7 BEST TIPS for CONTINENTAL KNITTING + Bonus Tips! 

I was a crocheter for over 40 years, and had tried to learn to knit many times with no success. At one point, I was even bracing the left needle between my knees! lol So needless to say, I gave up trying to learn. But then I watched someone on RU-vid knitting continental, and it rocked my world. It was so easy to transition from crochet to continental knitting! I had trouble with purling for a little while, but now I'll finish a row of purl mindlessly, and panic at the end thinking that I accidently knit instead because it was so easy. lol I hold my yarn low, so it's very easy to flip it to the front to purl. (and my finger doesn't get tired from sticking up in the air) Making about a million washcloths made me not only learn a lot of new stitches, but it made me get my tension right. Friends and family love the washcloths, even though most of them were pretty wonky in the beginning. ;) Practice, practice, practice! Another tip for beginners would be to try knitting with circular needles, even for flat knitting. This was something that really helped me. No more dropped needles, and no more propping one between my knees. :)

I learned this style when I was young, as my mother taught me, when I started again this week I tried to find tips with increase and decrease and was soooo confused to see the English style. Loved your chanel ❤

You have the most beautiful and kind way of explaining. I used to knit once upon a time, English style and disliked it. Then started crocheting 9 years ago, never stopped and still do every single day. I picked up knitting needles a week ago, and discovered this style, but battling. Your video helped with my tension as I tried to copy with my pinkie as in crochet, but too tight. The ring finger did the trick. Thanks so much! And to newbies, crochet taught me to persist in my love for playing with yarn in order to make beautiful things xx

As a leftie avid crocheter, I had a lot of trouble learning to knit. I finally learned how to learn the throw method right-handed. When I discovered continental style, it was a game changer for me!

I have knitted for over 50 years and just learned Continental in the last 6. Tension is something that comes with practice and experience the same as with English knitting or crocheting. Your videos are terrific! Tell the newbies not to give up. It will come! Thank you for your informative tips!

You are so right about relaxing while doing this. As soon as I do, I find the rhythm. However, I haven’t master doing this method in the round for stockingnette

Great tips! I learned English first as a child. I switched to Continental in my early twenties and found my own rhythm. Over 40 years ago, lol. I see a lot of Continental knitters using their middle finger to guide the stitches. I don’t. I use mostly my right hand and have no problem grabbing the stitches. I tension my yarn in my left hand the way you do as well. The only time my index finger moves is when I’m purling. I think we all find what works for us as individuals. I do use English style along with Continental for stranded knitting. I keep one yarn in each hand. I’m glad to know both methods. Thanks for sharing your tips!

It took almost 3 years to become comfortable with conventional. This is great for combination knitting. If the pattern calls for increases and decreases I switch to English (throwing/flicking) method because that is how I learned to knit originally. What many knitters forget or don't know is there are 2 ways to mount the stitches on the needle: Eastern and Western style. Eastern style has the left leg of the stitch open (creating more of a U than V). Either is correct but Eastern requires the needle be inserted from the back of the stitch, and Western from the front of the stitch.

I've not been knitting lately. Some crocheting.. I had to go back and watch about a stretchy cast on.. I learned Continental knitting from you the BEST WAY..And I watched many videos when I started. I Want to THANK YOU FOR TEACHING IT THE VERY BEST WAY FOR ME. Purling used to get me frustrated I'd go back to the old way,UNTIL I FOUND YOU!! I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH!! Hugs😁🙏💗🤟

This is so wonderful, thank you! Especially when you say to relax your hands, be patient, and put on some relaxing music. I have been trying for the past few days and am not getting it and am hoping I will with your tips! :)

Yes if you remember my comment about tight stitches...I didn't even realize I was purling clockwise! This made it impossible to get into my stitch. I am finally knitting with such ease and good tension but it does appear I am a looser knitter. I am using a 3.25mm on a 3mm pattern but I feel like there is a lot of space in between my thread. It's very comfortable and I don't believe my tension is loose. I guess I should be aware of this and maybe go down a needle size for my projects.

Love the lamp. Love the rhyme.

Norwegian tension is different and the index finger is closer to the needle and "picking" the yarn you have less of a problem with fingers hurting. Have your viewers check it Arne & Carlos for Norwegian style.

I was a thrower and wanted to add speed.I tried all different styles and found Norwegian knitting to be the most comfortable and easy..Arne and Carlos taught me how..continental knitting made my hands cramp and my purl stitch twisted so I had to knit them through the back loop...good luck all

On #6 from Dena Callahan: I learned to knit continental from my Danish grandmother, who taught me to go OVER the yarn for a purl stitch and pull it through -- which causes the stitch to be turned with the back leg closer to you when you knit the next row. The solution for me is simply to knit the back leg. Works out fine most of the time (sometimes not - like SSK. Just figure out what works for you if this is what you do).

