Continental Knitting & Purling Tips & Exercises 

Wow, just wow. 40 years of struggling to knit and it wasn't until 4 years ago that a woman behind the counter in a yarn store told me that because I was initially a crocheter, the continental method would probably be easier for me. I tried it, it was "easier" but I still felt awkward and struggled, eventually getting frustrated at the slowness & stiffness of it all and put the yarn & needles back in the back & happily picked up my crochet hook. Crocheting goes so fast for me that sparks fly, but oh how I love the look of knitting. I keep a bag handy to just keep pulling out those needles & working on the back & forth knitting & purling (the never ending scarf). The knitting part is fine, needle front to back, easy peesy but the purling part, ugh!! Using my index finger as a little lever, wrestling the needle point through, all of it coming apart, sometimes dropping the whole thing just made me want to finally give up. Maybe I'm just an old dog that can't be taught new tricks. But hope springs eternal & I clicked on this video. No way, could it really be that simple? That all this time I had the yarn just draped through my fingers (like I do when I crochet) was my problem?? I didn't have the right tension? Wrapped around my pinky would be too tight right? I grabbed that never ending scarf & tried your pinky wrap - the sun came out, rainbows appeared, the song from To Sir With Love played in my mind - how do you thank someone.....(ok so the words don't totally match but you know what I mean) I don't even know what to say, except thank you. I want to knit a sweater in the worst way but all I've ever done is practice knitting & purling, maybe one time I bound off, maybe one time I decreased because I found a sleeve for a sweater I tried to make for my daughter when she was 3. Since we just celebrated her son's first birthday, it gives you an idea how long ago that was. Please do a simple sweater knit along, a cardigan? A pullover? Please, please, please?

THIS IS THE ONE. The one video that I finally understood continental purling instructions. I’ve been through SO many videos labeled “continental purling” but this is the one that didn’t complicate it. If you haven’t already maybe make a separate video or just add purling to the title of this one. This video is GOLD!

I have literally watched dozens of videos on Continental knitting, many of which tell you to wrap the yarn around your pinky, but NO ONE but you explained how to make move! It truly, was like a tourniquet around my little finger. Thank you for being so explicit when teaching the basics. I LOVE your video!

I have to say, I am a right hand knitter - a little over a year; however, I love it. I wanted to learn continental, and I do believe you are the first person who tells the knitter to learn the hand muscle movements first prior to knitting. I think this is extremely important. I still struggle with the darn yarn getting too loose which will change as I practice more. Thanks for you video!

OMG! You made it so simple and easy for me to grasp continental knitting. Thanks so much!

Wowwwww congratulations it’s the First time that I see someone explaining carefully how to HOLD the yarn. with little exercices to do. Thank you so much.

Hands down, my favorite continental knitting tutorial. You, good lady, are spectacular.

I've spent the last week learning how to switch to continental style knitting-- I can say that had I clicked on your video first, it would have only taken me 10 minutes. (It'd still be hideous and lumpy, but like, my wrists would hurt less.) You are a SERIOUSLY good teacher. It takes a lot of skill to take something you can do by muscle memory and break it down into something another person can understand. Thank you so much. (Also, if you have any tips on moving your knitting loops up your working needle as you go without losing all your tension, I'm all ears. I have a feeling the answer is "practise until it isn't awkward", though :D )

I have been struggling with yarn tension forever - it’s why I keep getting frustrated trying to crochet - same when I try to knit continental. I’ve watched a crap ton of tutorials and this is my favorite by far. I like humor, plus I think I need to be reminded that things take practice. I can’t wait to try your recommendations and hopefully, get faster.

Omg, you did it! I have watched so many videos to learn Continental knitting, and it just didn't click. I watched you, and 5 minutes later, I'm doing it! "Open the window, grab it, pull it through". So easy! I can't thank you enough! And .... I will learn to "embrace the suck".

