I am 61 and have knit since I was very young. The best way of holding needles is tucking it under your arm. As for wrapping the yarn around the fingers of your right hand....no....not necessary. With a static right needle and work at the tips of the needles very little movement is required. I always make sure though that my yarn is not coming straight from the ball. I pull off some loose yarn and knit from that to ensure the tension is correct.
Finally! Someone who knits the way I was taught by my English grandmother - she used to turn out two, sometimes three PAIRS of socks a DAY for the army and navy during the war and could knit like the wind. I wrap my yarn a little differently for tension control but you've certainly got the right of it, my dear, and it is very speedy and streamline to knit this way. Very good video!
Holy mother, it sounds like she was a machine! That's super impressive. As someone who takes a month to get a sock knitted, I'm blown away. Of course, I was taught the "throwing" overhanded method and it's slow as hell.
Do you have a video of yourself knitting? There are many knitting researchers in the UK who have been searching for people who were taught to knit by knitters of a professional speed. We know that professional knitters could knit at such a speed as your grandmother but the last known of these knitters appear to have passed on without documenting HOW they held the wool and the method of making a stitch. If you read this I would love to make contact.
I'm curious about this research project. And skeptical of the claim that there are "many knitting researchers"... anywhere. Is there a specific study you're referencing? I knit underhand English syle as well. I was taught by my English grandmother who learned in school (Somerset). I'm quite fast in simple knit and purl patterns.
I was doing the whole taking-hand-off-to-wrap-yarn thing and it was making my hand hurt. So I looked up ways to hold needles, and I found your video, even though I keep forgetting how to wrap them around my fingers, it's a lot better than the way I was doing before. Thanks for the video.
Finally, someone who can explain this technique...I would always see knitters in 'period piece' movies ( and my favorite, "Miss Marple") knit like this. I can knit continental, but have always been more comfortable throwing. I look forward to trying this out. I need the speed!
Finally I have found a video that knits the same way I do. Also taught by a English mother. People even told me I knit wrong but I never thought so. Thanks for sharing your work.
I find that with my very small hands it is easier to use my longest finger, i.e. my middle finger, to do the throwing action. My index finger is simply not long enough to follow the movements as you demonstrate them. Hope this helps others with smaller hands.
Hi there! I was taught how to knit by my English friend who knits exactly like this, including how she holds the yarn. I tried continental, but never found it to be as efficient. Shortly after I learned, I found this video and have been using it as an example to show others what English-style is and how I knit if I can't show them in person. Six, seven years later, I am still using this video as an example, so thank you for taking the time to make and post it for everyone! Happy knitting! :)
This is how I knit ! I have noticed that if you see women knitting in 1940’s films they all hold the right knitting pin on top of their thumbs. It is a very rhythmical way of knitting and the tension is good.
Okay, so the 1st few stitches were extremely awkward, but then I started getting the hang of it. This is by far the easiest and best way for me to knit. AND my stitches look soooooo good! Thanks a million for this video. You're THE BEST! 👍
Wow, this is the first time I've seen anyone knitting like this since I learned to knit actual garments more than 40 years ago, and it was an English friend who showed me. People who see me knitting think I'm knitting in the continental style (I can't get the hang of that - am much faster with English pencil style). As someone else mentioned, when the work gets too long, just keep your thumb under the work. When it gets really long (as in knitting a blanket), throw the work over your right arm.
Me too, my grandmother taught me like this 60 years ago, I have a fairly good speed although that is not my aim and good tension. Perhaps this style went out of fashion. Other ways always look too uncomfortable to me
Thank you so much for this. I had to smile when you were talking about lifting the entire hand off, as this is exactly what I do! I find the knitpicks videos don't really explain it very well, so thank you very much for these techniques!
I noticed the comments about what to do with larger, bulkier projects. There is another video with this same style that shows that. The name of the video is Australian Knitting. As far as how she holds her thread, it is over her pointer and middle fingers, under and around her ring finger, under her middle finger, and over her index finger. That said, thank you for sharing this video. This has helped me a lot!!!
I have tried every way of tensioning the yarn, but never been successful, so I always had to throw. I've been knitting for a few months, and I'm very slow. Suddenly, in a five-minute video, you've shown me the perfect wrap for my fingers. I get great tension, my hands don't get tired, and I've doubled my speed. THANK YOU!!!!
The only problem with this video is in the description! “Her” fingers. “Her” knitting. I’m a guy and I knit too. So does my brother. It used to be just women who knitted but it isn’t anymore. Great video. Awesome styles of knitting. Very helpful 🙂👍
Oddly enough, I thought the voice and hands in the video belong to a female. If there is a reference to "her" should this be replaced with "their" which would be a bit confusing as only one pair of hands show. Their would suggest plural. Good on yer that you and your brother are knitters. They say the best designers are male.
This is the fastest way to knit. I was taught this hold by a couple of senior English women. Interestingly, I have never meet someone who knits this way
You have saved my pinky from cramps... I have been searching for a good yarn holding position for years! I was taught to knit underhand by my nan & mum and in trying other positions still find it the fastest & most comfortable. Thanks again for the great tips!!
