The beauty in knitting is that there is no such thing as a wrong way. As long as your consistent with what you're doing throughout your project and you like the way it looks, who cares? After all knitting by definition is just a manipulation of yarn in a consistent manner to create a piece of fabric.
This is the way my Granny, born on the westcoast in Sweden, taught me to knit.I didn’t know it had a name, so I’ve always called it ’Granny Olga’s knit and purl’. My teacher in handicraft in third class at school went completely mad trying to teach me ’the right way’, ( i e turning the yarn counter cloockwise round the needle when purling ) which ended up with me quitting knitting. I picked up knitting again at the age of 50, and I have been a happy knitter now for 25 years, practising both ways of purling. 😄
I am a continental knitter I realized from this video that I was purling combination style. but when I did the knit stitch I put my needle through the front so all my knit stitches were twisted. This video showed me that I know how to stop twisting my stitches.
It seems that there are people who mean well, but think they know more when they don't know that Combination is as much a legitimate a knitting style as Western Continental. Eastern or Russian method is worth knowing also as they include some alternate purling which I use when knitting purl stitch in rounds such as in rounds for ribbing. I prefer Combination purling especially when knitting cabled patterns with a lot of reverse stockinette as I don't get "rowing out" which is those repetitive looser rows which can make reverse stockinette looking like you just didn't knit that part very well. I don't get that uneven reverse stockinette when using Combined purling. There is always something new to learn with knitting and I love learning more things. With crocheting, there are so many different stitches and they are not hard to learn. Knitting can be similar. The more one knows about how the stitches are made, the easier it is to figure out how to make corrections or get better results or find an easier solution with many stacked decreases such as for a raglan sleeve. When I know I am having a K2TOG on the public side of the knitting, I will use a Western Continental purl for those two stitches (on the backside of the knitting) then I don't have to remount them, just out of convenience for myself. I like to call those people who demand "you are doing it WRONG" as the "Knitting Police". But if they saw someone knitting Portuguese style, they'd say "isn't that interesting". Huh? Right or wrong knitting is result driven. If you do not like your result, then you use a technique which makes the knitting correct in that instance. Sometimes in knitting a twisted stitch is used decoratively like in Japanese knitting patterns. Shen you know what works and when to use it, it makes knitting all the more fun. We should not be afraid to know more and improve our own knitting. Combination knitting is just beautiful knitting and it is one of the best ways to knit for the fingers if you have Arthritis. Hands can be rehabilitated from severe Arthritis such as mine were, by a change in diet (no dairy as I could not handle the protein) and Combination knitting. I was thrilled to find a way to knit which did not hurt. Now my hands feel so good I can do styles which sent shooting pains. Don't use them much but find it interesting to know anyway. Originally I knit English Flicking method, and I still use it but not often any more. I generally knit daily to keep the Arthritis as bay and up to 4 or more hours as is is "my Zen moment". I once met a woman who was staring at me knitting when I was in a doctor's waiting room and I was working a cabled pattern (which looked beautiful) and she remarked to me "You knit wrong". I asked her: "What is the name of your knitting style?" She didn't know. So I cycled through the knitting styles I've learned seeing if I could help her identify how she knit. She asked me then as if I am a knitting teacher. I told her "no, but I know this for my own benefit, I suppose I could teach others, just hasn't happened yet. She never said thank you, she never told me my knitting looked beautiful. She was just negative. She walked away in a huff and never even said one word. Rather hurt my feelings. I was not in any way belittling of her. Just don't let the "Knitting Police" spoil your day.
courag 1 I enjoyed your write up and maybe one day I'll be watching you teach on youtube! I 100% agree do NOT let the "Knitting Police" spoil your day or spoil your knitting style and knowledge. I wish you could share a photo of your knitting I bet it is gorgeous.
courag1 Thank you for freeing me from the knitting police. I have been combination knitting for years without knowing it by using these same tricks to produce a nicer finished fabric.
I was taught to continental knit by German woman. Some say I knit 'wrong', but I always respond, "No, this is continental knitting; it's more efficient and not wrong".
I started knitting this way after taking a Continental knitting class and being frustrated. I kind of stumbled on it, and discovered somehow what it was called. I was fortunate to take a class with the late and wonderful Annie Modesitt, who taught us that with decreases, it was more important to know how to fashion a decrease that leaned in the correct direction than which specific decrease the pattern called for. Her "Confessions of a Knitting Heretic" was self-published, and it's full of illustrations about how to translate Western-style pattern directions to Combination knitting.
