The Norwegian Purl Revisited by (ARNE & CARLOS) 

So, who is better at instructing, Arne or Carlos or both?

Oh my goodness!!! I am 71 and have been knitting since age 7. I’ve been knitting “English” or with the throwing method. It takes so much longer than your Norwegian method. I am proud to say that I believe I have mastered Norwegian! I still have a bit of trouble with tension, but it’s only been a few hours. I am so excited! Thank you so much for your tutorials! You have revitalized this old girl’s knitting! I had a lovely Norwegian uncle named Henry Kallestad. I adored him, but unfortunately he died as a very young man when I was about 5 years old. Maybe he’s proud of me!

This is so great to me. I am an American who learned to knit as an exchange student in Larvik, in 1981/82. Within two weeks of arriving I had knitting needles in hand and was told “ You will be the best knitter in the world because Norwegians are the best knitters in the world and we will teach you to knit our way.” True that!! I have been knitting ever since and everyone I meet and knit with are impressed at how fast and easily I knit. Thank You to every Norwegian knitter!!! Your country gave me my lifetime dearest skill!

After 68 years of knitting you have taught me a more comfortable way of knitting for a arthritic hands ,thank you

“In case of emergency, pull the cord”!!! I LOVE this! Thank you, Arne and Carlos - my moss stitch sweater will be a breeze now!! ❤️ 🧶 ❤️

Greetings from Finland! This is how I have been knitting since I started at 9 years of age. This is the style taught in Finnish schools.

Thanks guys. I’m now a full Norwegian convert. I immediately took to the Norwegian knit stitch but found the purl tricky at first. Having built up some more knitting experience I revisited this video as I’m currently doing a shawl that has lots of purls and my purl method was just not comfortable for me. This time it clicked! The Norwegian purl gives so much more control, better tension and is comfortable and relaxed - I love it! Cha Cha Cha! 🕺

Dear Carlos and Arne, I want to thank your all inclusive chanel. I have ee. a knitter/ crocheted sine the as of five ( I am now 68). My mother was Danish and she used a method in between Continental. Having found your channel I am now committed to transition to Norwegian method. It is not easy to undo decades of memory but am processing. I find particularly helpful to watch your differs Sykes of teaching. They are both very helpful. I am currently working on Norwegian purling. I am armed in the techniques of your mantras , pick up, jab into space, then chachacha. Who knew knitting is a dance!

After putting down the knitting needles in 1980something (because I was 12 and stopped caring, lol) and decades of crocheting, this weekend I decided to try knitting again. My mind was blown that I can hold the yarn in my left hand. It feels much more natural as a crocheter. But, I was having trouble with figuring out how to purl. I watched a couple of videos and saw some others demonstrating the Norwegian Purl (mind blown again), I was definitely having that "finger out" problem. This was SO helpful, cha cha cha! I'm sure you hear such things all the time. It's a real gift to be able to explain things in simple ways others can understand! Thank you.

I’ve loved knowing this method. My mother and grandmother taught me English Knitting. I’ve noticed when I use your style of Norwegian knitting my hands and arms don’t get to tired. Thank you!! I do enjoy watching Arne knit and purl, but I appreciate Carlos’ slower explanation. 😉 Your both very talented.

Thank you so much for these tutorial's with Carlos. ❤ I'm Danish, with 40+ years of knitting experience and just learned something new ! Now I'm trying to knit the Norwegian way, and keeping my finger down. "Pull the cord" and "Cha-cha-cha" are my new mantras 😊❤

Good morning 🌅. Got up at 5:30 got my coffee then my needles. This purl stitch was not going to defeat me. Most of us have been taught to keep our yarn close to the tips. Carlos thank you for telling us to leave some room. I kept losing my yarn doing the purl watched and rewatched (not fully hearing your words) I am now flowing, thank you so much. Have blessed day.🥰 I CAN purl.