Although I have been knitting for over 75 years I still like to see how others manage. I have watched how to join wool the Russian way rather than splicing and how to get jogless stripes when knitting on four needles or a circular. This is the first time I have seen anyone holding yarn and needles the same as me. Some wrap yarn around the right hand several times which then means it has to be repeated after every four or five stitches. The method here means you don't have to take your right hand off the needle until the end of the row - tension is controlled with the fingers. Thank you. Here was me thinking I was the odd one out!!
Every few years I comeback to this video to give English knitting one more time. I can never do it but every once in a while I get motivated to try lol.
Your videos are so superior to anything else online. THanks SO much. I'm a beginner, but have been knitting Continental because as you point out, my whole hand was moving off the needle for each stitch. I'll give this a try. I've learned YO, SSK etc from you. Again, thanks!
Thank you for posting this. I have been looking for instructions on this very thing! My grandmother used to knit this way at top speed, but I never got the hang of it. Now I can revise my style, finish as much as I begin, and keep myself motivated!
I have watched hundreds of knitting videos on UA-cam and this is the best so far. I have been "throwing" but found it to be very slow. I think with a bit of practice with this style I can get much faster.
I take my whole hand off when I knit, so I am going to try this to see if I can speed myself up a bit. I am definitely a "thrower", and it does take extra time, but is what I am used to at this point. I learned by watching and mimicking my grandmother, but it turns out I do a lot of things "backwards" because I would sit in front of her and do what I thought she was doing. When I first started knitting on DPNs, everything was inside out… I was knitting off the back needle, rather rather than the front needle, so things were always inside out or backwards. I have since taught myself to knit off the front needle, but I still wrap my yarn in the wrong direction. It still works for me, but one of these days I will try to learn to wrap it the way I see in all the videos.
Lauriena, as an adult I found out that I was making a twisted stitch by putting the needle into the back of the stitch, but I taught myself from books and somehow got it backwards. If you grandmother was actually putting the right needle into the back of the stitch and wrapping the yarn differently (as opposed to you seeing it wrong), yet the stitches are not twisted, then she was probably knitting in the Eastern Style rather than the Western Style. Eastern Style is used in Asia and some Eastern European nations. You might want to check it out, along with Combined Style with is a mixture of both.
Hi Tracy I actually discovered last year that I was an Eastern Knitter, and how to adapt my knitting to be able to get the same style of stitches as Western knitters got. I also spent the last few months teaching myself how to alternate between Eastern and Western knitting, based on the pattern I am using. It was really cool to learn what type of knitter I was, and then from there learn how to either adapt my style to match the pattern, or the pattern to match my style! But thanks for getting back to me. Maybe this will help someone else who is an Eastern knitter and doesnt know it :)
Great video; thank you so much! My speed (very slow) is already getting better and I know I will continue to improve my speed and master my tension with this new method as I practice.
I love the way you hold the needle. If you watch old movies that is always how the women would knit. I knit continental, but will give your way a try. Thanks for the tutorial!
I have some other videos that demonstrate individual stitches, such as the knit stitch and purl stitch, so perhaps those videos would be helpful for you first, then you can come back to this video later. Good luck!
Thank you for this video, I like how you explain why you do the needle and yarn holds. I'm determined to master both the pencil hold and your yarn hold, and maybe even change to flicking instead of throwing. I've knitted on and off for decades, but never had a mentor, always wanted to knit faster ... maybe now I can! Thanks again, great video!
I "throw" but I hold the work and "flick" so without dropping the yarn, I knit quickly even so. But I mastered your style of knitting and find it is wonderful for knitting in rounds on double pointed needles. With all the points coming at you, holding the work like a pencil doesn't allow room for me to grip the needle and knit, but your method works and the knitting is very beautiful too, I might add. Much obliged for the great tutorial.
I've been knitting since I was four years old--English style, since I am English--and I don't hold my yarn like that--it only comes under the two middle fingers and is guided forward by the index finger. I use longer needles, holding the right one under my arm. I barely lift my right hand, using the index finger only to move the yarn. I tried holding the right needle like a pencil, but don't like bunching up the work when it gets longer. I am a fast knitter, my mother and grandmother were faster! Mum could knit and read at the same time. They both knit for the troops in WW2, but were supposed to be part of a group of 6--so they had to produce as much as 6 people would, and they did!
Thank you...I'm a crocheter but I'm been really wanting to learn to knit. I've tried both the Continental and the English way and although I originally wanted to be a Continental knitter I find the English easier for me but I've been having trouble holding the yarn. I'm going to try the pencil grip and hopefully I can get the yarn in my hand like you showed here. I really want to learn.
How wonderful to find this video. I was taught to hold the right needle in this way by my grandmother, and it is very fast. I use my second finger to wrap the wool round the needle so to tension I hold the wool under my first finger, over my next finger and under the next finger. My first finger tensions the wool up against my second finger, while my second finger swings forwards and over the lefthand needle. When purling I pass the wool clockwise, which is also faster and means you can knit through the back of the stitches on the next row, which makes it even faster. Have i made it clear? Ha ha. Soooo easy. Do try this and see how it feels. Yes, you have to bunch up the garment between your right hand and the needle, but the speed compensates for this. PW. I am 62 and knitting for my first granddaughter due in August!
