OK, there are 3 “continental” knitting styles, the Eastern European or Russian (the fastest), the English (widely used in the US), and Western European or French (also used in the US). I learned basic knitting in Poland, using the fast and tight Russian style. Here, in Ohio, I can also knit the French style. But, for some reason, I cannot learn the English one. There are more European styles (Portuguese) but they are less popular in the US. Hope this helps.
I learned to knit just 2 weeks ago and could NOT get the tension right in continental. Your video made all the difference because you hold the working yarn right next to the needle. I use my right pointer to hold the loop while I push it through, but maybe I can eventually just scoop it like you do. Thank you for this!!!!!
I have watched a lot of TH-cam videos on continental knitting and purling, and could not get the hang of purling until I watched your purl technique using your left finger. Many other videos demonstrated purling using the pad/tip of the index finger of their left hand and I could not get even tension to save my life with that motion. But I did not give up, and kept on searching and watching videos. Then one day I clicked on your video a few months ago and watched and mimicked your motions for purling and I could not believe I was purling like a pro (like you, of course) and stitches were even and beautiful. Thank you for demonstrating a technique that really worked for me. You make knitting and purling look so easy; I know others will be encouraged by your knitting and purling methods. I will never go back to English throwing again - too much work! Thanks again and God bless. :)
I learned continental knitting (but not the pearling) by doing an adult size of the Baby Surprise jacket. For me, the switching back and forth between the knit and the pearl stitch was the hardest part to train my fingers to do. You’re so right…it just takes a lot of practice. I also can (still) never do the first stitch of a row in continental…lol…just a weird hangup of mine…I always get it twisted.
oh my goodness, thank you so much. I watched many continental videos and yours was the best. I slow you down, fast forward, slow it down. I've knitted for 50 years and knew there was another way, a faster way, and this is it. I'm making boring washcloths and I am SOOOO slow and clumsy but I am determined to become comfortable with this!! Thank you again for such a great video! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs, Jeanie
Very clear. Its so much quicker and I want to teach my granddaughters this way of knitting when they start out! I can now do the knit row but purl is much harder!
Excellent demonstration! Thank you 😊 I am a crocheter of over 50 years who is learning the joy of knitting. I am, however, left handed so continental is not natural to me. I flick with my right hand but am intrigued with the process and speed of continental. I have yet to figure out the holding of the yarn without using a death grip 😂
Thank you so much for this video! I weave as a hobby, I don't knit. But while at a thrift store, a sweet elderly lady saw the ball of wildly coloured yarn in my hand, and proceeded to tell me how to knit in the "Old World" style. She was such a kind old soul! ♥ She said to hold the yarn in my left hand and the right hand needle went down and to the back to get the loop. This continental knitting seems to be what she was talking about, so I'm going to give it a try. I may have a new hobby after this! :D
....if I could love this a dozen times I would!!! I have been an avid crocheter for years and learned to knit by "throwing" the yarn. This is the best way to transition from crocheting to knitting for me. All of those other tutorials are so invovled and so complicated, but yours makes the movement more natural for me. Thank you for sharing this technique!!
Wonderful straightforward video! Something about continental method causes a lot of split stitches for me. The yarn almost completely unravels. Maybe it's the different direction of tension toward the left?
I’m watching this wishing there was a way to do this with one stick and a little hook on the end…😂😂 oh wait! 😅 I am a crocheter and trying my best to pick up knitting but I miss my hook 😂
1 Can you explain what "continental" knitting is? If it refers to being from Europe, it's wrong. I am from Europe and don't knit like that. Just like food dishes, it is an Americanized way of doing things (no offense). 2 It is much easier for beginners to wrap the yarn around the left hand (for right handed people) index finger and direct the yarn with that finger.
This is what "picking" the yarn is generally called here in the US...I didn't name it, so I'm just using the word people understand here as this type knitting. As opposed to "english" ....or "throwing" the yarn. Having taught many beginners, I find about half go for picking and half go for throwing more naturally. But this isn't a learn to knit video....it is for those who knit one way and wanted to learn this way. Thanks.
My Mom learned to knit this way from her Canadian neighbor who had moved to a NC beach in the 1940's. Mom was a sewer for years and I wish she had taught me crocheting.
Continental knitting was a way that was generally knitted from as early as the 15th century basically in Russia and Germany. After World War II people became uncomfortable with the idea of what was then called German knitting, and so it was renamed, continental knitting, and has been ever since. It was simply just changed to vocabulary after the war. This information was in a textbook and a class I took on textiles and fibers in college.
OK, there are 3 “continental” knitting styles, the Eastern European or Russian (the fastest), the English (widely used in the US), and Western European or French (also used in the US). I learned basic knitting in Poland, using the fast and tight Russian style. Here, in Ohio, I can also knit the French style. But, for some reason, I cannot learn the English one. There are more European styles (Portuguese) but they are less popular in the US. Hope this helps.
