Knitting Much Faster English Method 

This was just like watching my grandma knit, down to where I’d sit and watch her and the camera placement. Thank you for your explanation and for reminding me so much of my grandma

I don't have words to express my gratitude for your channel. You don't have to read this whole thing. I am primarily a spinner who has 40 years of stash. I'm not really much of a weaver. I do like to knit and crochet. I taught my daughter, 53 years old now, how to spin at 13 and knit continental when she was in graduate school. Suddenlly She was born with 2 fingers on her right hand and right handed by nature. She has overcome this difficulty and is a successful artist in other media. Still, she is a colourest and longs to knit multi colours with seven fingers. I sent her your video with the Shetland ladies knitting so fast and pondered if that technique might help her. She is cautiously optimistic so I have been seeking information about the old ways. I'm trying to learn it so I can help her learn it. We sit across from each other and she mirrors what I do. Ir saves her time from her busy teaching and painting schedule. So many thanks for your help!!!!

I taught myself how to knit using RU-vid and adapted it have been using this method without knowing as I thought I was cheating! So happy this is an actual method. Thank you for the video xx

I've always knit Continental, and anchored my left needle in my jeans pocket! Only years later did I find out that women used once a "knitting apron" with a little pocket to hold the end of the needle. It really makes a difference, and I think the tension remains consistent, and the stitches perfect!

I learned knitting belts existed today from a woman who retaught herself how to knit after losing half of one of her arms. THIS is why knitting belts exist! Because of the old way of knitting! You even kept one of your needles under your arm! So cool!

INCREDIBLE! you are a knitting machine! And your stitches are stellar!

This so reminds me of the lessons I learned as a child from a neighbour. She trained in domestic science at university in the early 1900s. They had to do all kinds of things for that degree including knit crocher even did child birth! She was a beautiful knitter , crocheter and tatter. She taught me all about tension and holding the yarn. But just watching this has jogged my memory somewhat and reminded me I have let some bad habits creep in. Thankyou for your video.

I have been using the English method since I learned 8 years ago, but then I stopped knitting. I've recently started back up and have started watching knitting videos. I realize that I use the English method. Didnt realize that until now. Looks like I just need to refine my method with your suggestions. I'm halfway there! :)

Amazing tutorial discovered in my feed. Thanks to RU-vid's clever matching tool based on what I like to watch. Lorna Jenkins you're a true legend of your generation. I am truly humbled to have you share your precious knowledge with a 46 year old refresher of knitting. You are truly, truly just amazing!! ☺️

I’ve just received the lovely knitting belt which I bought from you. Tried it out straight away just now and it is an absolute revelation. Oh my goodness, how much easier and quicker it is to knit. Why did I not know such a thing existed before? I hate circular needles and much prefer to work on double pointed needles, so this will be enormously helpful. It will help to speed up cable work too. Brilliant!

❤ Ma’am, I extend to you a giant hug and a smile of gratitude for this wonderful explanation. Thank You for sharing this lesson with the RU-vid community. ❤

I should also add that I've found using the steel needles makes it go faster. The yarn slides on the metal much easier than bamboo. Or it could be that my stitches are just too tight to move smoothly. ;)

Did not even know there was such a style and have knitted 48 years... Never have I mastered German/European style AND thought it was the only other way TO KNIT fast. This is exciting to try since right handed seems my only way. Now a arthritic senior, it's fatiguing to continue the slow way I have. This enlightening video is encouraging!

My mum taught me to knit like this when i was 5 years old,i have taught my daughter's and granddaughters how to knit this way.

Hi WoollyWoodlanders, This is really a treat to watch - thank you so much! When you have a little time up your sleeve and you feel so inclined, I'd also love to see how you purl and do some other basic things like yarn overs and knit 2 togethers. Thanks again and kind regards, Megan

Thank you so much! I have recently taken up knitting again. I was taught by my grandmother who was very fast and knit English but without a belt. She held the needle under her arm. It hurts me. Your belt idea is fabulous! I just use a leather belt that I have and twist the buckle and open part to my side, put the needle in there to rest and...voila! Bless you!!!