Wonderful video, thank you. Having a lot of trouble with holding the yarn in a decent way to achieve even tension so I might try your interesting method. I guess it's all what feels right for one person!
I just started knitting. I take my right hand all the way off. I constantly loose my place and end up with little rat sized scarfs. This technique is going to serve me well!!! Thanks!
I'm going to have to try that. The minute you took the needle in your right hand like a pencil? All the circuits in my brain crossed! I'm left-handed! But the more I watched you, the more that I thought Icould at least try! I was always under the impression that I knit backwards from right-handed people but the more I watch you, you hold your work the same way I do. I just run it through the left hand side of my brain first! I've tried wrapping the yarn around my fingers for tension and all,. They had to call 911. I just tag on it as I go. It seems to work.
I hold needles the first way because that's how I was taught. I have seen many people here (in Australia) hold the needle the second way (like a pencil). I have tried and tried to hold it like that but I find it more cumbersome because: (1) I have small hands and short fingers and I just can't bring the yarn around the needle without letting go of the needle. (2) I find it more difficult to keep all the stitches on the needle. (3) If the piece is wide, the thumb will be kind of poking through the piece as one is knitting. If knitting the first way, this does not happen. You have very beautiful hands and long fingers.
As the fabric grows longer or wider, you simply place your thumb underneath it, holding the needle from below, behind the knitting. Couldn't be simpler! And it supports the weight of the biggest garment beautifully. I too have small hands and short fingers, and this way of knitting has been working just fine for me for over 50 years!
I have seen people hold the needle from below, behind the knitting as you say. The thumb is still kind of poking through. I find this extremely awkward to control and the risk of dropping stitches is very high. Also, I find it almost impossible to use this position when using circular or double-pointed needles. I much prefer to hold it from above. I would love to see a video of someone holding the needles as you say and knit a tube using circular or double-pointed needles. Obviously, this is all a matter of personal preference and habit. It is not something to argue over.
Argue, no, of course not! If I knew how to make videos, I would make one just for you, to show how easy it really is! And the stitches are much less likely to fall off this way, I find. I'm knitting socks at the moment and it is true you cannot hold the thumb behind the knitting with them. Circular needles, yes, that works OK.
It was a bit tricky to start. Now it seems to have become automatic. I use 4 needles, so there are always 2 sticking up facing me. I place the working needle (right hand) behind the right side needle, with both Rt side needles coming out between thumb & hand. The Left needle (that I am knitting off) is placed in front of the other Left side needle. This seems to cause the least problems! I will check my mum's position tomorrow, as she has been doing this nearly 80 years now! She was taught by my grandmother, who knitted thigh-length woollen stocking for my farmer grandfather, for many decades! So it seems to be an old family technique we have going.
Squeaky noises! That sounds tight indeed! Try wrapping the yarn fewer times around your fingers, or try speading out the fingers on your right hand to allow the yarn to pass through the fingers more freely.
Thank you so much for uploading this video! Is been about a week since I started to learn how to knit and your instructions are amazing!! will try to practice a lot so I can eventually make a scarf or something smaller 😊. Subscribing to your channel, now!!
I would't say that either method is more versatile than the other. Try both of them and see what feels good to you! I prefer to knit continental with chunky yarns, but usually switch to English with very thin yarns.
Hey I used to knit like you first shown ... i took my whole hand off the needle... yes it was slower... much slower ... and my tension suffered... it was WAY LOOSE:-(( but guess what? it only took about a day of perseverance... knitting test square type stuff forcing myself to do the pencil hold method ... very slow at first but just keep trying !!!! and i was...am now knitting english method with the pencil grip!! My speed has improved and better yet my tension has improved outa sight!!! :-)
My husband and I are in disagreement about the background noise. I say it is a purring cat. He asked me if I could get rid of the static. Which is it? By the way, when your vid started, Pooter the cat, sat up at attention.
oh my, I wish I could do this but I can't...I tried this method and the yarn coming from the ball is in front and keeps getting in the way plus my fingers cannot stretch far enough to get the yarn over the needle point. I guess I'm back to doing a flicking.
The background noise is a bit bothersome but she has a calm, slow manner and is an excellent teacher. I watched twice. The first time I had to concentrate on ignoring the noise and focusing on her voice and hand movements. The second time the noise was like a fly buzzing around and was easy to ignore.
I am a new knitter and have been studying all the different ways to knit, and trying each one. I absolutely love the way my stitches look when I use your method ( however I never got the finger tension down)...I was wondering if you might consider doing a video on doing the purl stitch with this method. You already have a vid. on Purling but you don't show your hand placement on the yarn as concisely as you did with this video. I want to be able to knit and purl with ease in my chosen method THX
Wow, I'm fascinated by that way of holding the needles, and I just might try that! I really like that! But wanted to know when the project is a bit large, can holding the needle in the right hand still be easy to knit?! Thank You! :)
Hi Anna, I knit pretty much like this (I hold my yarn slightly differently) and I’ve knitted large throws on 150cm circulars with this method and it works well👍👌
You can pull tightly on the first two stitches of every row to reduce the size of the loop, or you can slip the first stitch of every row for a clean edge. It's a problem for all knitters because of the construction of knitted fabric, so you're not alone in your loopiness!