Dear Arne and Carlos In Denmark we knit in the same way you do :-) My mother learned me to knit over 40 years ago, and she has allways been knitting The Scandinavian way. She still knits at the age off 87 years. Nice video :-)

Wow! The Norwegian purl is WAAY easier for me to learn than the continental purl. I always avoided continental knitting because I couldn't master the purl. Thanks so much for this tutorial!

Carlos goes slower, but I love listening to Arne talk. So both. Love this. Thanks for teaching.

Love the Arne "tongue" instead of "thumb". I think this should b a mantra for "Norwegian," Arne. We 💖 Arne.

The tip that really helped smooth out this way of knitting the purl was to keep my right hand lower than the left hand. It really helped! Thanks

I love this!!! You relate the knitting to another part of life. I’ll always remember the “cha cha cha”, and “start going under and harpoon, go out the way you came in.” Love this one!❤️❤️❤️❤️

I just may finish my first sweater thanks to you! Wow, purling without bringing the yarn forwards. . .who knew how speedy and fun ribs could be!!! Thank you for teaching this in such a clear manner guys 🙏🏻

Thank you so much for this tutorial ! After a lifetime of knitting English style, I taught myself to knit continental style this summer, but struggled to master doing purl. The Norwegian purl method makes such sense, I got the hang of it really quickly.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THE NORWEIGIAN PURL. THIS HELPS ME KNIT QUICKER. - HOPE YOU ARE WELL AND PROGRESSING. MISSING YOUR RU-vid PODCAST. TAKE CARE.

I learned knitting after crocheting for years, and this is how I finally learned to purl after watching lots of RU-vid videos. I absolutely baffled the other ladies in my knitting group who had never seen it that way before. I definitely wish I had had this demo way back then - it’s a lot easier to understand than the video I watched, which explained it as a “trick.”

I can’t thank you enough for these videos! I’m a beginner knitter with a background in crochet, and my hands were already cramping with the English and continental styles. The Norwegian method is SO gentle on the hands and you guys did an AMAZING job of explaining it, so patiently and gently and with word pictures, honestly, thank you so much!

Arne and Carlos, today is November 20th, 2023. I started knitting the pot holder you just published and was struggling with the Norwegian purl, so I pulled up this video for a refresher. I just love these teaching videos. You are both excellent teachers and I refer to theses videos over and over again. Thank you!

You are BOTH wonderful instructors. I think I’ve got the knit stitch and now practicing the purl. My left index finger is pointing at the sky again!😂 Don’t worry-I’m pulling the cord! Thanks you two.

Thank you, Arne and Carlos. After watching your video, I've finally understood Norwegian Purl. Have been cha cha cha-ing all morning :D

I’ve always knitted the American way by “throwing” the yarn and after watching you for a bit, I was intrigued by the Norwegian knit and pearl and wanted to learn it. It was helpful to watch both Arne and Carlos - at first Carlos was the most helpful by showing the exact placement of the needle at each step. I could make the correct moves, but it felt so awkward. Then I watched Arne’s video from 2017 and realized there is a easy flow ( the DANCE!) that I needed to master! That helped so much. But I still didn’t have it... I then watched Carlos again and realized that in the Norwegian way of purling the needle moves dramatically down, then behind to grab the yarn off the finger and then , at the third CHA it goes upward. This was the key for me because in the way I have always knitted, the needles stay in the same basic place (and at the same angle to one another)and it is the hands that do all the moving. Does that make sense? For me that was the key. I am sure I couldn’t have learned it without you both! You two are a great team in so many ways. A wonderful example of how to collaborate in work and play and life.. this is such a soothing thing to see in these crazy times. Thanks for all!:)

thank you soooooo much Carlos... 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤ & hi Arnie...😘😘😘

I love the way you guys purl. It is so much easier than that finger flipping back-and-forth and back-and-forth. It makes ribbing extremely enjoyable. thank you,thank you, thank you.