I have been looking all day at "how to" vidoes and this by far is the best I've found. Thank you for sharing!

This is great info. The tips here are priceless. I have always knit with a needle tucked under my arm as this is the method my mother taught me. The small adjustments shown here really fine tune the process. Can't thank you enough.

I love that this is just making the learned methods easier and more effective. Knitting has become muscle memory for me, so doing anything differently is hard to understand and would mess me up. I understand this, though, because it’s just adjusted from what I was already doing.

I learnt to knit at 6 yrs old. Now I'm 13 and I can knit fast. Nice video!

Your presentation and methods are marvelous. Very inspirational for those of us who wish to get in touch with historical techniques and easy to follow.

I'm so glad I found this video as I have tried the Continental style to no avail, but this looks really doable. A video with purling and/or ribbing would be also very useful.

That was a very fascinating video. I have learnt so much. Thank you for taking the time to research your knitting experience and then sharing it. Thank you again.

I was taught to knit this way by my grandmother and I'm now in my sixties. I hold the needle under my arm though but I'm extremely fast. The small movement details you explained were really interesting.

Thanks for this. I'm always looking for ways to improve my knitting as I have ME and get so tired. This looks really efficient I will have to try it out!

Thank you this will really help. I have found my knitting developing towards this naturally e.g. recently I have started to roll my right hand but it is great to see all these tips together. I will definitely be trying this :)

Thank you for an easer way to knit and what a cozy knitting place you have and see that you are a spinner also.

Goodness me that was quick, I must show this to my friend Helen, Helen is an avid knitter and is really very good at it. Thankyou for sharing ☺👏👏👏👏👏

How AMAZING is that! I am a crocheter who would love to knit! I really hope i can knit like that one day soon ....what a talent

I wish you were my grandma!!! I was quite young when my grandparents passed away and how I wish I knew then how much I'd enjoy knitting; I would've asked for guidance. Thanks for the video!

You give a little push to the right needle with your left index finger the same way I do. I push with my thumb on purl stitches. I don't know how or when I started knitting this way, but I've done it for years. People have commented that I'm fast, so I guess it's true. 😊 Happy knitting!

I really love your demonstration, has been so helpful to me. I do have loads of 14" long bamboo knitting needles. I don't have a knitting belt, but I found that a dress belt I have with a wide length of elastic forming most of the belt, can be used. At first I tried using it with the buckle part holding the cap on the end of the needle. Bit fiddly. Then I wore the belt as normal, and can just tuck its end in the elastic part on my side and it works every so well for me. Takes the weight off and does speed up my knitting. I am currently knitting an afghan for a retirement present for my husband and it is all garter stitch so learning this comes at a perfect time for me. I am already a flicker so it is not much change for my right hand. Have a bit of arthritis in my right wrist so this method give me relief. Many thanks for your lovely video and much love to you. -- Love your spinning wheel.

OH my goodness! that is the best thing I've ever seen! thank you so much. I have no doubt you just changed my winter schedule.

Love to watch you over and over and over again!

Watching you knot has made me feel so much better! I too knit with the needle tucked under my arm- I find it frees up my hand to knit faster. Thank you for sharing your video!!

Thank you for the video. You’re a good teacher and I appreciate the time you put into making this and posting it.

Wow, these are great hints that I will practice. And I've been teased about resting my right needle on my body, but I won't be embarrassed about it anymore, since you do it too! I'm not super coordinated in general, and as a youngster it was the only way I could knit and I've kept doing it that way for 50 years or so. Thank you!

Simply amasing. Will definately use this method from now on. Thanks for the tips.

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful technique!! I'm going to see if you have other videos

Oh, thank you so much for sharing this and for being such a wonderful teacher! I could clearly see the wrist and elbow movement that I have read about!

