Continental or english?

[kitkat]

When I taught myself, I learned continental...and was doing pretty well with it. Well, I took knitting 101 at LYS, and she made me change to english style....but I really feel like like continental is quicker...but now I am struggling when I try to go back to it! ARGH at inflexible LYS teachers!!!!!

What style do you all use?

[jodstr2]

both. mostly English but if I notice my right shoulder hurting, I switch. I'm still a bit clumsy at Conti.

[Ingrid]

I am so decidedly right handed that I can't even try to switch, or use two hands to use two colors. I manage quite well, though, thank you. :D

[Silver]

I knit both ways. English when I'm watching TV because I can knit blindly, something I can't do Continental. I knit Continental when doing rib, seed or moss stitch because it's so much easier to switch between purl and knit. Other times it's just whichever I feel like.

[twiggyann]

Continental is the only way I can manipulate the needles and the yarn. I do a lot of things right handed because that's the way I learned them, but for the life of me, I can't knit that way.

[Julie]

I learned English, and if I'd continued, I would have quit knitting. I credit going Continental with salvaging my knitting career...it is soooooo much easier for me. :D

[MaryS]

My great-aunt taught me how to knit English years ago, but I later found out she always knit through the back loop and all her stitches were crossed!

I do a lot of Aran knitting and only a little Fair Isle, so I'm usually only dealing with one color yarn at a time.

I'm a lefty, but I learned to knit right handed (which definitely makes following patterns easier). I get some right shoulder pain when I knit a lot (or use a right handed mouse on the computer too much), so maybe I should try knitting Continental.

Any thoughts on this from other left handed knitters?

Mary

[KellyK]

I am a right-handed knitter, but Ive kinda developed my own personal "throwing" style, anyway. The only time I can knit conti is when Im double-knitting and carrying a yarn in each hand.

[MaryB]

Mary, I am also a lefty who was taught to knit by a right handed person. I was taught English and it is still what I am most comfortable doing. I decided that I wanted to try Conti and found that knitting felted bags was a great way to practice. I did not have to worry about how even my tension was ----felting hides the uneven stitches. Eventually I got the hang of it and now can use either method.

I agree with you---learning right handed makes following patterns much easier. Special left handed directions just tend to confuse me.

[rebecca]

I'm am a thrower (English) because i'm self-taught & I couldn't figure out continental .... just no way, no how!!
Now.,...thanks to Amy's cd I am going to learn continental after I finish this project. Yes, I know that the videos are on the website...but...I have been far too busy chatting to bother with checking out the help videos while online. Therefore....I became aware of all that is on the help videos that are offered on this site (AND LOTS MORE :P) since I got my cd. So, after next project, I hope to learn to knit continental, too!! With Amy's help, of course....I can do it...I know that I can!!!
I can knit continental already...just can't get that purl down...but I will now learn!!!! Thank you, Amy