Combination Knitters?

[McKnitty]

Any combination knitters out there? I just learned today and I love it! I saw Annie Modesitt on an episode of Knitty Gritty and was inspired. Since I already know how to do Continental knitting, it was very easy to learn combination knitting.

According to Annie, combination knitting produces more even stitches. I did several swatches and found this to be true for my knitting. I can tell the tension is improved. Since you knit and purl using basically the same motion, the knit and purl stitches are more even.

And speaking of purl, oh my, it is so smooth! I like to purl Continental, but I like it even more with combination knitting.

I'd like to hear your experiences with combination knitting. Are there any bumps in the road that I need to be prepared for? I've heard that increases and decreases need to be adjusted, but I haven't tried those yet. How does this affect circular knitting, fair isle, intarsia, etc.?

[Knittingnonie]

I've just learned how to combination knit, too! I've been practicing while knitting up some projects to felt and I've used the Magic Loop method without any problems. I've not tried circular knitting using this method yet.

I never could purl while continental knitting but with combination knitting, yet I have not had any trouble adjusting to combination knitting while purling.

[suzeeq]

I think Annie said it doesn't work so well in the round. You can certainly knit stockinette with the combi knit, but you need to not knit in the back loop. Not sure how working a pattern st like ribbing in the round would come out. And the knit decs are opposite - k2tog is left leaning, ssk is right leaning. Her website www.anniemodesitt.com has some tips.

[McKnitty]

I will probably experiment more with combination knitting since I like it so much, but I do try to knit in the round as much as possible (that whole seaming thing) so I'm not sure if I'll use it a lot for the types of projects I'm currently working on.

However, combination knitting would be great for scarves, blankets or other projects that don't have increases & decreases. And I'm finding it to be even faster than Continental knitting.

[remclave]

It sucks in the round. Tried it... :?

[Kime]

When you work in the round, or when you have any pattern worked in the flat that calls for a knit stitch to be purled or a purl stitch to be knit, then you will have to knit through the front loop and purl through the back loop. Conversely, if you are working in the round and a knit stitch has to be purled or a purl has to be knit, then you will work the usual combined. Just keep a sharp eye on how your stitches are seated. It takes some effort to get used to purling through the back.

[Kime]

Here is a video that shows how to do eastern style purling through the back loop. You don't even bring the yarn to the front.

Eastern style purling

[Becky Morgan]

I don't find it hard to work in the round or to increase and decrease. To work a lot of stockinette in the round, try holding the yarn behind the needle so it "scoops" counterclockwise as you're looking toward the needle point. The stitches mount facing you, which means you barely have to move your wrists to knit a whole bunch fast. (Works on garter stitch worked flat, too.)

I DO love that Eastern purl, though. That's going to save me a lot of aggravation.

[of troy]

i am a combo knitter..

i think combo knitting is

1--mentally harder.

you need to be able to read your knitting..
you need to know when to work into front of the stitch, when to work into back
you need to adjust your decreases to get matched pairs

2--physically easier

purls are easier to work
binds offs are easier
picking up stitches is easier, because you don't care how they are mounted on needle
its easier to get even tension (and reduces tendency to "knit out"

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Knit how ever you want!

i am just so happy to see combo knitting acknowledged! so often people act as if English and Continental are all that exist!

[Jen17]

Can you explain what combination knitting is?
Thanks,
Jen