I found when you were in Australia and I came to one of your seminars that you both complimented each other with teaching techniques as with this video what I missed with one I caught on with the other you two are the perfect yin’s and yang in a lesson situation ☕️🌍😎👍🇦🇺

I've purled "backwards" my whole life (yarn in front) - that's a LOT of twisted stitches. I always had to knit through the back loop to avoid twisting stitches. As a result, my tension was always much looser than it should have been. This tutorial was super easy to understand (thank you!) and I FINALLY purl the "right" way :).

Wow! The purl stitch is what has kept me from switching to holding the yarn in my left hand. This Norwegian method is a game changer. Thank you so much!

I watched Carlos' video first and it help me understand technically what to do, but then I went back and watched Arne, and it really helped me to see how he holds and moves his hands. I really think I needed both. Anyway, I can do it! and I'm already faster than my old way of knitting. Thank you

I’d have to say BOTH of you present this way of Norwegian purling exceptionally well thank you! 💕

This has revolutionised my knitting! I taught myself how to knit continental style some years ago, but always needed to make a special effort to tighten the tension on my purl stitches. This technique has sorted that out completely - the tension is perfect without any extra effort. Thank you both so much.

After 60 yrs of knitting English style, I'm learning and loving the challenge of your Norwegian method! The scarf I'm knitting for my husband is a slow go at the moment, but I'm in no hurry. I'm already referring to it as his Norwegian scarf (he's Swedish, ha!). Next I'll try your Norwegian Waffles. You two are so talented. Thank you for sharing your gifts.

AAAAHHHHHHH, where has this method been all my life!! Just today I was doing a seed stitch where I had to do 1k, 1p, 1k, 1p....I was going nuts switching the yarn for every stitch. I KNEW there had to be a better way! THIS IS IT!! THANKS!

I’ve been waiting for this lesson! My Norwegian Grandmother taught me how to knit, but she never taught me how to purl! Thank you!

I never thought I'd hear Arne tell Carlos, "you go too fast"! Today was the day! 😁 Then Carlos showed us again and repeated the mantra AND I think I got it! Thank you. Hope your time off is healing. See you when I see you.

Thank you for showing this method. I never could knit or crochet with my finger up and therefor I couldn’t knit the continental way. So I am glad that you showed how to knit this way. It resembles my way of holding the tread as if I am crocheting. Because this method makes my stitches much looser than when I knit the English way, and I am in the middle of a sock knitting project I have to stick with “throwing” the thread for now.

Thank you so much this is how I learnt and then someone told me it was wrong and I unlearnt it thanks for bringing me back to the light

You’re both great, and the fact that you’re different with different approaches is what makes you so interesting! No worries about one of you being better than the other. Different is good! We love you both. Thank you!

Because of arthritis I needed to change my flicking ways.... and I looked at numerous videos for continental knitting.... turns out I was supposed to search for Norwegian knitting. This is the method that works for me. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! You have changed my life.

I’m a crocheter & have been struggling with elbow, wrist, & hand issues for a while. I tried knitting to change it up but it just made my hand issues worse… then I came across this from a comment in a Reddit thread and I cannot believe how easy it is on my hands. I feel like it’s opening a door for me that I thought was closed (if not locked) and I am so so grateful

That was very clear Carlos. Thank you. As I have mentioned the Norwegian knitting has given me the option of switching from the throw technique which gives relief to sore muscles. I learned the knit from Arne but gave up on the purl as it seemed easier to purl the throw style. But with your excellent clarity in tuition I have got the purl too. Arne teaches and guides me in so many principles and ideas, but when it comes to actually physically tutoring fine details , I understand Carlos better.

Hi, I grew up in Kolding in Denmark and I learned to knit in school, and I learned to knit like you two do . Xx

I found your Norwegian purl this week, and I have to say I am so happy to learn this. I have always knitted the way you show here with finger close and yarn down. Then when I would move yarn in front to purl, tension and hand position would change. Knitting for about 8 years and have finally found the way that works for me= The Norwegian way. This is SO VERY helpful!! Thank you for teaching!

