English Vs. Continental

[mathwizard]

I was taught English by my mother and still knit mainly English. I have tried continental using the knit stitch and it is kind of like doing a crochet stitch and is fast but I tend to knit really tight using continental and my work suffers. I mainly English because I have excellent gauge using it.

[trvvn5]

I learned English but changed to Continental after a couple of years. It seems to be easier on my hands and wrists, and I seem to knit a little quicker (it is so quick to change from knit to purl when you are working ribbing).

I think it is a good idea to learn both. It can come in handy if you do a lot of color knitting (you can knit with a different color in each hand).

This is what I did as well. I learned english because that is the only way that the person who taught me knew how to do. Later in years a friend of mine said that he knit continental so I gave it a try. I just work better on continental. So thats what I stick with, but I can do either one. I think its good to know how to do both.

[suzeeq]

I have tried continental using the knit stitch and it is kind of like doing a crochet stitch and is fast but I tend to knit really tight using continental and my work suffers.

If you're 'grabbing' the yarn like you do with crocheting, you'd be wrapping the yarn around the needle backwards which would make the sts twisted and they're tighter than regular stitches.

[igklico]

Thanks McKnitty, "(you can knit with a different color in each hand)" That was exactly the sort of input I was looking for.

[AngelaR]

I also wrap my yarn around my needle, rather than grabbing it and pulling it through the loop. Since I knit combined and eastern, I had to learn to be careful about which way I was wrapping (clockwise vs counter). I've finally found my groove, thanks to the folks here and just spending a lot of time watching my stitches and how they looked once off the needle.

This is proof that I have way too much time on my hands now that I've settled into semi-retirement.