Oh this is a life saver thank you 🙏

Thanks for your video. But I found out that I’m much faster with English. I actually timed myself. 4 minutes to knit a long row with English 6-7 minutes with continental 😮

Great video thank you ☺️

New subbie & new knitter....hi✋🏾

After 20 years I'm trying for about the 10th time to learn Continental knitting. Thank you for the videos they are very helpful. If I have learned one thing it is to not give up! Also, perhaps this has been covered, but it takes so much time to re-wrap the yarn around my fingers for each row. Any tips for this? I can't seem to keep it wrapped while turning my knitting.

Love your hair !

I love Continental knitting with the knit stitch but find it difficult to purl. I have arthritis which makes my favorite passion difficult. I need to check out your other video!!! Thank you!

To the lady with the hybrid continental/throwing method...I knit that way myself and have been doing so for way to long, I need to use my thumb and middle finger more the way you should. I think the reason for this is because I crochet too and learned that skill first, however I have learned most of the time learning to do something differently really just takes practice and patience with yourself. Muscle memory takes time to form and can't be forced unfortunately which is where patience comes into play. Continental knitting is much easier than throwing but there are many types of knitting, experiment with them all and see what suits you best. Taking breaks is very important as well as hand exercises to help with hand fatigue and carpal tunnel prevention.

I am right nuance. I stared as a Crocheter. Doing English knitting. I kept for getting to bring the yarn forward or move back. It seemed that with continental it was artsier, so I switched. Now I can knit either way. My English knifing is much tighter. As some teachers will say its not better knitting its just tight knitting. Agreed, relax. I allowed myself i me and full projects to make these adjustments. I now continental knit. My wrists thank me. I can knit longer and do not get issues with Carpel tunnel in my wrist anymore from knitting. It’s so amazing how giving yourself time to adjusting your technique because its like learning to drive a stuck shift when you only know how to drive an automatic transmission car. Your life may depend on it, that is your 🧶 knitting life...that is. 😂 😆 lol

Yes I'm experiencing all of these. I started knitting almost a month ago, I crochet...I've been going back and forth from English to Continental style. I honestly keep thinking one fits better for me and then change my mind. Tension seems to be a big issue for me. I can't seem to find a good way to wrap my thread through my fingers and they way I do it with crochet is too loose for knitting. Also I was having problems with my prls Continental because I had my yarn above instead of below. It was creating a wrapped interlocked stitch. I'm at the point now where I feel like I'm just wasting my time as I have like 5 crochet projects I'm working on but I want to knit so bad I just keep going back haha 😄

Being a crocheter, I'm used to tensioning with my right hand (I'm left handed), I find that knitting English style makes my stitches too tight; continental works better for me

I learned to knit Continental style as a child 60 years ago and I have not found one person in this country that holds the needles as I do. I clise my hands over the needles, I never stick my index finger out. I find that after a while it hurts. I just let me fingers, alk of them rest on the needles gently. The needles fo all the work. Does antone knit like me? I have tried with open hand and tge index finger sticking out but can't get the right tension and like I said before it hurts especially now that I am older. When I knot my way I never hurt.

Where did you get your lamp? I love it!

I prefer Continental knitting!

I've been knitting and crocheting for over 40yrs. I hold my wool in my right hand so I don't know what my style is called. It's how I was taught by my mum many yrs ago

Im learning to knitt and have tried to continental style but it hurts my hand and i feel like it shouldn't hurt my hand

My continental purling is looser than my continental knitting; is this common or am I doing something wrong? Thanks!

Hi

Do you find you have to knit without your left hand ring? I noticed you don’t have a ring on in the demo but do in the verbal explanation part of the video. I can’t take my ring off and find it really messes with my tension. Any tips for ring handicaps? = )

What do u think about combination knitting? I'm a crocheter who's shopping for needles. I have knitted and did continental naturally.

I also, have arthritis in both hands.. was osteoarthritis in my thumb areas. Now my finger joints. I Do not want to give it up.. If you or anyone knows how to help plzz let me know if possible.. from banking counting money all day long started my hands hurting so badly. I do wear compression gloves.. again THANK YOU..MY BLESSING..

Hi what is your recommendation for left handed?

I have found that if my hands are damp at all, my yarn does not flow easily through my fingers and will throw off my tension. Hope that helps someone.

If Russian style you go in from the back than in front when stiches😝 Problem solved😬🤣🤣🤣

It’s not rocket science …so many knitters/advisers, etc.