I dabbled in these stitches long ago, but when I found you fellas, I paid attention...lol. You both are great, I rewatch you all the time. Knitting your way is so good for my old arthritis riddled body. Cant thank you enough

I love you guys...Without you I would’ve gave up on knitting. I was feeling like I was dumb that I just couldn’t get a comfortable rhythm. Then I stumbled upon your channel a few years ago and you saved me 😅. I used to rewind slow down the video and copy Arne over and over again lol. Thank you and any advice that you give I always take it and you’re always right in my opinion.

Omg, this just changed my life. Thank you!

You guys are ADORABLE! I am half Norwegian and Half Indigenous Canadian!!! I was married to a Swedish Speaking Finn!!! LOL, I know Crazy! I lived in Sweden for a time and visited family in Norway and was amazed by my cousins! The knitting they produced is beautiful. Now that I am a grandmother I take great pride in teaching my youngest and my grandchildren All things Native! However we have always celebrated Christmas or Jultid, Very much the Scandinavian way, we always sport that beautiful Norwegian flag garland on our trees!; and of course the 17th of May!!! Mid Summers Eve is lost here in Canada unless you are one of those people who practice Paganism, which is perfectly fine, but it isn't anything like the real thing! So I've decided to learn Norwegian Knitting, and pass this onto my Daughters and grandchildren! I have always made wonderful crochet pieces but every time I try to knit I have that horrid problem of tension! I couldn't get it right AT ALL! I watched my first video of yours about tension and what a simple difference it made! I actually laughed at how easy the answer was. Now I am attempting to learn this purl stitch! LOVING THE CHA CHA CHA!!! I still need the practice but I'm so grateful for you both! THANK YOU so much for helping me keep my Norwegian Heritage alive! Soon I hope to have everyone in the family in the same beautiful Sweaters we've all enjoyed in previous years from the family in Norway! I'll be stocking up on all the beautiful Reds and Blues and stark whites, hopefully, ready for ski season! lovingly Magnhild.

I noticed some of these post are several years old. But it's my first time visiting your site. I want to say thank you ,thank you, thank you. Just can't thank you enough. I figuired out the contimental knitting a while back but struggled with the pearl stitch.. I also used the finger out method what can I say monkey see monkey do. But it only took a few hours to learn your Norwegian method. I can testify it is fantastic the flow of motion is so smooth and simple. I too am 71 and this was easy to learn and easy on the hands and wrist. I now have no need to rap my fingers in loop to tangle and no more stiff tirded finger. Thank you again.

I am so glad seeing this because I actually taught myself this way of purl. ❤️❤️ love you two

I’ve always wanted to learn this style of knitting, thank you, thank you, I’ll always remember... in case of an emergency pull the cord! I’m certainly going to try this, hugs!

I have been having trouble with my fingers cramping. I learned to knit in an European style but had trouble switching between knit and purl. This method is easy on my fingers and no trouble at all to change over. Thank you so much

Beautiful yarn. Thanks for being so thorough. I picked this up from you, and now I mostly use this system. Love, "When there is an emergency, pull the cord." Excellent. Don't want any errant fingers.

Thank you Arne and Carlos! I got it! Here is my purling mantra / Under, over, catch, under, and out. 🤗

Fantastic tutorial I’m going to give this a try again, because I did struggle trying to master the purl.Thank you for redoing the instructions on purl.👍❤️😊

Hi there, from sunny South Africa. I have been trying for days to conquer continental knitting and somehow eventually you both popped up on my screen. Wow wonderful you have both made it so easy to follow - at least i can now get my finger down ! I have been knitting for 75 years and the Norwegian way is simply the best. Thank you both for sharing.

Thank you for demystifying the purl stitch when holding yarn in your left hand!! It make so much sense now.