Thank you so much for your video! I have been crocheting a long time and never really liked knitting because I hated “throwing” with my right hand. Your video was perfect for me to start knitting continental style! Brilliant technique! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!❤❤❤

Thank you!!....I had watched a couple of videos as I wanted to learn to continental knit, your sense of humor and the style that you use to teach got me started!!

Quite possibly the best video I've ever seen on how to become a continental knitter. The practice exercises are so helpful!

Thank you for making this UNDERSTANDABLE. I learned English and did it 8 years. I’ve been trying and trying to learn Continental and you finally explained it in a way my ADHD mind understands!!

Thank you! This is the best and most helpful video I have seen for knitting. I have been struggling. Now I understand so much better. No one ever showed before about the tension and different fingers. You are a great teacher.

Crocheting for almost 20 years and knitting has been the death of me! I was told try continental and this video made the most sense! I still cant get the hang of it yet but its also 1:30 am and ive got 2 small kids so my brains are fried 😂. I hope I can try this tomorrow and get it right!

O.M.G.! FINALLY! A knitting video straight to the point, haha, and one that finally taught me (a long-time crocheter) how to hold my fingers and tension correctly in just five minutes flat. I am now a confident knitter of the basic stitches. You are an amazing teacher and you just saved me from giving up again. I get it now!!!! I REALLY GET IT!!!! ❤️❤️THANK YOU! ❤️❤️

FINALLY! For years I have tried to learn continental knitting and couldn't get the "rhythm" until now. Such an ABC approach and ding, ding, ding...I finally got it! Thanks a million😊.

Oh hell. So glad I found you !!!!! I’m a true beginner but think I’ve found my mojo with you. !!!! I’ll be BACK !! Ty ty ty ty from Virginia !!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🧶 52+ yrs of crocheting so this is my way to learn. Tytytyty!!! Jess !

OMG, I love your energy! You are amazing! I always say that the first step in learning is incompetence...very inline with the "embrace the suck" you speak of!

This video was totally my 'aha' moment when I found it in 2018! Thank you for explaining and showing great close ups of the 'window' - I've been a happy continental knitter for over 2 years since watching this!

It finally makes seeeeeeeeeense!!!!! Every time I tried continental the yarn slipped of the end of my right needle. It’s finally working!!!

being a crocheter i really struggled with english knitting because i felt awkward with holding my yarn with the other hand. discovered continental knitting and it was great for casting on and the knit stitch, but then came... the purl. boy did i struggle with that lol. UNTIL I FOUND THIS VIDEO! thank you so much this has saved my life! ❤️

I am so glad I found your channel. I was searching continental knitting because I can't do it and most tutorials wasn't helping. I like your teaching method. And I like you as a person, win win.

This is the most helpful continental knitting video - and I watched just about all of them. I finally got it! Thank you!!!

Sold! Learned to knit English style in March (thanks RU-vid!) but I still have problems holding my yarn with proper tension, especially with purl. I figured I had might as well try Continental before getting too stuck one one method. CONTINENTAL IS WAY BETTER for me! Keeping tension is so easy for me this way. This video was perfect - before this one I was twisting my stitches.

Thank you for this!! I've watched about a dozen tutorials on continental knitting and yours is the ONLY one that helped me to actually get it! Much appreciated and I subscribed to your channel... love your sense of humour.

Just wanted to let you know how your "wacky video" was so helpful. I just started re-learning how to knit, learning the English method in the past. My sister told me I should learn the Continental method, so off to youtube I went and I found you. I love everything about your video from how to hold the yarn to learning the knit and purl stitch. Your "window concept" is what sold me. I love that "window". I have a mantra, "window, over & through" for the knit stitch. So if my mind wanders just a bit and I get lost in making my knit stitch, I just repeat my mantra and off I go again. You have really made my new knitting experience an enjoyment! I just started my new scarf project and it is so much fun. Thank you, thank you, from Texas.

Thank you so much, this is the 1st video that makes continental left-handed knitting so easy. I’m a Crocheter and my problem was holding the yarn for continental knitting. You made it so simple, bless you and keep up the good works!

