What is the difference between English and continental style in knitting?

What is the difference between English and continental style in knitting?

The main difference in English vs. Continental knitting is the way the yarn is wrapped around the right needle before its pull through to knit a stitch. In English-style knitting the action is throwing the yarn, while in Continental-style knitting the action is picking the yarn.

Is continental knitting looser than English?

Continental knitting has you hold your yarn in your left hand, like so: English-style knitters, like me, usually find the Continental knit stitch easy to manage – it’s easy to work, and the benefits are immediate and obvious. This is true for many knitters – continental knitting is often looser than English knitter.

Is continental knitting really faster?

Continental knitting is much faster. The actual creating of the stitches is exactly the same in continental knitting, you just hold the yarn in your left hand, and by doing so, the entire action of knitting (or purling) is much smoother…and quicker.

Why is it called Continental Knitting?

This style originated in continental Europe, specifically recognized in Germany, but is also found to a significant degree in the English-speaking world. Other knitting styles include English knitting (aka right-hand knitting) and Combined knitting.

Is Continental knitting easier on your hands?

While continental knitting is less stressful on the fingers than English knitting, you can hurt your wrists if you’re not using a proper posture. Continental knitters can also suffer from Repetitive Stress Injury Syndrome along the knuckles and the forearms after long periods of knitting.

Why is my continental knitting so tight?

Some people may knit tighter because they are working stitches on the wrong section of the needle. With Continental knitting, it is most efficient to keep the stitches close to the needle tips. The stitches are supposed to fit comfortably around the circumference of the needle.

Is Continental Knitting better for your hands?

Many knitters would argue that continental knitting has the potential to be the fastest way to knit due to the hooking method used by the working needle. When mastered, continental knitting can be a great method to quickly make garments. It’s also a good technique for knitters that have a dominant left hand.

Is Continental knitting easier?

Some people want to switch to Continental Knitting to try to learn how to knit faster, but Continental Knitting can also be easier on your hands. Since the yarn doesn’t have to travel as far to get around the needle tip, Continental Knitting does not make my hands as tired as when I knit with other methods.