Usually, the way you knit is due to how you learn to knit and who taught you the skill. This being said it is not impossible to change your knitting style, to become faster and more efficient at knitting. It really is incredible that there are so many ways to knit but the end product looks pretty much the same.
But, how many different styles of knitting are they and where do they come from?
English Knitting or Throwing
Also known as American and the Japanese call this style French
English knitting is a style where you hold your yarn in your dominant hand along with the working needle. The main feature of this style and the reason it is also known as ‘throwing’ is that by holding the yarn in your dominant hand you let go of the working needle to wrap it around the needle.
This style of knitting is commonly used in Britain and North America. It is also a great style for beginners.
Continental Knitting or Picking
Also known as German or European knitting.
Continental knitting is a style is where you hold the yarn with your non-dominant hand. This style is known for being a quicker method of knitting when compared to English knitting. People who know how to crochet before learning to knit also prefer this style.
The name picking comes from how you hold the yarn in this style. You don’t need to move the yarn to change from knit to purl stitches, the yarn is placed above or below the needle and picked up during knitting.
Variations on the continental style include Norwegian and Russian knitting.
Lever Knitting or Flicking
Also known as Peruvian, Catholic, or Australian knitting
Lever knitting is where the knitter holds the yarn in their dominant hand. The yarn is looped around the working needle without taking the dominant handoff of the needle, hence creating a lever-type motion.
Many people who knit with this style hold their working needle like a pencil. Their index finger is then used to tension the yarn and flick it over the needle during knitting.
Portuguese Knitting
This style of knitting doesn’t have any other names despite it being practiced in many areas around the world.
When knitting in the Portuguese style the yarn is tensioned by placing it around the back of your neck.
This style of knitting can help speed up you're knitting. It is also a great alternative for people who stuff from knitting pain is it takes the stress out of your hands and fingers.
Shetland Knitting
Also known as Pit knitting, Scottish, From the Hip, and Old Way
Shetland knitting is defined by the way the yarn is held during knitting. The working yarn is held close to the body and often at the waist. This makes it easy to knit standing up and makes knitting super-fast.
Whether you are looking to start knitting or have been knitting a while and are looking to change your style we hope this article gives you some ideas on what style might be perfect for you. Just because a knitting style is popular in your part of the world doesn’t mean it is right for you, the best way to find out is to try them all.
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