You are my hero!! I’ve never been able to find a “how to” for continental PURLING. I just can’t thank you enough. My rotator cuff really loves you. I actually stopped knitting because of my rotator cuff. Thanks to you, I’m coming back to something I love! 😘

I’m always finding new methods and am constantly amazed with others come up with. Keep searching.

I have not found this easy as a life long English knitter. Challenging myself to learn to continental knit has been a year so far, this video is by far the best I have seen. Go you!!! Thank you I have happily subscribed and and rung the bell xx please keep up this brilliant channel, what is basic to you, is the new mechanics for many of us xxx

I hurt my right shoulder and throw knitting (didn't even know it was called that) aggravated my shoulder to the point it wasn't worth trying to knit. Then I thought maybe the European way of knitting would be easier on my shoulder. This is the BEST video I found to teach me this method of knitting!! I am just knitting a dish cloth to practice but it is going really well. Thank you for this video!!

I’M SO GLAD I FOUND JESS! Love, love, love her teaching style. Jess, please make videos for all the other things I need to master- home improvement, gardening, crafting a perfect pain d’epice...

This is hands down the best video I have found explaining how to knit continental style. Thanks so much!

You're great! I didn't think I needed tips, I just clicked the video for the hell of it but it was so entertaining and enthusiastic, and I learned a thing or two. You made my morning

Thank you! I love it when people explain things clearly. Great tutorial!!

This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and you made my day! Love your personality as well as the easy to follow close ups

Thank you so much. I’ve watched a lot of videos showing what you did, but couldn’t quite get my yarn tension comfortable on my left hand. Your simple method of how you hold your yarn, mixed with noticing my wedding band was getting in the way, I can now simply remove my ring, and wrap the yarn around my pinky and using your window method I finally feel comfortable knitting in this style. You totally rock, thank you so much 😊

Someone said! You are the boss of your knitting! Find what’s best for you! And enjoy the process! Thank you from a Continental knitter ! I enjoyed your comments!

Thanks so much for this! I'm new to knitting and I've really been struggling with Continental. This is the best tutorial I've seen. Brilliant!

Oh thank you for this, Jess. I have just started learning to knit, I'm a big crocheter, but have wanted to learn to knit for quite awhile. Started a few days ago to get the basic and wanted to learn the continental purling, got the continental knit stitch down right away, but was so confused by other instructions for the purling. This really made so much more sense to me and I was able to catch on right away. Thank you, thank you.

This makes more sense than any other video tutorial I've seen. You dissected the motions into manageable chunks and gave wonderful metaphors that are easy to visualize and remember. I like your spunky attitude too. Thanks for the great tutorial.

Thank you! I had tried countless times to continental knit. Your tip about the yarn being behind the knuckle and the tip about the window were exactly what I needed to know.

I use my middle finger rather than my pointer finger and I do that for crochet as well. Doing it that way causes my hand to hurt but of course muscle memory forbids me from trying different methods...I’m also impatient. But this video helps make sense of it all....probably the best video I’ve seen on continental knitting, and I’ve watched a lot. Your personality is amazing as well, thanks for a great video!

Thank you so much!! This video is really helpful, especially as you note that we should be practicing the small movements even without making any stitches. That made me feel much better about where my skills stand right now - it's ok that I'm still struggling. And I haven't seen anyone else mention working close to the tips of the needles, and what you've shown here makes so much sense to me! I have been working very close to the tips and wondering if I was doing it wrong. So thank you for the super helpful (and fun and funny) video!

I love your personality. This video rocks. You rock.

god, you're such a good teacher. i always assumed that you were a good hoop teacher but you're just a good teacher, full stop. it's seriously impressive. (i started knitting in september. dabblers gonna dabble...)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JESS. I’ve knitted English style for nearly 75 years. After viewing your explicit video - I’m hooked on continental knitting. Cheers. Ann

THANK YOU!! I just needed help with the tension portion of continental knitting because no one showed that part. Now I feel more comfortable doing it! Also, I really love your effortless humor.