I used to be a flicker but eventually switched to continental knitting a few months ago because I developed pain on my right hand and arm which would prevent me from knitting longer than 20ish minutes. If I had discovered your video beforehand, maybe I would have not switched of knitting style at all - now, I've found a very ergonomic way to knit but so is your method. Your speed and beautiful stitches are impressive and you taught me that you actually don't need to go continental to go faster, you just need to minimize your movements. Thank you! 😄

Thank you for your demonstration. I have found so many videos on you tube where people knit a contintental way, it's so good to see someone knitting pretty much how I was taught, except I mainly flick my right finger round the right needle and have the wool threaded through and wound round my littler finger to get an even tension. With your tips I think I will be able to increase my speed, many thanks.

Exelent! ! ! Thank you for your inspiration. May God bless you and keep you well ALWAYS.

Much gratitude for these easy to follow tutorials. Thank you so much! 💜✨

Thanks for your skill share. My mother used to knit really fast, and watch telly at the same time. She only had one hand too. She taught me but I never really started knitting until after her death. My grandma would do stocking stich by forward and back plain stitching, which I have yet to try.

Wow thank you so much for your video, I only have plastic needles at the moment because they were cheap & I only wanted to see if I like knitting. Well after seeing your video I'm definitely going to get a better pair of needles but for now I'll keep practicing. Thank you so much again 🥰

This is brilliant. New to knitting. I will be putting this to use. Thank you for your knowledge.

You did such a wonderful job showing this in steps where someone could learn the muscle memory with eye coordination. Thank you for taking the time to do this!

This is the only video that made my knitting faster thank u so much

My first job was working with girls who all knitted and I observed the different styles but your tips have added more. They all held the needle under their arm and often it pressed against the back of the dining chair - at lunch break. Eventually I felt I just had to knit something too. A group of knitters always encourages others to join in.

Knitting is a great tradition, nice to see you knitting. Thank you

This is awesome i wanted to learn to knit I hope you make more videos using this method

Thank you for this video! I’m a thrower as well and it’s nice to see a video to throwing/English Style 🧶👍🏾

I knit the Continental method but I am very impressed by this fast version of the English method.

Really great tips! Love how you brace the needle into the holder on your side! Very pleasant video, thank you!!

Thank you! I just knew I was wasting energy but I had no clue of how to 'tidy up' my motions, I'm going to save your video and practice along with you xxx

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video!

That's exactly my method. I usually don't move my right hand, I just stretch my index. It's so relaxing!

im 17 and this is helpful, but im still so clunky with knitting, im so much better at crochet, i can actually crochet 2-3 stitches in a second or sometimes less if im feeling accurate and speedy enough. thank you for this video because you sorta broke a lot of elements down in mainly just focusing on what ur hands are doing. thank you

Love this. I stick the right needle under my arm so this a brilliant tutorial for me. 😊

Thank you for sharing..My mom taught me this method years ago. But you are much faster. Happy knitting. Greetings from Turkey.

Omg ... So fabulous!!!! Such a great technique totally blew my mind .... Gonna take more than a few times watching to get the jist and move into my own style but sooooo worth it!!!!? Thank you for posting so awesome...

Thank you so much for sharing this and for doing so in such a clear way.

This is how my mother knitted and how she taught me. The only difference being she held her right needle tucked between her arm and her body, rather than the leather pocket that you use. Thank your for sharing this method with others.

Just wanted to say thank you! I was taught that way from an old knitter. I have been trying to work on my speed, this is excellent. Now I am going to look up knitting belts, never heard of them. Please continue sharing you knowledge.

Thank you so much! Wow i wish i was as fast as you are!!!

Best tutorial ive seen so far. Brilliant

WOW! Genius!! This is enough to convert me from continental knitting to right hand knitting 😱

Thank you so much for your fantastic video!....I have knitted for about 55 years. I have always wanted to increase my speed, and thought I should learn Continental style, thinking that was "the" fast method.....I am going to be trying out the method you showed in your video, from this day forth!!.....I thought the video was clear, stitches were nicely visible, and you were not too fast,nor too slow for us to see what you were doing. Very well explained. Thank you once again!