I have a question . How can you Not add on stiches ? I start to knit and I find out that there are more stitches on the needle than I started with .. How can I either stop or prevent that ? :) thanks and hopefully my you will see my comment
I've tried this method before several years ago. The problem I ran into was for wide projects. After a while, I could no longer hold the project using the "pencil" method. I had to revert to the overhand method.
I find I have to squish the stitches on the right-hand needle quite a lot, but when I use double-pointed needles or short circular needles (30-40cm), I prefer to knit continental style.
Wow I had no idea you could do that! Maybe it will help me .Im knew at knitting and I think I can do that! I'm very slow right now and I want to knit dishcloths and socks!
Hello , first of all thankyou I want to thank you for this video and also I want to ask about the Purl stich, Does it change much to make a purl sitch in this way from the regular way? Thanks
I'm trying to imagine how a machine would do it. I want my own machines that will make the cloths I like. Maybe with a crank so I can just turn the crank instead of having to buy my own cloths. With the way the market is going I just wish I could be self efficient completely!
I hear ya, darlin'! This method can be applied in mirror image (left needle held like a pencin, yarn in left hand), but keep in mind that any special stitch patterns you work from a written pattern will come out in mirror image too.
Will the length of the needle be a variable? Im trying to learn this but im using long straight needles and having hard time with the throwing/flicking motion even if I got the yarn wrap correct.
When holding like this, how on earth do so solve it when there is a bunch more stitches on the right needle and also a long knitted part hanging down. Where do you put your hand if all that knitted is in your hand? With a small piece like that, sure it works. But very seldom are all we do that small.
You have very lovely hands. That's not something I normally even notice, but yours are quite beautiful. I'll try this technique and see how I like it. I'm "ambiknitstrous" (I can knit both English and continental, with about the same proficiency). Though I'm somewhat faster with continental, I usually knit English style, so if this could bridge the gap in speed, that would be great. :)
+Raymond Duncan Interesting. I had heard the pencil-holding style described as "dainty" previously, so that would make sense. Your comment was cut off, it seems, but as I learn more about knitting, two things I find very interesting are the history of knitting and how knitting varies by culture. The styles and stitches and patterns that are in vogue from one time period to another, one region to another... Fascinating.
+Raymond Duncan Gotcha. It all shows up on the website, but the YT app on my iPad didn't show it all, even when I did that. I got it all now though. :)
This looks relatively easy while you have very few rows on your needle(s), but how does it work when you already have many rows or rounds on your needles?
This is my exact question. I'd like to know how to knit holding the needle under hand when I'm knitting a scarf. I'm not understanding that part. It does look more relaxed on the hand, fingers and wrist though.
I can't see how holding the needle from the bottom would be possible for anything wider or longer. This is an old video, but I hope you got that issue with the noise figured out.
I am 61 and have knit since I was very young. The best way of holding needles is tucking it under your arm. As for wrapping the yarn around the fingers of your right hand....no....not necessary. With a static right needle and work at the tips of the needles very little movement is required. I always make sure though that my yarn is not coming straight from the ball. I pull off some loose yarn and knit from that to ensure the tension is correct.
Finally! Someone who knits the way I was taught by my English grandmother - she used to turn out two, sometimes three PAIRS of socks a DAY for the army and navy during the war and could knit like the wind. I wrap my yarn a little differently for tension control but you've certainly got the right of it, my dear, and it is very speedy and streamline to knit this way. Very good video!
Holy mother, it sounds like she was a machine! That's super impressive. As someone who takes a month to get a sock knitted, I'm blown away. Of course, I was taught the "throwing" overhanded method and it's slow as hell.
Do you have a video of yourself knitting?
There are many knitting researchers in the UK who have been searching for people who were taught to knit by knitters of a professional speed. We know that professional knitters could knit at such a speed as your grandmother but the last known of these knitters appear to have passed on without documenting HOW they held the wool and the method of making a stitch. If you read this I would love to make contact.
I'm curious about this research project. And skeptical of the claim that there are "many knitting researchers"... anywhere. Is there a specific study you're referencing?
I knit underhand English syle as well. I was taught by my English grandmother who learned in school (Somerset). I'm quite fast in simple knit and purl patterns.
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I was doing the whole taking-hand-off-to-wrap-yarn thing and it was making my hand hurt. So I looked up ways to hold needles, and I found your video, even though I keep forgetting how to wrap them around my fingers, it's a lot better than the way I was doing before. Thanks for the video.
Finally, someone who can explain this technique...I would always see knitters in 'period piece' movies ( and my favorite, "Miss Marple") knit like this. I can knit continental, but have always been more comfortable throwing. I look forward to trying this out. I need the speed!
