From the article: Should I Learn English or Continental Knitting? Or Both?
Whether you knit in English style, continental style or some other method, odds are good you think your method is the best -- at least for you. Tell us why you love the knitting method you use and why you think it's better than the other options out there. We'd particularly love to know if you started out knitting one way and now use a different method. Why did you make the switch? Share Your Reasons
Just Learning
- I just started to learn how to knit seven months ago. The instructor taught the English method, so now I am accoustomed to throwing my yarn. I tried the continental method, but feel more comfortable with the way I learned. Then there's casting on....but I guess that's a whole different topic to dicuss.
- —Guest damonty862
I Agree with Breegirl
- I am also left-handed, and with the exception of embroidery, have had to adapt while learning to knit and crochet. I also use the English method, but control the yarn with my right hand. I have been told that my finer motor skills are on the left, while the grosser are on the right. Whatever. It works. So I say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Apologies to my English teachers.
- —Guest ritsub
Not All English Knitters Drop the Needle
- Why do people assume you let the needle go when knitting the English style? You just keep your thumb tucked under the needle. No need to drop the needle. I find it gives better tension than the Continental style, which is always too tight for me.
- —Guest appurches
Comfortable with English
- As with the majority, I learned the English method. It's easier and I am more comfortable with it.
- —Guest mmorris
English
- I taught myself how to knit from a book that taught English knitting. So this is what I am familiar with. I have a nice speed and excellent control of the yarn and needles. But, I am trying to learn Continental Knitting to see which style if not both fits me. And I think it's great to know both.
- —Guest Rose
English but do not throw
- My mother taught me the England method but like that other gal I do not let go of the needle; I find that the fastest way for me. In all my years of knitting I have never met anyone that does it like I do.
- —Guest Ro
Polish Style
- I recently discovered there are more ways to knit! Polish involves throwing the yarn around your neck. I have to say, pretty darn awesome.
- —Guest Sadie
My choice of knitting style
- I originally learned English style when quite young, and decided I wasn't that fond of knitting. As an adult, I'd taken up crocheting, then wanted to branch into knitting, and learned Continental at that point. Since I was used to controlling my incoming yarn with my left hand from crochet, it seemed a lot less awkward than letting go of the right needle to wrap yarn and I think I get better speed too (although I still sometimes get frustrated by how slow knitting is compared to crochet).
- —SeanetteB
Both have their merits
- I use both, with throw, I keep a constant speed and never let go of the needle and with picking if speed rather than pleasure is important. I knit for pleasure.
- —Guest K.Ellis
How I knit
- Having been brought up knitting English, I taught myself Continental, or my version of it. All in all, I prefer Continental, not only because of the speed, I find my knitting is more even. That said, knowing both methods is wonderful for color knitting since I can hold a color in each hand and work. I'm learning Portuguese style just for the experience of it at the moment, but if it works better, I'll move to it. Like learning to knit backwards, it's a handy skill to have.
- —mousepotato
Now this is strange
- There are actually two types of continental knitting - the kind you show, and the kind that every member of my family (and in fact everyone I know) uses. It differs in that the wool is looped around the needle in the opposite direction while purling. This means that in stockinette, knit stitches are slanted in the opposite direction from purl stitches, and you enter knit stitches from right to left - in other words, the two needles enter both knit and purl stitches from opposite directions. Until this moment I thought *that* was Continental knitting, and the knitting you show as Continental was "English knitting". I've seen people do what you call "English knitting", but just on the bus, and I didn't look carefully enough to notice what they were doing. I might have assumed they were knitting left-handed.
- —Blurgle1
english
- I learned English and I don't think I will be able to learn continental but I don't let go of my needles to throw the yarn because of the way my mother showed me to hold them and we need pretty fast, not Guinness material, but fast enough.
- —Guest maruchi
English - gives more control
- I just started knitting and taught myself the English style. My mother is a die hard Continental, but I find that the English style gives me more control over the yarn. It's slower, but I have not dropped a stitch yet!
- —Guest Ruby
KarylL
- I think what I use is continental, because I definitely do NOT "throw" my yarn. I crocheted first, then knit, which is probably why I knit the way I do. I taught myself to knit from a book years ago, and was knitting through the back loop, until I got a computer and found out there was an easier way to knit--now I love it! Seems to be much faster than throwing, and I seldom drop a stitch. Thanks, Sarah, for your wonderful knitting clues, patterns, and all suggestions!
- —KarylL
I prefer Continental
- I taught myself to knit several years ago and started with English method. It was tedious, I dropped stitches and I had a hard time keeping my tension consistent. I wanted to give up! I looked online for help. and found info on the continental style so I decided to give it a try. It was like night and day for me! I've grown to love knitting. If you are new to knitting and having trouble with one method, I suggest trying another before giving up!
- —simplyteenie
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