topic Re: Knitting Continental or English method? in Community Chat

Knitting Continental or English method?

lovescats — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 15:59:50 GMT

I recently started knitting again and never knew I knitted used the English method -- yarn held in right hand for tension and throwing it over. But now I think I want to learn the continental method yarn in left hand for tension. any knitters have any preferences? or tips? the continental method seems more like crochet in working the stitches.

also we have a hobby lobby where I live and I've read a lot of reviews that say their house brand yarns are poor quality. Any thoughts? I was only there once and the yarn seemed overpriced? I prefer lion brand yarn.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

Bellabutterfly — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:12:00 GMT

Lovescats...

This is interesting...

I never knew there were two seperate methods. That being said, I am a "Continental method knitter". Yes, when I crochet it is the same...Left hand tension.

Sorry, I can not answer the "Hobby Lobby" yarn question...Have never used their house brand.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

sydsgma1 — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:13:45 GMT

I have knit for many years and am a picker withe yarn held in the right hand . I think switching from one style to another would be challenging.

i only buy yarn from my local yarn shop which carries more expensive and high quality yarn. You can go to Ravelry for patterns and yarn products...I am fortunate to have a large selection close by.

have fun

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

abbeythe 8th — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:18:43 GMT

English method for me. I've never been in a Hobby Lobby store.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

lovescats — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:23:14 GMT

@Bellabutterfly wrote:
Lovescats...

This is interesting...
I never knew there were two seperate methods. That being said, I am a "Continental method knitter". Yes, when I crochet it is the same...Left hand tension.

Sorry, I can not answer the "Hobby Lobby" yarn question...Have never used their house brand.

I think this is why it took me so long to learn how to crochet because I was going from using the right hand in knitting to the left for crochet. I've looked at some youtube videos and it does seem to be a better method once you learn it.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

ChynnaBlue — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:44:29 GMT

I knit the English way. Continental is more efficient, but I learned English and trying Continental was difficult for me.

I won't shop at Hobby Lobby, so I can't speak to their yarns. KnitPicks makes excellent yarns at decent prices. I like some of the Lion novelty brands, but they don't make a lot of natural fibers. KnitPicks sells a lot of natural fibers. If I'm knitting for charity, I do use more Lion brand yarns. I knit for the Red Scarves project and the scarves go to college kids who had been in foster care and don't have a family or support system to help them through college. College kids aren't going to hand wash a scarf.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

ALRATIBA — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:46:53 GMT

Continental in that I hold yarn in my left hand, but my actual "method" is Eastern Uncrossed.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

libbyannE — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 17:53:05 GMT

Who knits! I learn things from perusing these posts. This is interesting to me! I don't know anyone who knits. My mother is 90, and she has never knitted, either. I bought some beautiful hand-knitted sweaters in Oslo and treasure them. How wonderful to know the craft isn't dead. What are you knitting?

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

Lacey1 — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 18:04:32 GMT

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

forest4thetrees — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 18:55:17 GMT

Continental is much much faster than the American (or English) method, and less tiring on the "throwing" or right hand. And since I also crochet it seems more natural to me.

As to the yarns; I shop Michaels/JoAnns/HobbyLobby when I'm doing a baby shower gift for someone I know will not have or take the time to handwash the item; or specifically when I'd doing a carseat blanket or nappy blankie (they get dragged everywhere!). I shop my LYS or JimmyBeansWool dot com, or PatternWorks dot com when I'm doing an heirloom christening outfit, or a project for someone I know will appreciate the gift.

If you want a great machine washable locally available yarn, look for "sock yarn" on the label (Berroco is a good one, about $14 a skien of 447 yards). It's washable wool and has a great hand and a lovely sheen. It's classed as a "1" or "2" so you'll probably have to downsize to a 3 or 4 needle...but it's worth it!