So well done Carlos!... and Arne, you’ve captured my attention, the purl was holding me back from converting to the Norwegian method. I get it now. You caught my attention when you mentioned tendinitis which I developed recently. Didn’t believe my doctor when she told me to take a break from knitting thinking that was ridiculous. Maybe she was right. I’ll let you know if the switch is successful, hopefully it will help me to find relief. 🙏🏻

I am interested in learning this to help me avoid "rowing Out" Because I taught myself Continental, or picking, I developed my own bad habits.

I am from India, colder part of the country. RU-vid did a great job suggesting you guys. You are awesome and I learned Norwegian knitting from your videos. I could knit and purl so easily which i had been struggling for more than two weeks. Yes, I am a beginner and I am glad to see best technic at the right time :) I did lot of circus with my working yarn, now I simply love how my index and middle figures are placed on the needle and the flow of working yarn without much twist and the emergency trick of pulling the yarn down was fabulous. I am totally enjoying it! Thank you!

CARLOS, ARNE 📢📢...I FINALLY DID IT 💪🎉🎉🎉YAY!!!! I love more the norwegian purl than the "regular"putting the thread in the front.

Thank you so much: the reason why I stoped knitting is because I learned the “other way” an it took too long for me to complete anything, I will definitely pick up knitting as soon as I can. Both of you explain things wonderfully! Carlos, you have a degree in political science, so when did you start knitting? Just curious.

You will make 100K!

To purl has always been a chore for, the Norwegian way may be a great alternative. So far, so good.

MY GOODNESS!!! I've cracked it! It's soooooo much easier than the English way. No more crampy little fingers! Thank you chaps!

This was perfect for me, thank you. I was able to see each movement clearly. I decided to start a hat and stop on a knit row to get ready for this tutorial. Today I will start doing purl rows over and over. After purling five or more rows at the same sitting I should be getting the hang of it. I am so excited to purl every day so the stitch and a rhythm become second nature. Oh, and the pull the cord is great. Hopefully the need to pull the cord will go away.

I’m going to try this to see if there are less movements than my technique. Nice explanation! Thank you.

I have knitted the 'English' style all my life, and taught myself 'Continental' style during lockdown. I struggled with purl, and reverted to old habits. On seeing this video, however, my mind is officially blown: what sorcery is this cha-cha-cha? It works beautifully. Many thanks Arne and Carlos!

Absolutely love this way of knitting. I shall try it! After knitting for 50 years I’m learning something new to put in my arsenal of learning.

Great tutorial, Carlos. I’m still struggling to keep my finger down, but working on it!

Thank you! Just now learning continental knitting thanks to this easier way of purling.

Thank you to Carlos for the lesson. I found it easy to follow and love the Norwegian way to knit and purl.

I am visually impaired and trying to learn continental knitting, and failing. I discovered that the Norwegian knit is much easier for me. On the purl stitch it looks like you are picking the yarn as you would for knit. Is that correct?

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL 💖😘

Great tutorial. I come back to this every time I start a new project and have to do the ribbing. Cha, cha, cha!!!

I’ve finally got it. I’ve watched this lots of time but now it’s finally clicked in and I’m cha cha cha-ing. Thanks 🙏

Thank you! I liked when you said "Movement number one. " "Movement number two." "Movement number three." I did like your way of showing although I would have liked to see you demonstrate that several more times... "Movement number one. " "Movement number two." "Movement number three."

too difficult

I must have been Norwegian in a previous life. ;) I watched Carlos purl once, and immediately took to it ; it came so naturally. Thank you! I love learning alternative ways to knit.

When I was little, my grandmother had slippery metal needles. I used to cry because all my stitches kept falling off. She told me she wished she had wooden needles for me as they held the yarn in place better. Her solution was to teach me a twisted knit stitch. Even though my purl was okay, I had to learn a twisted purl, so the fabric came out balanced. I am now nearly 70. I use pretty wooden needles. I always have trouble with patterns. Recently I learned regular knitting, like Carlos does. I find your purl is much more complicated than my yarn forward style but I like your cha cha cha. I wonder if I can figure out an untwisted purl. I will let you know. So glad Kate recommended you to me.