Finally I have found a video that knits the same way I do. Also taught by a English mother. People even told me I knit wrong but I never thought so. Thanks for sharing your work.
I find that with my very small hands it is easier to use my longest finger, i.e. my middle finger, to do the throwing action. My index finger is simply not long enough to follow the movements as you demonstrate them. Hope this helps others with smaller hands.
That's what I do too.
Hi there! I was taught how to knit by my English friend who knits exactly like this, including how she holds the yarn. I tried continental, but never found it to be as efficient. Shortly after I learned, I found this video and have been using it as an example to show others what English-style is and how I knit if I can't show them in person. Six, seven years later, I am still using this video as an example, so thank you for taking the time to make and post it for everyone! Happy knitting! :)
This is how I knit ! I have noticed that if you see women knitting in 1940’s films they all hold the right knitting pin on top of their thumbs. It is a very rhythmical way of knitting and the tension is good.
Okay, so the 1st few stitches were extremely awkward, but then I started getting the hang of it. This is by far the easiest and best way for me to knit. AND my stitches look soooooo good! Thanks a million for this video. You're THE BEST! 👍
Wow, this is the first time I've seen anyone knitting like this since I learned to knit actual garments more than 40 years ago, and it was an English friend who showed me. People who see me knitting think I'm knitting in the continental style (I can't get the hang of that - am much faster with English pencil style). As someone else mentioned, when the work gets too long, just keep your thumb under the work. When it gets really long (as in knitting a blanket), throw the work over your right arm.
Me too, my grandmother taught me like this 60 years ago, I have a fairly good speed although that is not my aim and good tension.
Perhaps this style went out of fashion. Other ways always look too uncomfortable to me
I am so glad I stumbled on this, searched and searched as to how my mum used to knit! Got it and thank you SO much for sharing!!
Thank you so much for this. I had to smile when you were talking about lifting the entire hand off, as this is exactly what I do! I find the knitpicks videos don't really explain it very well, so thank you very much for these techniques!
This is my favourite channel ..I started knitting 15 years back ...and I learned from this this channel only..thanku so much..
I noticed the comments about what to do with larger, bulkier projects. There is another video with this same style that shows that. The name of the video is Australian Knitting. As far as how she holds her thread, it is over her pointer and middle fingers, under and around her ring finger, under her middle finger, and over her index finger.
That said, thank you for sharing this video. This has helped me a lot!!!
I have tried every way of tensioning the yarn, but never been successful, so I always had to throw. I've been knitting for a few months, and I'm very slow. Suddenly, in a five-minute video, you've shown me the perfect wrap for my fingers. I get great tension, my hands don't get tired, and I've doubled my speed. THANK YOU!!!!
I think this is a great video alot of the comments are terribly negative. Thanks for taking the time to do it
The only problem with this video is in the description! “Her” fingers. “Her” knitting. I’m a guy and I knit too. So does my brother. It used to be just women who knitted but it isn’t anymore. Great video. Awesome styles of knitting. Very helpful 🙂👍
Oddly enough, I thought the voice and hands in the video belong to a female. If there is a reference to "her" should this be replaced with "their" which would be a bit confusing as only one pair of hands show. Their would suggest plural. Good on yer that you and your brother are knitters. They say the best designers are male.
This is the fastest way to knit. I was taught this hold by a couple of senior English women. Interestingly, I have never meet someone who knits this way
You have saved my pinky from cramps... I have been searching for a good yarn holding position for years! I was taught to knit underhand by my nan & mum and in trying other positions still find it the fastest & most comfortable. Thanks again for the great tips!!
Although I have been knitting for over 75 years I still like to see how others manage. I have watched how to join wool the Russian way rather than splicing and how to get jogless stripes when knitting on four needles or a circular. This is the first time I have seen anyone holding yarn and needles the same as me. Some wrap yarn around the right hand several times which then means it has to be repeated after every four or five stitches. The method here means you don't have to take your right hand off the needle until the end of the row - tension is controlled with the fingers. Thank you. Here was me thinking I was the odd one out!!
Every few years I comeback to this video to give English knitting one more time. I can never do it but every once in a while I get motivated to try lol.
This is how I knit. I was taught by my grandmother 50 odd years ago.... 😊
Your videos are so superior to anything else online. THanks SO much. I'm a beginner, but have been knitting Continental because as you point out, my whole hand was moving off the needle for each stitch. I'll give this a try. I've learned YO, SSK etc from you. Again, thanks!
Thank you for posting this. I have been looking for instructions on this very thing! My grandmother used to knit this way at top speed, but I never got the hang of it. Now I can revise my style, finish as much as I begin, and keep myself motivated!
I have watched hundreds of knitting videos on UA-cam and this is the best so far. I have been "throwing" but found it to be very slow. I think with a bit of practice with this style I can get much faster.
I never realized how a simple hand adjustment could make my knitting easier and faster. Thank you so much for this video!