Ty so much for sharing this information! I’ve learned knitting from my Mom, which is from an eastern country. I was a child then and never knitting since, but when I started again, the hand mouvements came alone…only to realize that I’m not knitting like everyone on RUclips! I was told by friends that I was knitting wrong, as the author you mentioned said it happened to her too! And just like her…I stopped knitting, not being able to understand how to read western style instructions! I picked up my needles again 2 months ago, this time decided to make it work…at least for some simple sweaters… And then I searched for more tutorials and form one comment to another I stumbled on this term: combination knitting…which I discovered is MY style of knitting! And now, I have a whole book written on it for read, thankfully to you so…I just bought it, and started read it and came back to tell you ty ty ty!
I remember learning about combination knitting from Annie Modisett years ago. I had forgotten her last name and couldn't recall how to do this. Thanks for mentioning her.
I love combination knitting. I also noticed at the end of your video your working yarn laid down on the table in a heart shape and I thought how appropriate. Thank you for your video I watched it just to learn a bit more and enjoy someone else also knitting this way.
GAME CHANGER!! When I tried to follow regular videos my stitches were always twisted... Looking at knitting this way makes much more sense as I am no doubt a combo! 🤷♀️ Knowing I can manipulate the stitch when needed will help me immensely, THANK YOU!!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I apparently was taught by a combination knitter just over fifty years ago and have been doubting my technique and defending myself ever since!
Have recently been studying the Brioche Stitch and couldn't figure out why all the video tutorials seemed to use knit/purl techniques that seemed confusing and then by accident i came across your video...what a relief!!! I knit Western, Purl Eastern. Lol...feels a lot like i felt when i was a kid and was told i was an "alto" which i thought meant i couldn''t sing...then i learned i could sing just fine, just differently!!! What a great tutorial!!! THANKS!
@@merlynnthegreat I combination knit, continental, and just learned Fisherman’s Rib! Loved the fabric it produced. Are you working flat or in the round? (If I recall correctly, ) Working on the round, it was a breeze, but trying to learn the stitch flat and then convert the directions to working in the round was the complicated part. As long as you are working the LEADING leg of the stitches as talked about here, I think your issue here is probably converting flat instructions to working in the round, or vice versa. And not an issue of combination knitting and a need to remount stitches. I’ll see if I can find the website that had instructions for setting up for both flat and in-the-round and post below
What an excellent tutorial! Over the years I had to figure these things out by myself, as I knit combination continental. Your video will save others much grief and trial and error!
Have been told numerous times I am knitting wrong...always say it works for me and just keep on knitting....learned from watching my mother, who was left handed, and then throwing the yarn the most comfortable for me. Thanks for all the great videos.
Thank you so much for this video! This is the way I knit, because this is the way my mom taught me about a decade ago. Apparently it is called Combination Knitting. So here it is, I have an answer: I use combination Knitting in a Continental Style. I have been told so many times that I am knitting in a wrong way, that even when I tried teaching a friend some basic knits and purls, I mentioned that I am knitting "the wrong way"... I know I am a good knitter, and most importantly: I love knitting. So thanks for the video :)
Combination knitting isn't the standard way of knitting, but that certainly doesn't make it wrong. If it works for you and (more importantly) you love it, that's what really matters. Happy, happy knitting!
Wow thank you again. I am a former combination knitter who had to relearn how to knit because of a pattern I was attempting required you to twist the stitch by "knitting through the back loop" which of cause was my usual way of knitting. I thought it would be to difficult to remember to make the necessary adjustments with an intricate pattern, although it has been years I miss knitting the way I was taught by my mom. My new passion is lace knitting now that I understand the logic behind it I may have to relearn combination knitting. I do believe it was a lot easier on the hands and wrists, certainly more relaxing and easier to read the knitting (i.e. right leg in back = knit, right leg in front = pearl.
Im a combination knitter and i didnt even know it till recently. I keep all my fingers down on the needle and only lay the yarn over my finger without wrapping anywhere. Combination knitting also makes the norwegian purl super easy.
I've been knitting this way for over 50 years. It's fast and easy. I don't even need to look at my work while knitting. My stitches are smooth and even.
So happy to have found this video! I was among tjose who was doing this and thought I was doing some thing wrong. I find this so much easier than straight western style. Thank you for the clarification!
This really helped me understand what was going wrong with my knitting, I didn't realise I was combination knitting! Thanks so much, what a wonderfully comprehensive explanation!
