Continental vs English Knitting | A Comparison & History | Demonstrations of Knit and Purl Stitches

This video demonstrates knit and purl stitches in both the English and Continental knitting styles, plus offers a teeny bit of background and history of each style too. What a bonus!

The idea is to give you a clear overview of the differences between English & Continental knitting, in case you don't know which one to learn first, or you're curious about what different ways of knitting are out there. I go through everything nice and slow so you can see the detail.

The first demo starts at 0:55

Thanks for watching :)

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[jenniferwendtsmith]

I've always wondered why I knit "English" style having learned in France. Hearing the end of WWII changed many minds towards a different kind of style makes complete sense now. Love the explanation and how clear your tutorials are. Thank you!

[LisaHughes]

I learned to crochet first, so when I decided to learn to knit, it felt very awkward to hold the yarn in the right hand, as the books I had all taught English style, and I absolutely could not get the hang of purling. I asked for help in a yarn shop and the lady there suggested I try Continental, and I haven't looked back! After several failed attempts to learn, I finally got it!

[mrssethcohen]

Hey, thanks for the history lesson! I grew up doing English knitting (I'm in Australia) and must admit I am shocked - I've never seen continental knitting before and am shocked to see it's so popular. I had never considered there was another way to knit. So I was interested to learn about the history of it and why it's popular in some places and not others. So interesting about the effect of WWII. Thanks so much!

[urban_shepherd]

Thank you. That was a sweet an simple video. Very informative. I liked the little dash of history.

[mildredpierce]

Thank you for that bit of history. I've been Continental knitting for over 40 years and only learned of the different knitting methods about 5 years ago. I didn't even know my style of knitting had a name until I was watching a Canadian sitcom (Corner Gas) and saw one of the characters knitting. I thought it was the strangest way of knitting I'd ever seen. It got me curious and that's when I found out via the internet that this "strange" method was called throwing or English method. Whether Continental or English, you feel most comfortable with the method you were first taught.

[leanderrowe]

I am a beginner and have been knitting the English way. After a while, the repetitive throwing of the yarn back and forth (rib stitches) is too stressful for my right hand. So I am going to learn the continental style. Thank you for your demonstration.

[carrolllaswell]

The video was helpful in showing the two ways of doing the same stitch.

[-PimientaNegra-]

I knit continental style and I just found out. I learned about 30 years ago in Mexico City. This was very interesting. Thanks.

[HA-zgjc]

Very helpful and interesting, thank you! It's useful to see both styles depicted so clearly in one video. I'm trying to master both as I'd love to learn Fair Isle knitting and, as you said in your Fair Isle for Beginners video, it would be better to use both styles - eventually! :)
My daughter-in-law is a very accomplished knitter, and seeing her colour work inspires me... and now your videos are giving me the confidence to give it a go! Thanks again! :)

[momteter]

Very helpful! Thank you! The history was interesting also.

[lorrainedusseau]

I've found those who crocheted first tend to do continental.

[gwenyn]

I was taught to hold the yarn in my right hand like in English style but I hold it like continental. So do I knit English or continental?

[werelemur]

I was taught English style by my grandmother, who was part of the WW2 generation.

[PhenominalWoman]

What type of knitting needles are you using?

[Thesweaterfactory]

Holding the yarn in the left hand would be so alien to me, I think yarn in left is crochet. I learned English style, I was always feel like that is the traditional way to knit. I don’t know, I have tried continental and it just didn’t come natural to me at all.

[BruggleStar]

I want to learn continental for fair isle knitting, but my left hand is so awkward and bad at doing anything xD it just doesn't feel right.

[AnnaBananaRepublic]

My hand has been hurting so I thought about switching to continental, but it feels so awkward!

[angelatorcolini]

I knit English and my brain can’t handle looking at this continental purl. It looks a mess and it looks like I would drop the stitches! How does that work?!

[SpecialCrackVideo]

After about three years of of knitting I just found out I knit English lol. Continental looks so confusing though, like even watching it is making me comfuzzled haha.

[keturahspencer]

I'm a combination thrower. I'm a thrower because it hurts me less than picking.