5 Tips to Correct Tension Problems in Continental Knitting | Yay For Yarn

Have you ever had problems with tension in Continental Knitting? Try these 5 tips to fix your tension now!

If you’ve seen my tutorial on Continental Knitting, you know that it’s my absolute favorite way to knit. It’s faster and more efficient than most other styles, once you get the hang of it.

However, when you’re learning Continental Knitting, it’s common to have tension problems. After all, if you’re switching from English style to Continental, you’re holding the yarn in the opposite hand, which changes many of the movements required to make a stitch. Fortunately, tension problems can be corrected with a few simple tricks.

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00:00 Introduction
03:44 Tip 1
11:18 Tip 2
14:26 Tip 3
19:00 Tip 4
21:56 Tip 5

[nhatreally]

i couldnt get the hang of continental until I learned that its like holding a crochet hook. Now its so easy.

[emilycreager]

One tip from me is that if you're a tight knitter on metal needles, switch to wood. I learned on metal, but my hands cramped, and my stitches were always way too tight. (It's a miracle I could continue knitting, the stitches were so tight.) I tried bamboo, and my tension loosened and became much more consistent. My theory is that my stitches slipped too much on the metal needles, so I over-tightened to compensate. Once there was some measure of grip, I didn't have to overcompensate, so I relaxed, and knitting became much more enjoyable.

[trixiepettman-south]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO, I HAVE PUT OFF LEARNING TO CROCHET EVEN THOUGH I AM 82 AND HAD A 'BAD ' EXPERIENCE WHENI WAS 10. I HAD THE MUMPS SO MY MUM SHOWED ME HOW TO CROCHET A 'DOILEY' I THINK IT WAS SHELL TURNED INTO A 'BEANIE'. IKNOW NOW I DID NOT INCREASE BETWEEN SHELLS BECAUSE I WATCHED A TUTORIAL. I THINK THAT DEFLATED ME. I HAVE HAD A GO SINCE BUT HAVE NOT KNOWN HOW TO HOLD THE YARN SO I GOT A GOOD TENSION. I AM PUTTING THIS INTO MY 'FAVOURITES' SO I CAN REFER BACK TO IT. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM WATCHING TUTORIALS SO, FROM AN AUSSIE, THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MY CONTINUED LEARNING.

[ammiller]

You taught me to knit :) I've been crocheting for 25 years. Thank you

[rinspector]

I have been knitting a we bit faster, more comfortable, and longer since watching your video on continental knitting! Thank you for this video to. I wrap my yarn around my pinky finger.

[courag]

I think most people's tension problems with Continental come from a slightly different tension between the knit row and the purl row when working stockinette. This creates visible row gaps between about every third or fourth row. It isn't easy to solve. Some people use a different size needle between the knit and the purl row. However what works for me is to knit the row backwards so I am not turning.

I knit English Flicking pretty fast and like to knit backwards in Continental Combined. I get perfect tension this way and if I have a pattern where I am knitting lace or cable pattern or one in which the face of the knitting is very detailed, it is more accurate for me as I can fix any irregularities or make corrections or do pattern stitches which actually do occur on the back, working them from the front.

[marciaz]

Thank you so much for this video. As a crocheter I was really having difficulty finding a comfortable way to hold my yarn and was basically throwing it with my left hand (even though I'm right handed). You have answered my prayers (wrist hold is the way to go for me)

[medavis]

I think I've got it! Thank you so much for this video! I've been trying to learn Continental knitting after 50+ years of English-style. I was not able to catch on and was just about to give up. But after watching your video, I tried a sample swatch and I'm doing it! You explain things so well. I was never able to figure out what to do with my left hand before! :0) Thank you!

[ConnyNordlicht]

Thank you so much! I love tipps coming from the heart and without thoughts of how to make people buy something cause that's commercial in my eyes. You tell just the problems a lot of people have in their knitting life and l really can't thank you enough for this! Yours, Conny L
Be blessed!

[Tayloranne]

You are a great little teacher. Thank you so much for your instructions. Very well explained. Actually better than most!!!

[peggywashington]

She speaks clearly, cordial and one can listen with ease. Thankfully. The information wAs very informative.

[carollomax]

You are a v good speaking as a teacher... these methods have helped me a lot. Thank you

[melinalicharowicz]

One thing I have been learning the hard way with my current project is that I have to tension differently with my purls than I do with knits and most other stitches. I have adopted your wrist wrap method (this alone made a huge improvement! Thank you), but I need to weave the yarn through my fingers a lot more for purls so it stays tight. This is working out great for me now, but before my purls rows were a lot looser and made my works have inconsistent gaps.

[wossified]

I would like to add my thanks for this video. I am a beginner knitter and my first 'practise dishcloth' I did in English style and quite enjoyed it. But I wanted to learn Continental as well so I could choose which I preferred. So far, I am loving the Continental method but was having a great deal of problems with tension. I have found that the last method (the one you use) is what is working quite well for me now. Thank you!!

[mcyclemom]

I have had a hard time when wrapping a finger for tension. I really like your preferred method of holding yard for tension. It works really well. In addition, it has helped my stitches be more symmetrical and I don't have to move my forefinger around to adjust tension from the wrapping. Thank you too much.

[christineferoli]

Thank you, this is great! Always having a slight problem with tension.

[nancysworld]

Very good info. Thanks for this, it was a great help for me in correcting some tension issues I'm having.

[lisalindsay]

Great tutorials and videos. I learned to crochet last year but now being pretty competent with that I now see so many knitted patterns I want to be able to make and so I’m starting to learn to knit.

I’ve had a play around with English, Portuguese and continental knitting and can honestly say I like them all but English is my most natural way.

I like Portuguese but dislike having the yarn round my neck and I ‘reallly’ want to get good with continental but I just can’t get my fingers to flick the way they’re needed to for a purl. After watching a couple of your videos I’m going to go an revisit continental and have another go.

I do knit too tight and that’s something I’m working on and getting better with in English style so we’ll see what happens when I try continental again.

Thanks again. Your very good at instructions.

[cheryldueck]

These are useful tips, thank you. I am trying to pick up continental so I can do stranded work more quickly.

Speed isn’t the end all be all, but I have so much I want to knit and colour work, which I also just picked up feels like it takes SO long!

[sheerahblack]

By the time this video was half way through I was well on my way using to of the techniques. Brilliant teaching skills. Clear video, clear voice and concise instructions 10/10!!! 🌟🌟🌟 Looked up this video because I crochet so often and my wrist is sore. I decided to knit a bit but it's still sore I thought this method might be a bit less rigorous. Thanks!