Thank you for the tips! Combination knitting is easier for continental knitters, but I never knew how to interpret the patterns to make sense. Really clear instructions!
Learning to use charts is very beneficial since / is a right leaning decrease and \ equals a left leaning decrease. No more deciphering ssk versus k2tog!
This video is extremely helpful!! I have been knitting for about 5 years and only just now discovering that I am a combination knitter. A new project sent me down the rabbit hole trying to understand this method so that I can follow the pattern. This also finally explains some of the difficulties I've had with previous projects and why for the most part my finished work still looks the same.
Wow, I've been combination knitting without even realising it! It's great to learn the reasons behind why I found myself doing it that way as I learned - thank you!
Thank you for your video. As I’m a combination knitter, this tutorial is a great addition to the previous video. I learnt something extra through watching the different decreasing methods have on the stitches. Thank you for sharing!
Very well presented. I am a combination knitter. The way some is knitting “wrong” is if the don’t get the results expected. Understanding how to make minor changes to get the expected results.
Yes, me too! I am enjoying knitting this way it seems so much more rhythmic and relaxing not to mention quicker. I usually crochet so this feels more natural
OMG! I’m currently knitting a lace scarf which includes K2tog, k2tbl, and p2tog. Well, evidently I’m a combination knitter. When I purl, I don’t remount…I knit the leading leg which is behind. However, I’ve not been consistent with the stitches I mentioned above. Thank you so much for I’ll take pics, frog, and knit again. Looking forward to the final product.
Thank you for the section on remounting stitches for K2tog! I knit this "combination" way, which seems to be common in Eastern Europe, because it's far more efficient than the standard Western method, but I've tended to do K2tog wrong, since I learned it doing the standard method.
Combination knitting looks great. I’m too old to be bothered by other people’s opinions that I only deal with on the internet. I like how I knit and enjoy doing even other styles, but Combination has become my go-to style. Wow, saving money not having to see a psychiatrist. Who knew?
Being self taught before the age of RUclips, I have a hodgepodge of technique. It has prevented me from moving on with knitting projects such as lace stitches. You have answered every question and problem I have had for years and I am so excited and grateful! Blessings on you Goddess!
This video helped me with my tension. I'm such a perfectionist that I kept restarting my latest blanket. I've been knotting for about 22 years but mainly since 2011. I've always had my knitting looking with different tension throughout. I'm very happy to have watched this. Originally I was knotting "backwards or wrong way." That's what I was told by a knitting teacher 21 years ago. That's when I learned I'm a continental knitter. I'm left handed so it works. I've knitted many blankets and people love them but they had the ugly look with tension. I'm originally from Chile, been living in Canada since I was 6. I miss Chile. I'm not sure where I got knitting from. I don't know any family member who knits but I have artists in family. Thank you and I'll check out your patterns. I'm still trying to figure out making patterns from scratch but I've adapted patterns to my style and have made charts to go with my taste. I'm very curious on how to write a pattern on the star of David. I'm currently knitting a blanket for a Jewish friend and I've not found a lacey pattern. If you have any suggestions or have tutorials I'd love to check them out. Gracias.
So glad the video helped. I am not aware of any star of David patterns, but you may try searching on Ravelry. They have a pretty good directory of patterns. Happy knitting!
Thank you! This was the best tutorial of all I've ever seen! I watch every day some tutorials searching s. th. I don't know. Although a knitting teacher I severl times have found s. th. new for sme! Why don't you learn the continental way jf knitting if you love it so much? It really doesn't need a long time! I learned so many kinds of knitting to be able to show everyone the stile that's best for anyone. Be blessed and thank you for this great video!
Thank you! My grandma taught me how to knit and I recently picked up knitting again after about a decade break. I just had a friend tell me I do combination knitting and I had no idea what she meant! Also, turns out I have been doing my K2tog wrong because I didn’t know I needed to remount them! Oops. Thanks for these tips they are super useful.
What a great video! I am a pattern designer and I use combination method for years. All you mentioned here is very helpful to understand the differences and simply to realize that this method isn't wrong - it's just different :) What I really love about the combination style is that I know what stitch is next without looking at it (when reading or watching). It's so easy to feel with your fingers if the next one should be purl or knit when their legs are placed differently. Best wishes, Marzena.