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing.

Stumbled across this channel while looking for something else and wow! I usually knit continental style as I find it faster but now I'm able to knit English style just as fast! Thanks so much. Do you think you'll be doing any more videos soon? This was wonderful.

Fantastic video. Thank you.

This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing. ❤️

Thank you for this, going to give it a go on my next shawl! Have bookmarked your page.

Simply brilliant! Thank you for showing this method. :)

Thanks for showing me I don't knit strange. Everyone in one of my knitting groups said I knit wrong. Now I know for sure I don't as knit just like you. Thank you, thank you for sharing. Should say I am left handed but do all my knitting, crocheting and sports right handed. Taught left but switched to right as soon as I understood how to make the stitches. Learnt to knit when I was six years of age.

Laura - thank you for making this - I don't use a knitting belt as I usually use four needles, but using your hints, my knitting is already faster!

This is awesome. I struggle with knitting as is so much slower than crochet. Now I will give it a try using your method. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing this with us. I’m going to try this soon 🌹

Absolutely fabulous. My Nan used to knit this way so fast. I had forgotten how to do it so thanks so so much 🤗🤗

Thanks for sharing. I have tried it. Its fast. I do one more thing though. I wrap the yarn around my right hand little finger or pinky finger and this helps with reducing the strain on the first finger or index finger which is holding the needle too!

I knew a girl who knitted with the right needle tucked under her arm she was amazingly fast this was 30 year s ago and my grandmother and aunt also knitted really fast so it makes me smile when people say English knowing is slow. I would have liked a photo of your knitting belt to see what it was

Lovely content! Keep it up!

Its my second day knitting, and i dont have the needles for that. However, i was able to apply some of the processes by pressing the working side needle into my hip, and gained a lot of speed as well as beingore ergonomic. I keep seeing those long needles, so I guess ill get some. Thanks so much!

What a very useful video! I use circular needles but most of the techniques can easily be adapted, I should think.

Thank your for breaking down the technique in easy to follow steps.

Beautiful video. Fantastic technique

This video is a wonderful resource. You don't know how often I come back here when I've inadvertently added a mistake to my technique and need to correct it. Thank you.

Great system! I might actually start knitting blankets now.

Lovely video! More please! :)

thank you for the video Lorna it makes it look so much faster way to knit.

This is genius! I hope to be this level one day

Wow! I'm a crochet person but now I want to start knitting 🥰 Thank you for this GREAT video.

wow I will try this and it does make sense,,,thank you so much for sharing...i'm off to practice ..have a great day...peace....

That was awesome all the years I have been knitting never knew that, thank you very much for Sharing!!! Liz...

Excellent lesson on knitting faster - that is how I knit. It is fast and low stress. I also find that for plain knitting in the round, I like 2.3 mm /3/32" spring steel needles with flat ends. I use a knitting sheath for all knitting -- it works better than a belt for flat ended needles. I use pointed needles for other stitches. I knit ribbing with flat ended needles. (With flat ends, the movements are smaller, and the yarn is less likely slip off the needle too soon.) Thus, when I sit down to knit a pair of socks, I have 8 - nine-inch-long spring steel needles. Switching back and forth between the blunt and pointed needles can save an hour or two on a pair of socks. I use 12" and 18" long needles for larger objects. Such knitting makes knitting 12 stitches and 20 rows per 4-inchs reasonable on 1.5 mm needles, and finer knitting possible. Such fabrics make lovely, durable objects. and inspire awe. I like a 6-ply/1680 ypp yarn for fine socks and ganseys knit on 1.5 mm needles.

I am an avid crochet fan but love this video. Not at that speed yet but I'll keep practicing.

Great tips! I just stumbled across this video! I will practice. I prefer cabled needles for everything and I love metal with sharp tips over the rounder tips.

Thank you for your video. I will practice these tips. Very pretty cardigan. Lovely colour xxx

Brilliant demonstration. Helped me so much.