Thank you Jess Wagstrom for sharing your knowledge! You explain things clearly. I plan on doing some practicing today.

Great video, I’m a brand new knitter and have learned from my mom to throw. I will say my shoulder is sore also. I want to try this style so will start with a small square like you did for practice and to build muscle memory. I have crocheted most of my life and I’m really enjoying knitting. Thanks again for this short toot.

WOW Jess, THANK YOU! I've been searching RU-vid and haven't been able to come up with one video that could explain continental stitch in a way I could understand. I do understand your teaching. THANK YOU!!!!

OMG just found your channel and it is the best tutorial I have seen on RU-vid. Thank you so much for making it fun to learn. London xx

Super helpful! I can knit continental, but struggle with purling. Going to go pull out my needles and have a go using your tips. Also, you are a riot!

I like your sense of humor lol Almost forgot I was supposed to be paying attention/was watching a tutorial

girl i love you. you’re the jenna marbles of knitting and i’m obsessedd this is genuinely the best continental tutorial i’ve come by thank you so so much

Thankfully, the most straightforward and concise tutorial of continental knitting! I have never been able to figure it out, even with the heaps of RU-vid videos available, so close to giving it up until I stumble upon your video! I'm a convert now (from english knitting) and thank you so much! P. S. "embrace the suck" is my new favourite phrase! 😂

I crochet and hold my yarn exactly like you. Glad you mentioned muscle memory. In 42 years of knitting I’ve never held my yarn any particular way but would like to practice continental. Thank you for such a great video!

Because of your goofy video I can now knit Continental. Great explanation. Keep doing what you're doing! And thank you...I'm really excited. I'm already faster and my stitches are so much more consistent.

Brilliant tutorial...Just what I needed to help me nail consistent tension. Thank you so much! 🙏🏻❤️

I’ve watched heaps of videos regarding continental knitting and I always come back to your videos... simple ... fun .. informative... and you make it so easy and simple ... thx. Jess

BEST lesson on continental I have ever had!! Thank you!

When I am looking for help with a stitch or technique, I always look for a continental knitter like you because/that’s how I learned. Grandma was a seamstress one the “Old Country,” and there was no question how to hold yarn based on her thoughts.

I've been struggling with the continental knitting, but I love your word pictures and your very clear instructions!! Thank you so much!! I will be following you!!

I have been watching so many continental knit videos and yours is the only one that made sense! Thank you!!

WONDERFUL tutorial! Highly detailed and Jess is very uplifting and engaging!! LOVED IT and learned A LOT!!!

I LOVE your tutorial! You are not only spot on with the info, but I feel as if I'm sitting in the room with you. I love to knit, but can NEVER fix mistakes... I have tried and tried. Maybe you can finally get this hard head to learn. I'm a thrower, but want to learn continental so thank you for this tutorial.

Thanks Jess this was very helpful. I’m returning to continental after trying the throwing method of flicking. Like you, I learned crochet first and continental just makes more sense. Knitting on the tips of the needles is really important so thanks for adding that in. In the beginning I wasn’t doing that and my tension was way off. Happy knitting!

If you want to learn continental knitting LOOK NO FURTHER. This is hands down THE BEST tutorial for continental knitting. I have not seen another video that has shown the close up angles of how to tension the yarn, how it looks when picking the yarn, and of course purling. Simple, straight to the point, and descriptive. Although it is incredibly difficult to go out of my comfort zone of throwing, I have successfully knitted a row, and I’m on my way. So thank you lady

Thanks for the laughs! It's so much easier to learn while I'm chortling away. You may have allergies, but you've also got comedy style. Gonna subscribe. You made me do it.

THANK YOU!!!!! this was just what I needed. I'm an English knitter and have been playing around with fair isle and learning continental I think is essential for realistic efficiency. You've been such a help. I was having such a hard time and you made it all better :)

OMG you had me at "embrace the suck"!! I've been doing ONLY the knit stitch for the past year since I "learned" to knit because I HATE PURLING!!!! You have encouraged me to embrace the suck till I can get it :) (Cause I'm over knitting the most boring squares and rectangles only)

I agree, Colleen, pure gold. Finally. I understand Continental purling.