Still trying to find an in-depth vid on combination seed stitch. Djinn mentions this in an off-the-cuff way in one of her vid's, but I'd love to see a vid from you on just this one topic. I need some depth! 😃
I was told I was knitting wrong by a yarn instructor/owner and that’s why I screwed up my knitting (her words), I stopped knitting for about a year, I went back to knitting for the reason I started, for the pleasure of knitting and proud of the way I knit 😁. I never went back to her shop, I went back only because I got a gift card, she was/is the same condescending person from before, I never talk to her again and just bought enough to cover the gift card. I have taught myself the Norwegian Way (Arne&Carlos) and trying to teach myself the Continental Way (ExpressionFiberArts) but have learn the most from the different instructors on You Tube 😉😊
Thank you! This is so helpful. I finally know how to knit the right and left leaning decreases correctly for my knitting style. This is what I set out to learn this evening and you nailed it. I’m starting a lace scarf for a friend in a beautiful yarn and I want it to be perfect. Thank you again!
This is such a handy video and I will use it as reference. I’ve always wondered why I was following instructions but things didn’t look right so I’m so thankful this has clarified that I just need to do a few things differently as opposed to changing my knitting style.
Thank you for such a wonderful video. As an experienced crochetter trying to expand my horizons, this has been the only method I have been able to do something with. Not even with continental. But there are very little resources and, as I know nothing about knitting, it's not like I can try to carry on my knowledge. I am wondering if you could make a video covering increases, both in the middle of the row and at the end/beginnging of it. Thank you.
So since watching this video, I've discovered that I'm not a combination knitter, but a 'backwards' knitter - I always wrap clockwise! This produces twisted work for me and I have never been able to figure out why. I get beautiful tension, but twists instead of Vs in my stitches. I knit continental, so wrapping my purls anti-clockwise is a right pain, so I think I'm going to try picking my knit stitches anti-clockwise and work through the leading leg and see where I end up.
This was a great explanation after watching I have a much better understanding of combination knitting it was clear and well demonstrated no other video really explains it so well thank you I hope you'll keep making helpful vids!
I’ve been trying combination knitting but since I’m working in the round the stitches behave differently on the needles! I find that the purl stitches have the leading leg at the back of the needle and I have found that the easiest way to purl them in a combination style is to purl them with the yarn in back rather like a Norwegian purl! I’d love more information and help on combination knitting in the round. Thank you!
This is very helpful. Thank you. I am in the process of switching to combination. I find the basic process of it very simple and easier on my hands, but the details were a little confusing before I found this.
Thank you!!! I use this method and I "read" the legs of my stitches like "the one who is easier to pull" and "the one who is stiff" then I knit on the easier one and that prevents the twisted stitches when I was following tutorials but I just made it by intuition... Now thanks to you I understand why that happened!! And now I can understand more tutorials. Really thank you very much ❤️ Maybe you can explain in a video if is different o how to cast off with the combined knitting. I always get wonky ends when I close elastics or ribs :( and I don't understand what I'm doing wrong or if is just my tension.
Very helpful! I'm working on a large blanket at the moment, and have been thinking about experimenting with combination knitting to see if it helps my speed and hand comfort. Over half of it of it is plain old garter stitch, but portions of it are knitted in a ribbed mesh stitch (k2g YO on the front; sl 1 purlwise wyif, p1, psso, yo on the back), and I couldn't quite wrap my head around how one could combination purl the back side without the stitches getting hopelessly twisted and messing up the lovely spiraled lace panels. Your discussion of decreases was exactly what I needed. Will experiment with it on the next repeat and see how it goes!
Ha! Just when i thought i knew what knitting involved this had to come along. I wouldn't have even thought how to describe the direction i wrap my yarn in! I can say I've spent hundreds of hours knitting and never ever thought for one second about whether my stitches were twisted or not, good god. I never understood how exactly ssk vs k2tog looked like apart from doing one with the other in projects for balanced decreases! Does this matter for increases too?
Thank you for the video. I guess what wasn't clear to me is what to do when the say 'knit/purl through back loop - If I do (knit st) I won't get the efferct they are looking for in traditional knitting, will I? thank you very much again.
I just remember always to replace ssk2tog with k2tog and k2tog with ssk2tog in my head. That's why I LOVE charted patterns, because they leave me to SEE what I am knitting.
Thank you! I couldn't for the LIFE of me figure out how doing a slip slip knit changed the orientation of the loops and made it a left leaning decrease ... It made ZERO sense to me. This helped immensely.
