Combination Knitting and 4 Reasons to Try it

Combination knitting is a method that can be used by either English or Continental style knitters. Knit stitches are formed as expected, by wrapping the yarn counter-clockwise around your right needle. However, the yarn is wrapped clockwise when forming purl stitches.

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Introduction - 0:00
What is Western Knitting? - 0:34
What is Eastern Knitting? - 3:23
What is Combination Knitting? - 4:33
4 Reasons to Try Combination Knitting - 7:57
Final Thoughts - 10:25

Featured in this Tutorial

Yarn: HiKoo Sueño Worsted
Needles: Brittany Birch Single Point Needles

#SlipstreamCardigan #TheChillyDog

[tracyvision]

Who needs more reasons to do combination knitting? That ribbing trick to tighten up the first purl stitch is reason enough! All my future ribbing thanks you.

[annesinclair]

I never knew I used combination knitting! I found that the appearance of the purl stitches is much neater and my tension more even. Thank you for the explanation

[patriciapaulson]

This is how I also have always knitted for 75yrs. My friends at knitting have always told I was doing it “wrong”. Results were the same.

[heatherpagefiberfreak]

This video explains so much! I'm a self taught, continental knitter and it turns out that I have been combination knitting from the beginning. I always wondered why I have to work twisted stitches differently for them to work out right, I thought that everyone knits this way. I thought it was normal for my knit and purl stitches to sit differently on the needle. I just did what was easier because I never knew it made a difference which way you wrap the yarn. You learn something new everyday!

[analogstic]

Came here to learn a new way of knitting. Realized I already combination knit. Still an interesting video.

[RoamingwithRover]

Wonderful explanation. I was a lefty that taught myself to knit right handed. I am always confused which way to wrap the yarn and now I understand it!!!!

[ishiggs]

Mind blown, i never realised i was doing this completely instinctively. It's even to the point where I'd be knitting along and stop and stare at the stitch incoming trying to work out why it didn't 'feel' right, and then instinctively knit through the back loop to fix the itch in my brain that it caused! Who knew it was a thing 😂

[denniefitzgerald]

Having crocheted since I was a child, when I learned to knit at the age of 64, I did not realized that crocheting was influencing me to naturally knit using the combination method. (Dyslexia also helped, haha) THANK YOU for clarifying my knitting habits as I though I was doing it wrong. Apparently there is no wrong, almost.

[LindaGrieser]

It amazes me that after all these years of knitting, I still find tips and tricks. Thank you.

[gregorycruse]

Thank you so much for this very helpful tutorial! I am a self-taught male knitter. I depend on people like you so much. Keep the advice coming.

[debullearts]

So happy i found this video for the combination continental purl stich so much easier for me 😅 thank

[suelowther]

My friends are always amazed at how fast I can finish projects! Combination knitting is my reason

[peachesaupear]

As someone who tried knitting, found it too hard, then turned to crochet, learning this and continental knitting has been a game changer! Thank you!

[CR]

I knit "English style" for many years and didn't enjoy it. Finally I gave in and tried "Continental" and said Wow! It seemed a lot more comfortable and faster. Then I learned Eastern purling and I use it a lot, as you said, to keep from having big stitches or holes when transitioning. Also I found I really like purling (when it's the whole back, not ribbing) the Portuguese style. It is so much faster, I use it on the "back" side of lace shawls and I fly. It's really great to have a multitude of different ways to work.

[BBMc]

I have been doing this since my first sweater project. It is important for knitters to learn that “front leg” means the leg closest to your working yarn, not the leg in front of the left needle. Learning to read my yarn in this way has opened my horizons and I teach all my students about this.
It also helps to keep the yarn from unspinning or overspinning. I do counterclockwise when my front leg is on the front of the left needle and clockwise when the front leg is in the back of the left needle.(Or when it needs to be un or over spun in the other direction, say between stitch markers or about 25 stitches). This keeps the yarn a consistent density becoming neither too loose nor too tightly spun.

[jaflady]

The best reason for doing this is understanding how your stitches lie and thus being able to "read" your knitting. Then you can work multi-colors using 1 or 2 colors in each hand and thus knitting both styles at once and creating a firm, balanced fabric with intricate color patterns. It is great for Fair-Isle knitting.

[whimsymoondesigns]

Wow! I was self taught and this is the way I learned. It definitely made Continental so much easier. But I had a friend tell me that it was incorrect and I have since changed to western style. I’m glad to find out it wasn’t wrong, just different!

[arlaschmaltz]

Thank you!!!! This will definitely solve my issue with the larger stitch at the knit/purl transition in my ribbing. This has been an issue for all my knitting life (some 60 years!) Of all the videos I've watched over the last few years addressing this issue, yours makes the most sense AND it's such an easy thing to do! No tugging, no stretched yarn because of the tugging, just a beautiful rib!
Thanks again!
Blessings!!!

[mikemoore]

As a self taught knitter, this video cleared up many questions and gauge/tension/twisted stitch issues I've been having! Thank you!!!

[BridgetKnaus]

Such a clear explanation and video. Combination knitting works for me as a crocheter of many years. Thank you!