I LOVE it! It works for me! I have been an English knitter & crochet quite a lot recently! Thank you! I like your Norwegian "Cha cha cha"!

WOW - I learned this stitch - Norwegian Purl - 45 years ago from a German Exchange Student. I haven't knitted in years and have been looking at Continental websites; This Purl is so much easier than the Continental Purl - no moving the yarn in front of the needles. You guys are very fun(ny) and I love your videos! Cha, Cha, Cha...

Enjoyed learning the Norwegian purl Carlos, thank you for repeating the process and using your little sayings🤗 Very helpful. Arne you are a fabulous knitter and enjoy how you make knitting seem so effortless.

this has been quite the "eye-opener". Thank you for teaching me the Norwegian purl as I could not purl continental by holding up my finger for very long. Also, I found out that if you go "under" the yarn instead of "over", that you would have to knit in the back loop to untwist the stitch. So after watching this a few times, I can avoid that. Thank you.

I just found this video and now I have learned to knit the Norwegian purl! I am so excited because I have always struggled with purling. This is such an elegant way to purl. I am so happy! Thank you.

Thank you Arne and Carlos, I will practice this way of knitting, I am learning so much from you both. 😊💫

Wow love this!! Thanks for sharing!! No more hand strain!! No more finger strain!! Thanks so much! Much love!!

I have always knit this way, I learned to knit from a little old Finnish lady when I was a child.

I have been knitting for about 60 years. I was thrilled to see you knit exactly like I do but it has always to have to pull the yarn forward to purl! I just knew there must be another way. I watched another tutorial on you tube and just couldn’t get it. After watching your tutorial I picked it up quite quickly. I wish you were in arizona ( no I wish I was in Scandinavia or wherever you guys are!) so I could make sure I’m doing it right. I think I am because the stitches are not twisted! THANK YOU🎉

I have tried so many times to knit continental style, but I could never get tension on the working yarn, and I could not get the purl with the flipping of the yarn from the back to the front. This absolutely works for me! I’m so happy to learn this style. Thank you!

I learned the purl from Arne. I have been practicing for awhile now. I just about got it down to muscle memory. I really like both you guys . I watch alot of your video's enjoy your company.

Who couldn’t love your videos? 🥰

Thank you SO much. I'm a 40+ year English knitter trying to switch to Continental due to hand strain. That continental purl was driving me nuts until I found the Norwegian purl. But...I kept finding those videos where the finger was up and I couldn't get the tension to work. I should have come to you first!! Instructions were very clear, it makes sense, and IT WORKS! Now I have to work on making it second nature!

Thank you, Arne and Carlos! I was knitting a couple of l-o-o-ong cowls for Christmas gifts, and my right arm was killing me. So I started doing Greek knitting for the purl. This helped a lot, but I was still throwing my yarn for the knit stitch. So I tried the Norwegian knit stitch. Bonanza!! This really saved me. Now I'm working on a sweater and decided to try the Norwegian purl, which I had watched before, but it seemed a little complicated. I watched it last night, trying it out, and it was wonderful!!! When I learned Greek knitting, a Greek woman showed me how wonderful it was for ribbing. Well, this is even better!!! I'm still struggling with keeping the yarn between the index and middle fingers and keeping it taut, but I guess (hope) that will come in time. I love you both. You fill my knitting hours with joy and laughter and I am learning so much from both of you. Love to you both!

Thank you!! That was the best instruction for the Norwegian purl I have found. It was so tricky to understand until I came upon this video. Thank you, thank you!

After taking your classes in 2019 in the US and Canada..and trying and retrying after watching your tutorial video….I GOT IT🎉🎉🎉slower learner but persistent…you guys rock and improve my knitting and make my day brighter..thank you..

Hello you two. I didn’t see Arne’s demonstration but I followed Carlo’s perfectly cha cha cha 💗👍🏼