How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

KateS@13 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:40:40 GMT

I would LOVE to see a video of these techniques in action... I struggle with twisting the yarn on my finger (left or right, I try both) to help pick or throw it. So Im doing a combination. I try different things to make it faster but nothing feels comfortable or as comfortable as Eunny makes it look when I'm watching her knit.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

MikkiB — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:28:18 GMT

Nice article. Question, I know how to throw and pick, but if I hold the working yarn in my left hand and throw am I knitting left handed, since throwing is usually done on the right hand? Why do I do this, just that it is natural for me and when I pick my gauge is awful. I used to pick my purls and maintain gauge, but on the next row you will have to knit in the back of the stitches or your stitches will be twisted.

Thanks again for the article and taking time to respond to my question.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

eileenspinweave — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:27:31 GMT

I've been out of town and only just now reading this. It is very interesting to watch how differently people knit in different parts of the world. However I was taken aback to see that this site shows the English style of knitting as completely letting go of the right hand needle. It is doing this that gives English style the reputation for being slow, and I don't believe it should be called the English style. When I learned to knit as a child in England, this was considered a child's way of knitting with the understanding that as one grew one would move on to the adult way of cradling the needle with the hand and moving just the index finger to wrap the yarn around the needle. Like Christina, I don't think of it as throwing - this seems to be a fairly recent expression.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

Helen Hayes — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:42:48 GMT

I am looking for a pattern for a wrap sweater. Can anyone help me?-Helen Hayes

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

SharonP@28 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:21:11 GMT

Interesting and fun to read. thanks.

Being a lefty and having crocheted lefthanded 20+ years, my knitting is English or throwing.

So far, it has been too hard to adjust in which hand I hold the tension yarn.

I have learned to purl backwards. I do that pretty quickly! Can I consider that throwing while knitting and picking while purling? Seems like it to me.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

NitaS@2 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:47:58 GMT

Thanks for this post. I "accidentally" became a picker after a couple of crochet

projects put me in the picking mindset. I was astounded that 1) the switch

occurred so unconsciously, since I'd tried before consciously and

unsuccessfully and 2) the speed was at least double my previous rate. The

tensioning in Eunny's picture looks interesting, and I'll try it. That's one of my

challenges, keeping tension without stretching the yarn or losing tension

altogether. I like to think it's the BLAZING SPEED at which I'm knitting :-),

but I know it's really a matter of practice. Picking makes knitting in the round on

dpns for fingerless gloves a joy. I've made several pairs for myself, family,

and friends, mostly office workers, computer geeks, or gamers who need to

keep their hands warm in frosty offices or homes.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

ChristinaS — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:02:43 GMT

I knit English. I do not throw anything. I wrap. Throwing is a vulgar way to describe it.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

VirginiaR@6 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:54:40 GMT

I am a thrower and have often received compliments regarding my even tension. Watching "pickers" in the past has given my mind a cramp. But after I saw the picture in this newsletters of Eunny's stranding, I am going to learn this skill. Now I think I get it and I'm thrilled. What wonderful tools you give us!

Virginia

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

ALA — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:32:28 GMT

I, too, found Continental a lot easier to learn, as I learned crochet first. And I also tension the yarn around my pinkie. I find I don't move my left forefinger much for the knit stitch, and I flick it forward for purling. I'm trying to learn to throw for colorwork, but I still can't purl that way.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

Anne@13 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:27:04 GMT

I'm an English knitter, so supposedly a thrower, but not the same way as your diagrams.....I don't take my hand off the right needle and just 'throw' the yarn with my index finger. I've tried 'picking' but find it too slow!!! and it makes my left hand ache. I guess I've been knitting too long now to want to change !

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

DarlisaR — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:01:13 GMT

Since I'm primarily a crocheter, it was easier for me to pick up Continental style as English style never clicked with me (although my mother tried to teach me several times). It also doesn't exacerbate my carpal tunnel syndrome as much as throwing does.

I hold the yarn over my index finger and tension it under my pinky, just like I do when crocheting.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

bethintx1 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:12:55 GMT

Interesting this article appeared when it did. I to am a self-taught thrower, but after viewing a video about speed knitting I decided to learn the continental method.

I made the k1,p1 by picking, because it eliminated the step of moving the working yarn back and forth switching from knit to purl.

I still use the English method for making stockinette stitch.

Beth

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

ClaudiaN — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:54:23 GMT

Thanks for a very helpful posting! I love tips and personal suggestions. Keep 'em coming. For the past several weeks KD seemed to be nothing but advertising.

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

susan keet — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:10:33 GMT

using a portugese knitting pin is the fastest, easiest way of picking method and gives perfect tension .

re: How We Knit: Throwing or Picking?

Haded@verizon.netV — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:24:40 GMT

I learned the "Spanish" or "Irish Cottage" way as some others have called it--the right needle fixed under the armpit. A few months later I worked up enough nerve to show my Slovakian friend who watched in horror. She then taught me picking and now that is my default except for complicated stitches. But one day a Bulgarian woman in the park, who knew no English, took my knitting from me and put the yarn around her neck and started knitting by pushing the yarn down with her thumbs and the needles more or less picked. She was extremely fast and someone told me this is the "Turkish" way to knit. Has anyone else seen this? I love ruminating on how the human species came to make clothing!