I take my whole hand off when I knit, so I am going to try this to see if I can speed myself up a bit. I am definitely a "thrower", and it does take extra time, but is what I am used to at this point. I learned by watching and mimicking my grandmother, but it turns out I do a lot of things "backwards" because I would sit in front of her and do what I thought she was doing. When I first started knitting on DPNs, everything was inside out… I was knitting off the back needle, rather rather than the front needle, so things were always inside out or backwards. I have since taught myself to knit off the front needle, but I still wrap my yarn in the wrong direction. It still works for me, but one of these days I will try to learn to wrap it the way I see in all the videos.
Lauriena, as an adult I found out that I was making a twisted stitch by putting the needle into the back of the stitch, but I taught myself from books and somehow got it backwards. If you grandmother was actually putting the right needle into the back of the stitch and wrapping the yarn differently (as opposed to you seeing it wrong), yet the stitches are not twisted, then she was probably knitting in the Eastern Style rather than the Western Style. Eastern Style is used in Asia and some Eastern European nations. You might want to check it out, along with Combined Style with is a mixture of both.
Hi Tracy
I actually discovered last year that I was an Eastern Knitter, and how to adapt my knitting to be able to get the same style of stitches as Western knitters got. I also spent the last few months teaching myself how to alternate between Eastern and Western knitting, based on the pattern I am using. It was really cool to learn what type of knitter I was, and then from there learn how to either adapt my style to match the pattern, or the pattern to match my style! But thanks for getting back to me. Maybe this will help someone else who is an Eastern knitter and doesnt know it :)
Great video; thank you so much! My speed (very slow) is already getting better and I know I will continue to improve my speed and master my tension with this new method as I practice.
I love the way you hold the needle. If you watch old movies that is always how the women would knit. I knit continental, but will give your way a try. Thanks for the tutorial!
I have some other videos that demonstrate individual stitches, such as the knit stitch and purl stitch, so perhaps those videos would be helpful for you first, then you can come back to this video later. Good luck!
Thank you for this video, I like how you explain why you do the needle and yarn holds. I'm determined to master both the pencil hold and your yarn hold, and maybe even change to flicking instead of throwing. I've knitted on and off for decades, but never had a mentor, always wanted to knit faster ... maybe now I can! Thanks again, great video!
I "throw" but I hold the work and "flick" so without dropping the yarn, I knit quickly even so. But I mastered your style of knitting and find it is wonderful for knitting in rounds on double pointed needles. With all the points coming at you, holding the work like a pencil doesn't allow room for me to grip the needle and knit, but your method works and the knitting is very beautiful too, I might add. Much obliged for the great tutorial.
I've been knitting since I was four years old--English style, since I am English--and I don't hold my yarn like that--it only comes under the two middle fingers and is guided forward by the index finger. I use longer needles, holding the right one under my arm. I barely lift my right hand, using the index finger only to move the yarn.
I tried holding the right needle like a pencil, but don't like bunching up the work when it gets longer. I am a fast knitter, my mother and grandmother were faster! Mum could knit and read at the same time. They both knit for the troops in WW2, but were supposed to be part of a group of 6--so they had to produce as much as 6 people would, and they did!
That’s how I hold my yarn. Your video helped me a lot.
Best explanation & demonstration I have watched. Thank You
You have beautiful hands and great tips, thank you!!
Thank you so much for this video! It has been incredibly useful! I am learning how to knit but don't have anyone to show me handy tips. Thanks again!!
Thank you...I'm a crocheter but I'm been really wanting to learn to knit. I've tried both the Continental and the English way and although I originally wanted to be a Continental knitter I find the English easier for me but I've been having trouble holding the yarn. I'm going to try the pencil grip and hopefully I can get the yarn in my hand like you showed here. I really want to learn.
Ohhhhhhhh! The method of holding the yarn is PHENOMENAL! You just transformed my life!
I have been in dire need of a new way to hold my yarn!!! thank you so much for showing us your technique! ^_^
How wonderful to find this video. I was taught to hold the right needle in this way by my grandmother, and it is very fast. I use my second finger to wrap the wool round the needle so to tension I hold the wool under my first finger, over my next finger and under the next finger. My first finger tensions the wool up against my second finger, while my second finger swings forwards and over the lefthand needle. When purling I pass the wool clockwise, which is also faster and means you can knit through the back of the stitches on the next row, which makes it even faster. Have i made it clear? Ha ha. Soooo easy. Do try this and see how it feels. Yes, you have to bunch up the garment between your right hand and the needle, but the speed compensates for this. PW. I am 62 and knitting for my first granddaughter due in August!
You're welcome, Avi, I'm glad to have helped you.
This was a FANTASTIC video! Thank you!
Wonderful video, thank you. Having a lot of trouble with holding the yarn in a decent way to achieve even tension so I might try your interesting method. I guess it's all what feels right for one person!
I just started knitting. I take my right hand all the way off. I constantly loose my place and end up with little rat sized scarfs. This technique is going to serve me well!!! Thanks!
When knitting this way my tension was always way too tight until I tried this method of holding the yarn. Thanks for posting!
