Yay! Learning to knit continental style 😁

Callistemon21

^Kids and babies no longer wear knitted clothes.^
Mine did, DIL loved them!

Until they got to about 9 and they decided sports gear was the only thing that was suitable attire.

Same here, Callistemon.

My dil regularly requests more knitted garments for my younger dgc, so I know that I am not foisting unwanted things on them.

Kids and babies no longer wear knitted clothes.
Mine did, DIL loved them!

Until they got to about 9 and they decided sports gear was the only thing that was suitable attire.

What is the video, please?
I've always wanted to learn this method as it's so fast . Given up a couple of times so would love some guidance.

Good grief. People thinking knitting is hard? At one time I used to meet up with other females for sock knitting sessions.
Sound a bit tame?
Well we met up in a pub and knitted socks and enjoyed all the free drinks sent over by men.
Last socks knitted were for a chap whose swollen ankles meant that bought socks didn’t fit. Took quite a large sock to fit him comfortably.
Kids and babies no longer wear knitted clothes. So knitting for great grandchildren is mainly for fancy dress for their dogs. I make a lovely bonnet with room for ears especially for upright eared breeds like Alsatian’s and French Bulldogs. Oh and knickers for incontinent wuffs. Knitting is fun.
Ever seen two old dears sitting in front of the tv knitting? Watch how fast they get during a car chase !!

Fairycakes, may I ask which Knitter's Channel on YouTube you watched which unlocked the key to the mysteries of Continental knitting for you please ?
I'm a left-handed knitter and my tension is always a mess. Thank you.

I'm a seasoned knitter but haven't heard of continental knitting. What is the difference please? Take care everyone

my Dutch mum taught me to knit and not with yarn in left hand. There are many different styles of knitting. I learnt with long needles tucked under arms, my style is different now and I use chiaogoo interchangeable needles, tips and wires. There is not much hand movement and the knitting lays neatly in my lap. I would not want to know any other way, I am a fast knitter as it and would not want to speed up my relaxing hobby

*could'nt knit any other way.lol

Im a knitter and didnt know there WAS a different style. Could only do it British way anyway as i'm left-handed- it makes it easier having knitting in left & using right to wrap wool round needles.Could'nt do it any other way.

I do that too, but I'm not sure if I wind it round (must check!), using a pencil grip.

Lever Knitting
When you use the style of lever knitting, you basically flick the yarn. Hold the working yarn in your dominant hand (the one you knit with) and loop the yarn around the working needle without removing the hand completely from the needle completely. This creates a sort of back-and-forth levering motion.

Lever Knitting

Many knitters who use this style hold their working needle like a pencil, which frees up the index finger to hold the tension of their yarn and "flick" it around the end of the needle.

It's quite a fast method.

pen50 I've noticed that some people can knit very fast with the wool at the right by winding it round their right hand index finger and sort of wiggling that over the point of the right hand needle to make the stitch. It's very impressive, I wish I could do it! that's how I do it, yarn wrapped around my index finger not laid over it

For anyone wishing to have a go at continental knitting, this is the tutorial that I found most helpful. The young man explains everything clearly.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLSaApeG-vY

I knit combination style which is similar to continental except that the stitches get twisted after purling. This is not a problem for normal back and forth knitting (I just knit into the back of the stitch) and is actually quite useful when turning the heels on a pair of socks (which I do two at a time on two circulars). The only time it's a problem is when ribbing in the round but I've found an alternative purl that works into an already purled stitch so that's okay.

I find it so much faster than traditional English throwing and do wonder why we all got taught that in this country.

I've noticed that some people can knit very fast with the wool at the right by winding it round their right hand index finger and sort of wiggling that over the point of the right hand needle to make the stitch. It's very impressive, I wish I could do it!

was, sorry I did not notice

Mogsmaw

BlueBelle

So as a non knitter what’s the difference ?

British style knitters hold the yarn in their right hand and “throw” it over the needle to make a stitch.
Continental knitters hold the yarn in their right hand and “pluck” the yarn with the needle.
As a non-knitter this might not make any sense, but if you try it, it will.

I am born and bread on the continent and have knitted since I walk 3 years old, my mother taught in my school. The thread goes across your LEFT pointing finger and does not leave it, it is the right hand needle which does all the work. I knit quite tightly and always get a sore finger where the wool is sitting.

Is speed so important? I knit the English way and can go fairly quickly. My style for crochet is what draws attention. I was self taught as a young child and hold the yarn along with the hook in my right hand. It just seemed natural to me, and the instructions I could see printed for how to do the various stitches only ever showed the hook end of the crochet hook, no hands holding hook or yarn. It works for me so that's all that matters.
I remember seeing a Greek lady knitting and she had a contraption pinned to her jumper that she fed the yarn through, I suppose for tension. She was very quick!

I'm encouraged by you, Fairycakes, to have a go at the Continental style. I've never been able to get Fair Isle tension right. I learned to knit at primary school and remember our teacher knitting Fair Isle gloves on four needles while we did our 11-plus tests.
So I will give it another go with the help of You Tube.

Well done! I have tried continental various times but not yet mastered it, despite watching numerous excellent tutorials, would be interested in knowing whose tutorial video you found most useful. TIA.

I gave up knitting years ago cos it hurts my wrists, so I'll take a look at this. Thanks @fairycakes

NonnaW

*Callistemon. Apologies! I've only seen people on TV doing it that way, I'd love to see an expert doing it.*

Sorry, I was a feeling a bit touchy when I read that! My mum used to try to get me to knit the ‘proper’ way but I just can’t. I’m aware I probably look awkward when I’m knitting. I’m the same with crochet which I’ve just started learning.

I don't think I do either the proper way. 😲

It's odd, I couldn't have said how I hold the yarn or needles etc until I decided to knit a square yesterday to check!

I'm trying to re-learn how to hold yarn and crochet hook to give my index finger a rest so that's slowed me up.

Callistemon. Apologies! I've only seen people on TV doing it that way, I'd love to see an expert doing it.

Sorry, I was a feeling a bit touchy when I read that! My mum used to try to get me to knit the ‘proper’ way but I just can’t. I’m aware I probably look awkward when I’m knitting. I’m the same with crochet which I’ve just started learning.

ginny

Thank you for the remarks about my blanket.
I should have said that hooking the wool up in continental knitting is a bit like hooking the wool in crochet.

Yes, it looks very similar.

I'm just knitting a square to try to work out which method I use and think it must be quite different to most methods on YouTube and other instructions I've seen!
It's the way my mother taught me and she was an excellent, very fast knitter (much better than me).

Thank you for the remarks about my blanket.
I should have said that hooking the wool up in continental knitting is a bit like hooking the wool in crochet.

I have never heard of it but I am going to give a try tomorrow. Thank you for sharing.

ginny, that's beautifully neat 🌟🌟🌟