Continental Knitting YouTube Tutorial

Watch the video and get started with your new skill today!

In the video I show all styles, but particularly, Norwegian. Also, sharing tips for perfect stockinette.

There are two major methods of knitting from yarn with knitting needles–English and Continental (European or German) methods.

Third is the combined method, where you use both ways of knitting, for example, in two-strand color work.

Some people find it easier to learn English knitting, while others think continental is simpler.

In English-style knitting, the action is throwing the yarn, while in Continental-style knitting, the action is picking the yarn.

If you know how to crochet, Continental method is easier for you because you have practice holding working yarn in left hand. It is all down to a practice!

Being able to knit both ways is also really handy when you’re working with two colors of yarn in the same row.

What Is Continental Knitting?

Continental knitting is a knitting style. What makes this unique is how you hold the yarn and work stitches. (Aka left-handed knitting, European, and German knitting.)

The term “left handed” to describe this style is a misnomer. Left hand and right handed people do it. Knitters using the continental style hold their yarn in the left hand, other styles use the right.

Continental Vs English Knitting

English style knitters hold the working yarn in their right hand. Continental knitters hold the yarn in the left hand and have less hand movements. The continental style is a popular class of knitting style used for fair isle and Norwegian knitting. The abbreviations and patterns are the same.

Try these knitting styles and see if you’re a continental or English user.

Continental Knitting Tension

How you maintain yarn tension also comes down to knitting style. There are many ways to tension the yarn. Just to name a few:

• pinch grip (how I knit – showing in the YouTube video, see above);
• wrapping working yarn around index finger;
• Placing the yarn between your left ring and little finger.

There is no right or wrong style – you have to choose what works best for you!

In the picture below, you can see major knitting methods and styles.

In this post, I will discuss only Continental method of knitting.

All knitting methods create same knit and purl stitches. Left leg is is behind the needle and right leg in the front.

There are exception when you mix stitch facing in Russian style – I will show you that as well.

In Continental method, there are three knitting styles:

• Classic;
• Norwegian;
• Russian (Eastern).

Every style work purl stitches differently.

Working knit stitches are pretty straightforward in all styles. All have its pros and cons.

The 5 Knitting Styles (And How to Knit Them)

Everyone's knitting style is a little different. Whether it's tension, your personal knitting gauge, or the way you wrap your yarn around your fingers. But when it comes to which hand you hold your yarn in, the knitting world is pretty divided.

There are five basic knitting styles based on the way the yarn is held and wrapped around the working needle.

The names of these styles often are associated with nationalities, like English knitting or Irish Cottage style, but the style you prefer has very little to do with where you grew up, or even where you learned to knit.