Here is a secret, everyone knits differently! It’s not just because of the knitting needles, yarn or the pattern, it is also because of the tension, gauge, or the way you wrap your yarn around your fingers. Every knitter has a unique knitting style. We always prefer the knitting style that we have used when learning to knit. But, that is no reason to be limited. You can try out experimenting with different knitting styles and find out what works best for you.
Based on the way the yarn is held and wrapped around the working knitting needle, there are five common knitting styles. Let us help your creativity flourish by exploring other styles and techniques. We’ll be discussing the common knitting styles in this blog.
English Knitting
This is the most common knitting style. In English knitting, you hold the yarn in your right hand and wrap it around the needle. This knitting style is also known as throwing as the knitter basically throws the yarn over the needle. But, here too every knitter has a personal way of how the yarn is held in the right hand. Some like to wrap on the index finger while some weave the yarn on fingers, experimenting with tensioning.
Continental Knitting
Continental knitting is also called ‘picking’ or left-handed knitting. It also goes by the name German knitting. This knitting is believed to be very efficient as it requires little movement. In this style, the yarn is held in the left hand, keeping it consistently tensioned between the needle tips and forefinger. This allows for picking yarn with the right needle and not having to do elaborate movements of the yarn.
Many knitters find this method a lot quicker. Also, beginners who are learning how to knit often find continental feels more natural in their hands. And for left-handed knitters, this style works the best.
Lever Knitting
When you use the style of lever knitting, you basically flick the yarn. Hold the working yarn in your dominant hand (the one you knit with) and loop the yarn around the working needle without removing the hand completely from the needle completely. This creates a sort of back-and-forth levering motion.
Many knitters who use this style hold their working needle like a pencil, which frees up the index finger to hold the tension of their yarn and "flick" it around the end of the needle.
Portuguese Knitting
Portuguese knitting is one of the oldest styles of knitting. This style does not even hail from Portugal but was brought by Portuguese traders, hence the name stuck. It is an out-of-the-box knitting style said to help knit faster and easier. But, not many practice it today. If you want to know more, read our previous blog on knitting faster and easier with the Portuguese knitting style.
This style of knitting is unique because knitters do not hold the tension of the yarn in their hands at all but wrap it around the back of their necks. Portuguese knitting style is said to be an especially good choice for people with joint pains and arthritis because of the little movement of the hands and yarn needed to form the stitches. Also, it is supposed to be a great way for blind or visually impaired people to knit since the working yarn stays put and can be found easily.
To know to master the techniques of Portuguese Knitting Style, you can go through our previous blog.
Shetland Knitting
The Shetland style of knitting is an ancient technique that hails from the Shetland Islands. It’s a unique style because of the way the working needle is held against the body. As the dominant hand doesn't have to worry about holding the tension of the yarn and the working needle at the same time, this style of knitting is much faster.
This style is also one of the new forms of knitting that can easily be done standing up. It was designed as a way for knitters to quickly work up garments while also working on other chores. This style is very similar to the style used by Hazel Tindall, who holds the record of the world's fastest knitter.
Knitting Style and Knitting Methods
Before we conclude, it is important to understand that knitting styles are different than knitting methods. Knitting style refers to the way you hold your needles and yarn. On the other hand, the knitting method has to do with the way you form the stitches. When it comes to knitting methods, there are three- namely Eastern, Western and Combination.
So, whatever your knitting style or technique is, you can knit wonderfully given the right knitting needles. You just need to be confident about your knit and purls, then you can take upon any type, style or method of knitting. Find your answers, check out our blog on the best knitting needles by KnitPro.
Happy knitting!
