Readers Respond: Why Do You Prefer Your Knitting Style

Responses: 27

By Sarah E. White, About.com Guide

I have just recently taught myself to knit after crocheting for many years, and I am left-handed. I think what I do is continental, but exactly the opposite -- I hold the yarn in my right hand and knit with the left. It was the most natural thing for me after always holding the yarn with my right hand while crocheting. I have since tried doing it English, and like my way best! :)
—Guest BreegirlRN

I taught myself the english way and have knit that way for 15 yrs but i bought a book on continental knitting and am determined to learn this way to become a faster knitter
—Guest Sandi

I used both the English and Continental knitting styles, but I found my tension is better using the English style. I found the Continental style is faster, but my work looked better using the english.
—Guest Sondra Bentz

Although I much prefer continental style, I also learned English for Fair Isle knitting. Good thing I did! Three years ago, I had a stroke and my left hand became pretty useless for knitting. Now I knit English, which I find slow and tedious, but at least it's still knitting. BTW, I haven't given up on the left hand. I'm still working on that!
—Guest Simayanan

Good article. And the perfect summary ..."whatever works for you is exactly the right way to do it"...
—Guest r

I have only just realised that the way I knit is the continental way. I am left-handed, and it was just the most natural way for me to learn. My (right handed) mother tried to teach me to knit and gave up in frustration, so I taught myself - several people over the years have been amused at the way I knit - so I am delighted to now know it is a recognised way! Judith - in UK
—judypam

The continental is far easier to learn and more comfortable for the person using it. As you state less movement and that means less stress. As for using it with 2 or more colors it is no problem. I've been using it al my life and now have problems with my right pinkie and ring finger but i can still knit with ease.
—Guest Anita

I am a righty, my mother is a lefty. When she taught me how to knit when I was 13, it was in continental. I did not know until a few years ago that there were other styles of knitting. I like continental, it seems faster to me.
—angelk416

I was also taught throwing (English) when I was a youngster, but I didn't like having to let go of the needle. A couple of years ago I took up knitting again and taught myself continental and I love it. I am able to keep both hands on the needles and my stitches are more consistent. It took me longer to purl in continental, but I am loving it too as I am able to use one finger to move the yarn instead of a whole hand, arm etc.
—Guest Trish

I'll try to keep it short though. I taught myself how to knit out of a book, mostly just copying the pictures. It was an english style book. I somehow misread the pictures and so I knitted through the back loop. I also developed the habit of wrapping both knits and purls backwards to the instructions. With knitting through the back loop, wrapping my purls backwards was a good thing, but I still was purling through the front so my purl rows were twisted for a few years. Once I figured out that there was more than one way of going into a stitch and wrapping was the most important, I can knit either way. My "default" mode is just like how I learned to knit (with corrected wrapping) which I've recently learned is a form of combination knitting. Can't quite manage holding the yarn continental style yet (I'm very much the "thrower"), but someday I'll learn it so I can be completely adaptable in my knitting style.
—Guest Nila

I was taught the English style by my grandmother many years ago. I never liked it. It wasn't comfortable for me. I switched the yarn to my other hand and just figured out how to do it that way. I was much faster at it and it was much more comfortable for me. I had no idea until years later that it was a legitimate style of knitting that others did. Now, when I teach others how to knit I usually teach continental, but also show them how to 'throw' if they want me to. I like that continental is a little easier for lefties too.
—Guest Desiree

I learned Continental and had been knitting that way for over 20 years. A few months ago, I switched to Portuguese, because I find it more comfortable for my hands and faster (at least for ribbing). I'm not a whiz at it yet, but I'm sticking with it so I can pick up more speed. I've seen how fast the Portuguese ladies go in the videos. FWIW, the woman who holds the Guinness Book record for fastest knitter knits Continental style. I find my sts are nice and even in both styles, so it's more a matter of speed and hand/arm comfort for me.
—Guest Carol Roberts

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