Ahhhhh I got it!!!!! Thank you! I started with crochet and wanted to learn knitting. I'm so happy I learned the more efficient way to knit. Your tutorial was so good. Thank you!!!

What an amazing tutorial!! Thank you 😊 I am a beginning knitter and an experienced crocheter. This has made things so much easier for me.

You are awsome I've watched 6 youtube videos trying to figure it out and you are the only person who actually made sense.

Thank you! I've watched a lot of different videos trying to learn this. Your demo was very straight forward and finally made sense to me. Thanks so much! :)plain

Wow this video is the best! I have watched many, but they rarely have such great closeups! Thank you-can’t wait to try continental knitting!

Love your quirky sense of humor! Great tutorial!

I love this video! It's in the top 10. You are a great teacher, & so funny.🤣 An unbeatable combo. Thank you.💙

Thank you Jess! Not only I learned from you but also I enjoyed a lot how you engage with people! I laughed a lot, something really important when we are learning. Wonderful how-to : ) Thanks again,

You are the only one who’s taking the time to show how to hold the yarn.This is soooo important to a newbie like me. Thank You!!!

Thank you! I love your delivery style and how you explained the stitches. YOU ROCK!

Embrace the "suck" to funny lol!! Thanks for the giggle😂😂

You are funny, plus you give tips for practicing! This is something often missing in knitting tutorial videos, but it's so key. Also, you're movement of embracing the suck I feel like is a life-changer for me. So, thanks!

Thank you so much for making it so easy to understand continental purling!! First tutorial I've come across to do so. Also, started on crochet and this knitting style works for me.

i learned crochet from youtube and just natural understanding of stuff. I wanted to get into knitting but after viewing several tutorials, i still found it difficult to just hold two needles and I did not like the flow each video demonstrated. I learned of continental and I found salvation, except every video was too tutorial like and still didn't really help with the holding. I absolutely loved your tutorial as i felt it was genuine, honest, real, and i totally connected with it. I cannot wait to practice your suggestions as i think they will help tremendously. this is my first ever youtube comment and I was that compelled to comment because it was that good. best of luck in your tutorial journey!

Great tutorial!! All this time tension has been my biggest struggle...I was using my middle left finger to bring the purl to the front..(confusing, I know..lol)...I love this!! Thank you!!

Absolutely Fabulous Instructions! Thank you for encouraging tension practice. Thank you for going slowly enough for beginners. Thank you for clear camera work. I am a semi-ambidextrous 70 year old with arthritis - but hey, never say quit! I crochet left handed, but knit right handed...Continental method just seems to make more sense...

Your wonderful personality makes this video AWESOME!!! “Embrace the suck”... I’m totally going to use that!!!

Hands down the best explanation of this ive ever seen, thanks so much!!

Great tips! Thank you. I don't often watch videos over a few minutes all the way through but skip to find what I want and I didn't do that with yours. Didn't even realize it was 9 mins until it was done.

Thank you!!! This video helped me embrace the suck and finally make my first stitch. I lol'd through the whole thing, too : )

Thank you. Your video is the one that made more sense from the several I watched.

My good friend just told me she wanted to try this. I'm going to share this with her, I think it'll be less intimidating watching your video. Too cute! Thank you!

This was very helpful. I was having trouble with pearling and your tutorial makes sense!

Jess, Jess, Jess. As many times I have watched videos about purling I am most confident that I can purl. Stockenette was not my problem for it became easy easy. Thank you for the easy funny and confident video. Ive shared it to my computer and will run again tomorrow for fresh start (really late right now). Thanks again for the lesson and confidence you have instilled in me. Now I can purl correctly and with ease.

The "window" made all the difference for me. Thank you so much!!!

This one is the best tutorial. I've been struggling for a long time for this and now I'm finally done! Had so much fun while following your instruction :) Thanks!