I'm going to have to try that. The minute you took the needle in your right hand like a pencil? All the circuits in my brain crossed! I'm left-handed! But the more I watched you, the more that I thought Icould at least try! I was always under the impression that I knit backwards from right-handed people but the more I watch you, you hold your work the same way I do. I just run it through the left hand side of my brain first!
I've tried wrapping the yarn around my fingers for tension and all,. They had to call 911. I just tag on it as I go. It seems to work.
Great Instructions. Thanks so much I have been looking for this forever.
I hold needles the first way because that's how I was taught.
I have seen many people here (in Australia) hold the needle the second way (like a pencil). I have tried and tried to hold it like that but I find it more cumbersome because:
(1) I have small hands and short fingers and I just can't bring the yarn around the needle without letting go of the needle.
(2) I find it more difficult to keep all the stitches on the needle.
(3) If the piece is wide, the thumb will be kind of poking through the piece as one is knitting. If knitting the first way, this does not happen.
You have very beautiful hands and long fingers.
As the fabric grows longer or wider, you simply place your thumb
underneath it, holding the needle from below, behind the knitting.
Couldn't be simpler! And it supports the weight of the biggest garment
beautifully.
I too have small hands and short fingers, and this way of knitting has been working just fine for me for over 50 years!
I have seen people hold the needle from below, behind the knitting as you say. The thumb is still kind of poking through. I find this extremely awkward to control and the risk of dropping stitches is very high. Also, I find it almost impossible to use this position when using circular or double-pointed needles.
I much prefer to hold it from above.
I would love to see a video of someone holding the needles as you say and knit a tube using circular or double-pointed needles.
Obviously, this is all a matter of personal preference and habit. It is not something to argue over.
Argue, no, of course not! If I knew how to make videos, I would make one just for you, to show how easy it really is! And the stitches are much less likely to fall off this way, I find.
I'm knitting socks at the moment and it is true you cannot hold the thumb behind the knitting with them. Circular needles, yes, that works OK.
So how do you hold the needles when knitting socks?
It was a bit tricky to start. Now it seems to have become automatic. I use 4 needles, so there are always 2 sticking up facing me. I place the working needle (right hand) behind the right side needle, with both Rt side needles coming out between thumb & hand. The Left needle (that I am knitting off) is placed in front of the other Left side needle. This seems to cause the least problems! I will check my mum's position tomorrow, as she has been doing this nearly 80 years now! She was taught by my grandmother, who knitted thigh-length woollen stocking for my farmer grandfather, for many decades! So it seems to be an old family technique we have going.
Just what I was looking for.
You're welcome, and greetings to Texas from the arctic!
I've always knitted this way, there was me thinking I was the only one, nice to know I'm not..lol
I knit continental too now, but knowing more than one method has its advantages at times.
Squeaky noises! That sounds tight indeed! Try wrapping the yarn fewer times around your fingers, or try speading out the fingers on your right hand to allow the yarn to pass through the fingers more freely.
My mother taught me to knit this way, you use the left hand to open the stitches and to push back the needle
Thank you so much for uploading this video! Is been about a week since I started to learn how to knit and your instructions are amazing!! will try to practice a lot so I can eventually make a scarf or something smaller 😊. Subscribing to your channel, now!!
Thank you so much for your video. I am new knitter and I find my tension is tight and my hand hurts. Keep up the good work.
I would't say that either method is more versatile than the other. Try both of them and see what feels good to you! I prefer to knit continental with chunky yarns, but usually switch to English with very thin yarns.
Thank you for clarifying your knitting hold! :)
Excellent tutorial. Thank you.
Hey I used to knit like you first shown ... i took my whole hand off the needle... yes it was slower... much slower ... and my tension suffered... it was WAY LOOSE:-(( but guess what? it only took about a day of perseverance... knitting test square type stuff forcing myself to do the pencil hold method ... very slow at first but just keep trying !!!! and i was...am now knitting english method with the pencil grip!! My speed has improved and better yet my tension has improved outa sight!!! :-)
My husband and I are in disagreement about the background noise. I say it is a purring cat. He asked me if I could get rid of the static. Which is it? By the way, when your vid started, Pooter the cat, sat up at attention.
amazing technique thank you
SWEET JESUS I THOUGHT I'D NEVER KNIT AND THEN YOUR VIDEO CAME ALONG!!!
elsteffo great tip on your technique for faster knitting ... thank you cheers!!
I knit like the first style but I do not move my hand and just flick! :) I knit faster without have to hold like a pencil.
I knit the same way, flicking.... but this method looks intriguing too :)
Also concerned about SueBea's point. What happens when you have more than a few rows of knitting?
Your right thumb goes under the knitted fabric and holds the needle through the fabric
oh my, I wish I could do this but I can't...I tried this method and the yarn coming from the ball is in front and keeps getting in the way plus my fingers cannot stretch far enough to get the yarn over the needle point. I guess I'm back to doing a flicking.
The background noise is a bit bothersome but she has a calm, slow manner and is an excellent teacher. I watched twice. The first time I had to concentrate on ignoring the noise and focusing on her voice and hand movements. The second time the noise was like a fly buzzing around and was easy to ignore.
