Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

crazy4cables — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:04:45 GMT

Kathleen..it was as if i wrote your post..im an advanced newbie..ive been knitting for 5 months and im doing everything..right now im making an aran blanket that calls for a seed square..im also an english knitter..its taking so long..tonight i went to my very first knitters meetup group at panera bread..one lady just showed me how she does continental and that was it..i been practicing all evening..yes my thumb has a crap but im sure by the time im done with this square its gonna feel a lot more comfortable.i still cant believe what ive finished tonight..its taken me 4 nights to do maybe 12 rows..tonight alone i did 20 rows like lickidy split..nice vid..everytime i knit i grab the yarn as you did only on the first stitch..amazing how much faster..thank goodness cause im so impatient lol

carolyne

thanks again great video

carolyne

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

mrsteragram — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:27 GMT

Thanks to English comments I think I now understand the difference ! I was so confused with the terms 'throwing' and 'picking' & so I was intrigued with this video, never having seen anyone 'pick' knit. I am also English, and have knitted for (many) years, being taugt at my Grandmothers knee like so may others. I would love to see a video of how you 'throw', becuase I dont think that is how I was taught to knit either! Thank you for this video - the very clear and simple instructions should help lots of new knitters and knit-a-holics to add to thier skills:)

Thanks!

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Mary Brayton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:35:39 GMT

Dear Kathleen, I have been a continental knitter for over six years. Many viewers of this video discussed how the yarn is held in the left hand. My usual way of managing the yarn tension is weaving between my small finger, ring finger and middle finger with one wrap around my index finger. Since viewing your method, I decided to try the double wrap around my index finger because you mentioned it helps you manage your yarn tension better. Well, I cannot thank you enough. After using this method over the last month my tension is absolutely beautiful as evidenced by the perfect uniform stitches throughout and I even think I picked up some speed!

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

windrider — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:37:46 GMT

I try to switch every now and then and haven't quite gotten there yet. I'm fairly proficient on the easy stuff, but one of my projects is an Aran style sweater--by Alice Starmore--with lots of cables and twists. Can you do these with the yarn carried on the left?

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Shirleyq — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:29:59 GMT

Thank you so much for this lesson. I have been trying to knit continental style but only mastered the knit stitch. My pearl stitch used to always be twisted forcing me to knit in the back of the stitch on the nex t row to un-twist it. This is such a treat. Again. Thanks a skein

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

SelahIsrael — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:07:27 GMT

I'm trying to get the hang of this method, but i find that my knitting is to tight, & I have a problem with YO & knitting 2 tog. How do I loosen up?

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Razor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:00:33 GMT

My jaw is on the floor! How cool is that?? I'm going to try 'picking' ASAP. I just finished a seed stitch hat, groaning to myself how long it took (even though it's one of my favorite stitches). I have a project I can practice on right now--it's a pattern that calls for k2, p2 on the right side and p2, k2 on the wrong side--sort of like little squares.

Yowza! Thanks for the tutorial, Kathleen!

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Jane@198 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:22:15 GMT

This came at the perfect time for me. I learned to knit over 40 years ago when I was in high school and have always knit English method and somehow thought English was better.... (frankly I didn't know there were other ways to knit until about ten years ago) I also hvae been crochetting for many years and several people told me I would be natural to learn continental since I was already holding the yarn that way for crochet. I resisted since my guage was always perfect. But I got inspired as part of a KAL about month ago and taught myself to do it, also taught myself to knit two socks at a time on two circulars and am now proficient at continental by doing the socks. You tube helped with both. I am still working through the guage since it is not as even, but I am continuing. I find myself switching back and forth simply to vary my hand position, but I do think continental is faster and smoother and less movement in hands and arms... So I am glad to hear other life long knitters are switching -

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Mary Ellen@4 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:29:06 GMT

I've wanted to learn the 'picker' method. Thanks to the video, I feel comfortable giving it a try. Thanks.

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

cjknits — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:00:14 GMT

Watching this video has given me a different purl mechanics. it is lots easier than using your thumb to push the yarn forward. I think I may actually begin to enjoy purling while picking.

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

AimeeD@2 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:45:29 GMT

I learned how to crochet when I was 7 or so, but I didn't figure out how to knit until I was 25, because it looked too hard. Maybe it was because I taught myself, maybe because it felt 'awkward'. I tried continental knitting a few months ago (again, out of a book) because it looked like it should have been easier for a crocheter, but I was wrong. I wish I had learned it first. Hopefully this video will help. I did make the 'Monks Travel Satchel' this summer, and yes, seed stitch is tedious, but not enough to stop me!

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

kdlong — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:59:53 GMT

I'm a leftie crocheter. So the yarn being guided by my right hand feels like second nature. But that means I'm a natural "thrower". After watching the tutorial I thought I'd give it a try whilst knitting a sampler blanket (funny the tutorial came out the morning after finishing the square of seed stitch) I have to say it fell all kinds of weird the first time trying to pick. I am going to keep trying every night for at least 10 minutes till it feels more normal. If there are any lefties that are comfortable "pickers" please comment on how long it took you to "take to picking"/

: )

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

GerdaP — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:20:10 GMT

Hi Kathleen,

When I pick I do not wrap my yarn around my finger at all and the yarn just feeds through my fingers like fishing line. I also keep my finger in contact with the needle at all times and my right needle does all the work of picking the yarn. If you ever want to video my technique I would be happy to. My purl technique is hard for people to get but once they have it, it is super quick!

See ya,

Gerda

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

MollilouMerriweather — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:29:50 GMT

Going to make the washclothes so that I will get the continental way down I am have several projects that have taken so long because I "throw" the yarn. I am excited about learning the new way. Thanks for the video!

re: Continental Knitting: A "Picking" Lesson and a Free Pattern

Kathy1962 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:02:02 GMT

I'm a "pickin and a grinin" now! I have a beautiful sweater wrap pattern that I'be been wanting to start, but the thought of "throwing" it was overwhelming. Not anymore! Thanks for the video. There will be many friends gettting dish clothes for Christmas this year as I practice. Kat