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

Ane1Care — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:31:21 GMT

I self taught myself right hand throwing about 12 years ago. Then, early last year I started flicking. You hold the yarn in your right hand for tension, wrapped around your index finger. Then place the needle in the stitch, pivot the right point back towards your extended index finger and flick the yarn on the needle tip.

Your hands never let go of the work. So much quicker than throwing.

This is it: https://youtu.be/y547Q5Hjcuo

More details / Q&A: https://youtu.be/DmEGLLbbRB4

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

lovescats — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 00:12:36 GMT

@libbyannE wrote:
Who knits! I learn things from perusing these posts. This is interesting to me! I don't know anyone who knits. My mother is 90, and she has never knitted, either. I bought some beautiful hand-knitted sweaters in Oslo and treasure them. How wonderful to know the craft isn't dead. What are you knitting?

I'm knitting a buttonless cardigan with yarn that stripes.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

I am still oxox — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 00:17:07 GMT

I knit Continental, and had no idea there was any other way until I joined a knitting club in my Community.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

rrpell — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 01:16:06 GMT

My grandmother taught me to knit. We would watch tv and knit. She would make beautiful sweaters and I would take her leftover yarn and knit slippers. When I was finished, she would attach big pompoms to them. I am in my 6Os and (still) have two sweaters she made for me and oodles of slippers. I believe in buying quality yarn.

I knit continental because it just seems more efficient. However, I will throw every now and then to change positions of my hands.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

Leu — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 03:48:50 GMT

I knit Continental. When I learned to knit five years ago, I learned English, but developed a painful nodule on the underside of my right wrist within a couple of weeks. Since I didn't want to give up knitting, my stubborn streak took over and I learned Continental.

I don't buy any yarn at craft stores like Hobby Lobby, et al., just from local yarn shops, or indie dyers on Etsy. It's more expensive, but it's what I choose to invest in.

Currently, I'm test knitting a shawl pattern for someone on Ravelry. Next up will be another shawl, as well as a baby blanket for the hubs cousin.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

docsgirl — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 09:46:14 GMT

I'm 70 years old and learned to knit when I was 8. I hold my working yarn in my right hand so I guess I knit English with no desire to change. I don't know what I do, I just do what I learned so many years ago and have been doing for years and years. I love to knit and find it so relaxing. As far as yarn from Hobby Lobby, it's not top quality but you're not paying a lot. I have used yarn from HL, Michaels, and JoAnn's for scarves, mittens, and hats to donate to children's drives. For special adult projects, I use a better quality and more expensive yarn. You get what you pay for and there's a place for everything. docsgirl

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

maestra — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:44:08 GMT

I knit Continental since that is what I was taught @ 7 years old. The neighbor who taught me was an elderly German refugee who came to the US during WW2.

It is very fast since I pick the yarn and never take my hands off of the yarn.

Hobby Lobby yarn is of mediocre quality. I love KnitPicks, esp. for sock yarns. I work w/wool, cashmere and nylon mixes or merino wool, silk mixes.

I'm completing a new pattern for a 1 piece baby kimono jacket. I altered it since this newborn already weighs in at 11 lbs.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

maestra — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:49:20 GMT

I'm rolling around in my mind adapting this baby kimono jacket to a paatern for an adult kimono jacket. Coat of many colors?

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

lovescats — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:38:58 GMT

@maestra wrote:
I'm rolling around in my mind adapting this baby kimono jacket to a paatern for an adult kimono jacket. Coat of many colors?

It would be nice to see side by side pictures when you finish.

Re: Knitting Continental or English method?

ALRATIBA — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:51:16 GMT

@libbyannE wrote:
Who knits! I learn things from perusing these posts. This is interesting to me! I don't know anyone who knits. My mother is 90, and she has never knitted, either. I bought some beautiful hand-knitted sweaters in Oslo and treasure them. How wonderful to know the craft isn't dead. What are you knitting?

@libbyannE Who knits? You should take a look at Ravelry. It's a forum for knitters, crocheters, etc.

I think the membership is up over 2 MILLION ...