September 9, 2023

Continental knitting verses English knitting


Continental knitting and English knitting are two different methods of holding and manipulating the yarn while knitting. The main difference lies in how the yarn is held and the way the stitches are formed.

Continental knitting: 
In this method, the yarn is held in the left hand (for right-handed knitters) and is tensioned by wrapping it around the little finger. The knitter uses the right-hand needle to pick up the yarn and pull it through the stitch, creating a new stitch. The stitches are formed by inserting the needle into the stitch from the left to the right.

Advantages of continental knitting:

- It is generally considered faster than English knitting as there are fewer hand movements involved.

- It is often more efficient for knitters who also crochet, as the hand position and motion are similar to holding a crochet hook.

- It can be easier for knitters with hand or wrist pain, as it requires less hand movement.

English knitting: 
In this method, the yarn is held in the right hand and is tensioned by wrapping it around the index finger or over the fingers. The knitter uses the right-hand needle to pick up the yarn and wrap it around the needle, creating a new stitch. The stitches are formed by inserting the needle into the stitch from the right to the left.

Advantages of English knitting:

- It may be easier for beginners to learn, as the hand movements are more intuitive and similar to other activities like writing or sewing.

- It can provide more control over the tension of the yarn, as the right hand is responsible for both holding the yarn and forming the stitches.

- It can be easier to switch between knitting and purling stitches, as the yarn is already in the correct position for purling.

Overall, the choice between continental knitting and English knitting is a matter of personal preference. Some knitters find one method more comfortable or efficient than the other, while others may switch between the two depending on the project or stitch pattern.

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