I am a new knitter and have been studying all the different ways to knit, and trying each one. I absolutely love the way my stitches look when I use your method ( however I never got the finger tension down)...I was wondering if you might consider doing a video on doing the purl stitch with this method. You already have a vid. on Purling but you don't show your hand placement on the yarn as concisely as you did with this video. I want to be able to knit and purl with ease in my chosen method THX
Hi Katja, you are right that you should have the knitted fabric in between your thumb and index finger.
I found you on youtube just mins ago and I've already subscribed to you! :)
Wow, I'm fascinated by that way of holding the needles, and I just might try that! I really like that! But wanted to know when the project is a bit large, can holding the needle in the right hand still be easy to knit?! Thank You! :)
Hi Anna,
I knit pretty much like this (I hold my yarn slightly differently) and I’ve knitted large throws on 150cm circulars with this method and it works well👍👌
You can pull tightly on the first two stitches of every row to reduce the size of the loop, or you can slip the first stitch of every row for a clean edge. It's a problem for all knitters because of the construction of knitted fabric, so you're not alone in your loopiness!
I love the color of ur wool!!!!
I have a question . How can you Not add on stiches ? I start to knit and I find out that there are more stitches on the needle than I started with .. How can I either stop or prevent that ? :) thanks and hopefully my you will see my comment
I've tried this method before several years ago. The problem I ran into was for wide projects. After a while, I could no longer hold the project using the "pencil" method. I had to revert to the overhand method.
I am inspired! I am going to try it! Thanks.
still slow while using ur method. but i'll practice! thanx for sharing!
I find I have to squish the stitches on the right-hand needle quite a lot, but when I use double-pointed needles or short circular needles (30-40cm), I prefer to knit continental style.
I think the noise must be a purring cat, like I have behind me!
This is the best way to knit fairisle as you can hold 2 strands in the right hand and switch colours without breaking rhythm
Wow I had no idea you could do that! Maybe it will help me .Im knew at knitting and I think I can do that! I'm very slow right now and I want to knit dishcloths and socks!
I have been known to knit with 'posh' pinky fingers! Better than pinky cramps, I say!
Hello , first of all thankyou I want to thank you for this video and also I want to ask about the Purl stich, Does it change much to make a purl sitch in this way from the regular way?
Thanks
Some needles have blunter tips, such as Addi turbo needles. Give them a go and see if you can find some knitting relief.
My question is that if you were doin' stockinette. What you do the samething on the purl side?
I like to knit continental too, but there are advantages and disadvantages to all methods.
Looks good on a small piece but please show how you handle much longer pieces....that is where i get into trouble. thank you
What happens when you have 200 sts on the needle? How do you cram those stitches inside that area to the right of the thumb?
I have short stubby fingers. This can't work for me sadly. Wish I had your long thin fingers like you. 😐
problem is if you hold right needle like a pencil what happens when making a bulky or large garment? Your thumb would get worn out!
I'm trying to imagine how a machine would do it. I want my own machines that will make the cloths I like. Maybe with a crank so I can just turn the crank instead of having to buy my own cloths. With the way the market is going I just wish I could be self efficient completely!
I hear ya, darlin'! This method can be applied in mirror image (left needle held like a pencin, yarn in left hand), but keep in mind that any special stitch patterns you work from a written pattern will come out in mirror image too.
Will the length of the needle be a variable? Im trying to learn this but im using long straight needles and having hard time with the throwing/flicking motion even if I got the yarn wrap correct.
from my experience the length of your needles shouldn’t affect your speed unless theyre too short
When holding like this, how on earth do so solve it when there is a bunch more stitches on the right needle and also a long knitted part hanging down. Where do you put your hand if all that knitted is in your hand? With a small piece like that, sure it works. But very seldom are all we do that small.
Can you do this even if you have a lot of stitches? Won't they get pushed to the top of the working needle?
You have very lovely hands. That's not something I normally even notice, but yours are quite beautiful. I'll try this technique and see how I like it. I'm "ambiknitstrous" (I can knit both English and continental, with about the same proficiency). Though I'm somewhat faster with continental, I usually knit English style, so if this could bridge the gap in speed, that would be great. :)
+sukubo313 agreed. She could be a hand model.
+Raymond Duncan Interesting. I had heard the pencil-holding style described as "dainty" previously, so that would make sense. Your comment was cut off, it seems, but as I learn more about knitting, two things I find very interesting are the history of knitting and how knitting varies by culture. The styles and stitches and patterns that are in vogue from one time period to another, one region to another... Fascinating.
+Raymond Duncan Gotcha. It all shows up on the website, but the YT app on my iPad didn't show it all, even when I did that. I got it all now though. :)
This looks relatively easy while you have very few rows on your needle(s), but how does it work when you already have many rows or rounds on your needles?
This is my exact question. I'd like to know how to knit holding the needle under hand when I'm knitting a scarf. I'm not understanding that part. It does look more relaxed on the hand, fingers and wrist though.
I can't see how holding the needle from the bottom would be possible for anything wider or longer. This is an old video, but I hope you got that issue with the noise figured out.