learning continental is killing me!

[Ronda]

The video posted above and Amy's videos here are how I switched from English to Continental. It took me a while to get the purl part. I enjoy it, but I have noticed that my tension has changed A LOT. When I knit English, I'm a much tighter knitter. I bet I'd have to go down at least 2 needle sizes to get gauge with Continental.

About the "throwing" with the right hand in English, I was one of those whose hand completely left the needle, I think. I'll have to get out some yarn and needles and give it a try to say for sure. I'm curious about those of you who knit English and don't throw. I feel like I have more control over my tension when I knit English, but I prefer Continental because it's less arm movement for me. I'd love to see how some of you knit English without your right hand leaving the needle.

[suzeeq]

Some people knit combination style, where you also hold the yarn in your left hand. I believe there's a few videos here for it, and more explanations at www.anniemodesitt.com

Speed comes with practice, a person can knit just as fast english as continental. You don't have to actually move your whole hand around the needle when knitting english either. There are several videos on Youtube that show various ways of knitting english, just do a search for knit english.

[dairywife]

I wonder if Continental feels more natural to me because I've crocheted for my whole life.

I completely agree with the Crochet theory. I taught myself to knit and used the english method with the throwing of the yarn because wrapping on my right fingers never felt comfortable. I can knit pretty fast doing this too. I discovered this site and started watching the different video's and tried the continental method and it felt comfortable right away. I think it is because I have been crocheting so many years and the wrapping around the left hand comes so natural.

Just throwing in my two cents.

Practice the method you like and if after trying/attemting it is uncomfortable then don't use that method.

[thecanfield]

I knit english style.
I have tried continental and just prefer what I know.

[Plantgoddess+]

When knitting English I work up at the tip of the needles so that it's just a matter of tipping the right hand towards the needle tips and flicking the yarn around the needle with the index finger. I still hold the work with the other fingers and thumb of the right hand.

[suzeeq]

That's something how I do it too. I extend out my index finger and my hand still touches the needle.

[RuthieinMaryland]

Hi!

When I first started learning Continental it was SO awkward!!! But part of it was I was holding the yarn wrong. Then I found this video and suddenly it all came together!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRLF...eature=related

If you're trying to learn continental I'd highly recommend you watch this. I'm so glad I did because I now use continental and things go so smoothly and FAST!!!

Good luck and happy knitting!
Ruthie

[AAngels]

I learned English and will keep on doing it so much easier than the other way to me.
Just seems awkward for me.

Thanks
Kathy

[LadyFirelyght]

I found when I was first learning to knit that I really preferred knitting Continental. I've used it for most of my projects but I also learned English just for the sake of being able to use it to do stranding work. It's still awkward and I don't like it (makes me feel lopsided, having my right hand do almost all the work), but I can do it. It just takes a lot of practice. It's almost like learning how to knit from the beginning lol

[Jeremy]

I have noticed that my tension has changed A LOT. When I knit English, I'm a much tighter knitter. I bet I'd have to go down at least 2 needle sizes to get gauge with Continental.

That is exactly what happened to me.