Continental Knitting Method Tutorial

Knitting is a great way to relax and be creative at the same time. It can also be frustrating at times. If you knit by throwing your yarn (also known as the English method of knitting), then you’ve probably felt annoyed with the amount of time it takes to complete a large project. In fact, the most frequently asked question that I get is “how can I knit faster?!”. My answer to this question is to switch to knitting using the continental knitting method.

The continental method of knitting involves holding the yarn in your left hand and then picking it up with your right hand needle (instead of throwing it around the needle, like you would do with the English method). The benefit is that there is less hand movement to get the yarn around the needle. In other words, less action is required per stitch. This not only speeds up your knitting, but it also prevents issues like repetitive strain injury.

I also find that I’m better able to control tension with the continental method since there is less movement of the hand holding the yarn! The image below shows the yarn being held in the left hand with the continental style of knitting. The right hand picks up the yarn, and the left hand can focus on maintaining a consistent tension.

Continental Knitting Method Video Tutorial:

To help you understand the difference between the two styles of knitting (English vs. continental), as well as demonstrate how I knit and purl using the continental method, I created a video tutorial that you can watch below. You can also find this video on the Leelee Knits YouTube Channel.

I hope you enjoy this video and try out continental knitting this year to speed up your knitting! It does take some practice to get the hang of this method. However, the practice is so worth it! I know that once you figure it out, you’ll never go back to throwing your yarn!

More Knitting Video Tutorials