physiotherapist will be able to explain what is causing the RSI and hopefully you'll be able to work out the best technique for you.
Thank you so much for this video. Very much appreciated. :)
Hey make it your own so hold the yarn your way but use the needle the under arm way
I dont feel so bad about the way that I knit now ahaha. Because I have tendinitis in my right wrist, I tend to rest the end of my working needle in my lap (or stomach if I'm slouching), leaving my right hand free to use the English Throwing Method. Its what irritates my wrist the least ahaha
I knit though haven't done much lately
@The Craft Sessions. For continental purling I use the technique demonstrated in the following video around 5:00 ua-cam.com/video/gjRdy47-S38/v-deo.html. The string tension is constant the hands can be used to hold on to the loops if needed and the working thread moves minimally without any fancy twists to give a nice purl stitch. With time I find this technique to be quite fast. Hope it helps.
Great video. 👍👌
I also use the "American Flick" method
HERE IN TURKEY THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE KNIT WITH PUTTING THE YARN AROUND THEIR NECK, AND THEY USE THEIR THUMB TO KNIT 😒.AND THEY REALLY KNIT SO FAST BY THIS METHOD..I LOVE CONTINENTAL STYLE BUT HAVEN'T PRACTICE IT. I KNIT ENGLISH STYLE USING MY INDEX FINGER FOR 50 YEARS.
thanks for the tips much appreciated
I knit continentally and purl continentally whilst using my thumb to provide tension
I am only ten and I am an expert at knitting and I am too lazy so I am speed knitting now
awesome tuturial!!!!!!!!!!!
+Marquetta Willis Thanks Marquetta
Very cool
Thank you
Thank you for this video.
I knit English method. Every tips helps, 🍕🍕🍕🍕
Great videos
Ditto to what Rex said..
i wish i could do it this easy but it hurt hands more
I am really getting tired of hearing how superior Continental knitting is. It is only faster in the knit stitch, more difficult with the purl stitch. So, why switch?