I learned to knit just 2 weeks ago and could NOT get the tension right in continental. Your video made all the difference because you hold the working yarn right next to the needle. I use my right pointer to hold the loop while I push it through, but maybe I can eventually just scoop it like you do. Thank you for this!!!!!
I have watched a lot of TH-cam videos on continental knitting and purling, and could not get the hang of purling until I watched your purl technique using your left finger. Many other videos demonstrated purling using the pad/tip of the index finger of their left hand and I could not get even tension to save my life with that motion. But I did not give up, and kept on searching and watching videos. Then one day I clicked on your video a few months ago and watched and mimicked your motions for purling and I could not believe I was purling like a pro (like you, of course) and stitches were even and beautiful. Thank you for demonstrating a technique that really worked for me. You make knitting and purling look so easy; I know others will be encouraged by your knitting and purling methods. I will never go back to English throwing again - too much work! Thanks again and God bless. :)
@kathy6222 aww! Thank you for the lovely comment! I'm SO happy to hear that it helped! ❤️❤️❤️
I learned continental knitting (but not the pearling) by doing an adult size of the Baby Surprise jacket. For me, the switching back and forth between the knit and the pearl stitch was the hardest part to train my fingers to do. You’re so right…it just takes a lot of practice. I also can (still) never do the first stitch of a row in continental…lol…just a weird hangup of mine…I always get it twisted.
If you slip your 1st stitch purl wise. At the beginning of each row you will get a lovely plaited border.
(Arnie & Carlos)
oh my goodness, thank you so much. I watched many continental videos and yours was the best. I slow you down, fast forward, slow it down. I've knitted for 50 years and knew there was another way, a faster way, and this is it. I'm making boring washcloths and I am SOOOO slow and clumsy but I am determined to become comfortable with this!! Thank you again for such a great video! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs, Jeanie
Oh yay! I'm so glad to hear it! Thank you!!
Very clear. Its so much quicker and I want to teach my granddaughters this way of knitting when they start out! I can now do the knit row but purl is much harder!
Excellent demonstration! Thank you 😊 I am a crocheter of over 50 years who is learning the joy of knitting. I am, however, left handed so continental is not natural to me. I flick with my right hand but am intrigued with the process and speed of continental. I have yet to figure out the holding of the yarn without using a death grip 😂
Thank you so much for this video! I weave as a hobby, I don't knit. But while at a thrift store, a sweet elderly lady saw the ball of wildly coloured yarn in my hand, and proceeded to tell me how to knit in the "Old World" style. She was such a kind old soul! ♥ She said to hold the yarn in my left hand and the right hand needle went down and to the back to get the loop. This continental knitting seems to be what she was talking about, so I'm going to give it a try. I may have a new hobby after this! :D
@@ruthwinkle9166 thank you!! Definitely let us know how it goes! You can do it! 😁
....if I could love this a dozen times I would!!! I have been an avid crocheter for years and learned to knit by "throwing" the yarn. This is the best way to transition from crocheting to knitting for me. All of those other tutorials are so invovled and so complicated, but yours makes the movement more natural for me. Thank you for sharing this technique!!
@eleanorloper843 thank you so much! I'm so glad that it was helpful! 💜
Wonderful straightforward video! Something about continental method causes a lot of split stitches for me. The yarn almost completely unravels. Maybe it's the different direction of tension toward the left?
Very useful and helpful, thank you.
I’m watching this wishing there was a way to do this with one stick and a little hook on the end…😂😂 oh wait! 😅 I am a crocheter and trying my best to pick up knitting but I miss my hook 😂
@@alexiseileenn lol...lmk if you figure that out! Maybe try Tunisian crochet! 🤔
Very helpful. Thank you.
This is great. Thanks 😊
thank you so much
1 Can you explain what "continental" knitting is? If it refers to being from Europe, it's wrong. I am from Europe and don't knit like that. Just like food dishes, it is an Americanized way of doing things (no offense). 2 It is much easier for beginners to wrap the yarn around the left hand (for right handed people) index finger and direct the yarn with that finger.
This is what "picking" the yarn is generally called here in the US...I didn't name it, so I'm just using the word people understand here as this type knitting. As opposed to "english" ....or "throwing" the yarn. Having taught many beginners, I find about half go for picking and half go for throwing more naturally. But this isn't a learn to knit video....it is for those who knit one way and wanted to learn this way. Thanks.
My Mom learned to knit this way from her Canadian neighbor who had moved to a NC beach in the 1940's. Mom was a sewer for years and I wish she had taught me crocheting.
Continental knitting was a way that was generally knitted from as early as the 15th century basically in Russia and Germany. After World War II people became uncomfortable with the idea of what was then called German knitting, and so it was renamed, continental knitting, and has been ever since. It was simply just changed to vocabulary after the war. This information was in a textbook and a class I took on textiles and fibers in college.
I imagine that your #2 depends on the person. Nothing is the same for everyone.
In Denmark we all knit Continental. It is much easier for children 😊