Continental Knitting Two Ways // Technique Tuesday

This video demonstrates my method of the Continental knitting style, plus an alternate method. The video explains the variables that can make one Continental style different from another, such as how the needles are held, how the yarn is tensioned, and how the needles are brought together when forming stitches.

My Ravelry project page for the sweater I'm wearing:

0:00 Intro
0:37 What is Continental knitting?
2:22 Tensioning the yarn
4:01 Holding the needles
6:10 Bringing the needles together
7:42 Continental knit stitch open hands
9:09 Continental knit stitch closed hands
10:13 Continental purl open hands
11:54 Continental purl closed hands
13:01 Two minutes of slo-mo knit, purl, and k1p1
14:51 Outro
If you have questions about this video, or suggestions for future videos, please let me know down in the comments or on social media.

[riotthill]

Thank goodness we’ve finally fired the knitting police and accepted the fact that the correct way to knit/purl is the one that works to achieve both comfort and tension.

[InquirywithHelena]

Pointing out the difference between open and closed hand positions is so useful! Thank you very much! I’ve been watching demonstrations of people who work with open hands and I just couldn’t get it and I now see that I am naturally closed hand knitter and I got it straight away and, golly what an easy way to knit!

[rosemontgomery]

What a great video. I'm 81 & have been a thrower since I learned to knit at age 17. My ribbing is ugly. I've always admired those who rib continental style, but I just couldn't comfortably hold yarn in my left hand. I haven't knit during the last 2-3 yrs, but now want to try the new (to me) flexi style sock needles. So, I've decided now is the time to learn to knit continental style before my hands get too used to my old thrower style. I'd never before seen anyone demonstrate the closed hand method of holding yarn. My hands are arthritic & I can't hold my index finger up with any comfort. I've just completed 2 rows using the closed hand method . I'm still working out exactly what's comfortable, but I think this time I'll succeed. Thank you so much for this wonderful video.

[kathychristensen]

I live in a small town, left handed, closed handed, continental is what is comfortable for me. I have become self taught due to being told by a knitting instructor that I had to change the way I held my needles or I would never become a proficient knitter! I am only an intermediate knitter at best, however I continue to learn on my own with the help of Youtube and your wonderful videos. Thank you for validating my way of holding my needles!!

[barbaragum]

I appreciate how you start your lesson with the fact that different ways work for different people, even if you call it "English" or "continental." I knew there were different styles of English (how I generally knit); and now I know there are also different ways of continental knitting! Thanks for the lesson.

[karenalbery]

I just learned to knit after years of crocheting and after struggling to hold the yarn in my right hand i discovered continental and after struggling to copy many open hand you tube demos i finally closed my hands and also learned the norwegian purl. I almost gave up until someone wise told me there was way more than 1 or 2 or 3 ways to knit and that holding it however i was wasnt incorrect. Now i am happily trying all sorts of techniques and patterns and learning from so many great teachers. I do really enjoy your analytical and detailed videos!

[SaraBeet]

"Again I'm not adept at this"

*Shows the easiest to follow closed handed continental purl I've ever seen*

Thank you 😂😊🥰

[reflexman]

The very best explanation on video yet. THANK YOU 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[MsCkbt]

This is one of the BEST knitting/purling videos I have seen. Thank you. I love the mix of verbal instruction and just the silent slow motion segments. This has been incredibly helpful. Thanks also for time stamps.

[miniimaelstrom]

I knit close-handed (and also have some dexterity issues) so watching other people show how to continental knit has never really MATCHED my knitting style - attempts have cramped, and resulted in more dropped/extra stitches than I'd ever want lol. Even though you're not a close-handed knitter, the fact that you walked through and did your best to demonstrate the differences, and explain the different ways that people hold and move their needles was EXACTLY what I needed. I just knit 20 stitches in continental without dropping or adding any of them, for the fist time! Thank you so much for your clear and detailed walk-through!

[tomjanweiser]

I love this video, it's so easy to follow. You are a great teacher. Thank you!!

[Merakiyarns]

I have been an avid crocheter for 41 years. I have always wanted to learn how to knit. After multiple attempts at different styles I found continental worked best for me. Knitting remained "clumsy" for me though. My issue was the purl stitch....frustrated I gave up and returned to crocheting afghans. My fave project. You nailed it for me at 10:13 continental purl open hand 🙌🏽! I did it....tried your method and I got it. Thank you so much ❤️. Love your channel.

[lucretiahoverter]

THANK YOU for this excellent tutorial! The pace is comfortable, the explanations are clear & concise, the camera angle is illustrative, the animated titles are helpful (particularly in the K1P1 section) and occasionally funny, and the slowed-down moments are helpful. I particularly appreciate how much a "do what's right for you" approach is highlighted, and bless you for showing both open and closed handed techniques. Bravo, and thanks!!!

[jpeood]

Ironically, practicing all of these and other techniques seems to have made me a better knitter in my style of preference which is very closed english style is that is how to describe it. It's still considered throwing but all of my movement is in the left hand and I can get going along at a nice clip like a little knitting machine. I practice others just to keep the communication between my brain and hands open. This video was very helpful in fine tuning for me, thanks Roxanne. I also appreciate how you publish the time sequences, so very helpful.

[GabrielleJaques]

Ah I’m a self-taught knitter and I thought I was alone in holding the yarn with my left hand close to the work- I’m glad it’s an actual technique - now when my knit circle makes fun of my form, I can prove I’m not going rogue with my closed hand continental style! Thank you!

[juliekowal]

You're just the best. Honestly the BEST teacher ever. Thank you 👍

[hengenvaara]

Thank you sooo much for showing closed hand purl movement. I suffered so much trying to learn doing this by moving my point finger. This way feels much more comfortable

[Yo_franko_]

I love how detailed this whole video is. I personally am a closed knitter so it really shocked me that someone would demonstrate multiple styles of the continental methods… Thanks so much!

[origamilady]

As a long time crocheter the Norwegian style (subset of Continental) is what works for me. I use a closed hand style of holding the needle and *always* keep the working yarn behind the needles. Thus the purl the way I learned (via Arne&Carlos) is almost a mirror of what you show. I’m glad I found a way that works for me because flipping the yarn back and forth was giving me fits.

[Anemone]

your video helped me a lot …I kept watching videos for continental where they used open hand and I just couldn’t get it. Your demo showed it’s because closed hand is more natural to me. Now I know my grandma had already taught me in continental style just with closed hand! Thank you!!