Yay! Learning to knit continental style 😁

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

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'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.

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!

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.

was, sorry I did not notice

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!

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

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

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.

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.

*could'nt knit any other way.lol

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

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

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.

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 !!

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.

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.

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.

I have never heard of continental way of knitting before. My mother in law was left handed so just knitted the opposite way to right handed knitters.

Mirren, I have put the link about halfway up this page. If you have any problems, let me know and I'll send you the link 😊

JuBut, continental knitting is different to English knitting in that the yarn is held in the left hand and the yarn is picked through the previous stitch. With English knitting, the yarn is held in the right hand and the yarn wrapped around the tip of the right hand needle.

Mallin Ever seen two old dears sitting in front of the tv knitting? Watch how fast they get during a car chase !!

Oh yes! Is it just me that knits faster when the yarn is running out and I want to finish the row before it realises 😂😂

Just had a look at the video. I thought it was a complicated way of casting on so I think I'll keep to the way I was taught.

Rosie51

Mallin Ever seen two old dears sitting in front of the tv knitting? Watch how fast they get during a car chase !!

Oh yes! Is it just me that knits faster when the yarn is running out and I want to finish the row before it realises 😂😂

I do that too, Rosie51 😂