I've just learned today that I'm a combination knitter. I've always struggled with left/right slanting increases/decreases and with knitting in the round, because my stitches would always wind up twisted. So I just gave up and did those with the Western method. This video is so helpful. It shows things that I already learned on my own through multiple trials and errors, but I now have a confirmation of which is the proper way to do the k2tog. Are there any other right-leaning decreases for combination knitters other than k2tog? Because it does eventually end up being a Western knit stitch.
An unpopular but effective alternative to the right slanting k2tog is to kpno (knit pass next over). Knit a stitch, slip the new stitch back to your left needle without twisting, pass the second stitch on your left needle over the first, return the first stitch to the first stitch to the right needle.
I wrap my yarn clockwise on knits and counterclockwise on purls. I learned many years ago and have taught my daughters and sister to knit the “traditional” way so they don’t have deal with altering increases and decreases on patterns. I just wonder why I would have been taught this way or what style it is. Thanks.
it helps to think of knitting and purling like this video explains slipping knitwise/purlwise (5:40) knitting is front-to-back and purling is back-to-front try knitting a small stockinette sample where on the wrong side rows, the first half of the stitches are purled eastern and the second half are purled "normally". then on the right side rows, knit all. don't overthink it. just front-to-back, front-to-back, front-to-back, front-to-back, like you're going to slip knitwise but actually knit them. you're still going to be doing your knit stitches western style regardless of what the purl stitches were so when you flip the work, all of the stitches will be mounted like you're used to to work the wrong side row again. seed stitch is to garter stitch what 1x1 ribbing is to stockinette stitch. they are both essentially columns of garter/stockinette that alternate which way they face every column. when you're working 1x1 ribbing, you knit stitches that were purled the previous row and you purl stitches that were knitted. so for combination knitters that means stitches you knit will always be eastern-mounted and stitches you purl will always be western-mounted. when you're working seed stitch, you only knit stitches that you knitted the previous row and only purl stitches you purled on the previous row. so that means you'll work knits on western-mounts and purls on eastern-mounts. purling eastern-mounted stitches is weird and the only thing i hate more than knitting western on western-mounted stitches. it is the exact mirror of that so instead of coming in front of the front loop and inserting back, you go behind the back loop and insert up towards your face. if you want to practice that purling through eastern and western mounted stitches, knit a sample in the round of reverse stockinette. make half of each round always eastern and the other half purled western on odd rows and purled eastern on even rows knitting on western-mounts - insert needle down through front loop, front-to-back, (wrap yarn either direction) knitting on eastern-mounts - insert needle down through back loop, front-to-back, (wrap yarn either direction) purling on western-mounts - insert needle up through front loop, back-to-front, (wrap yarn either direction) purling on eastern-mounts - insert needle up through back loop, back-to-front, (wrap yarn either direction)
I'm a continental knitter. Do you have to change the way you cast-on and bind off using the combination method of knitting? Will this fix tension issues if you knit tight but purl loose?
Hi Lina - I don't have a quick, easy answer about casting on and binding off because there are dozens of different ways to do both. Many would not be effected at all by your knitting method. Bind offs where you are actually forming knit/purl stitches could require extra attention. I don't have a one-size-fits-all answer for tension, either. Combination knitting could definitely impact your tension, but when it comes to stitch sizing, there are lots of other contributing factors, too.
Combination Knitting allows one to just recognize which way you want to knit a stitch. I use the regular sling-shot method BUT, if I need a cast on which will mount my stitches in the orientation which I prefer for Combination Knitting, I do the same method of cast on BUT USE MY RIGHT HAND for the cast on. Then I get the mount I wanted. For bind off, I generally knit a series of knit 2 together or bind off using a crochet hook. It depends on the project.
If its confusing i insert the needle throught right and wrap the yarn clockwise wether knit or purl both insert through front or right and wrap the Yarn clockwise what is this called ?! I really need to know , im newbe in this i really need help 😢
I knitt my projects like : l knitt the knitt stich eastern style and insert the needle through front and i circle my needle (not the yarn) counter clockwise and i knit the purl stitch insert from front and circle the needle counter clockwise , whats this method called im searching alot couldn't find any , i first thought its twisted method and then thought combination but non of them knitt the knitt stitch counter clockwise they only do the purl and they do the purl
I am a combination knitter and have found that my stitches will lean to one side when knitting in the round. Do you have any suggestions to overcome this?
Hmm... First, make sure you are always working around the leading leg of the stitch. If some or all of your stitches are twisted it could create what looks like a lean. Otherwise, the lean could be from tension or stitch sizing issues which are caused by more things than I can address in a reply.
I believe the issue is that when knitting in the round, and using combined continental knitting, the forward leg on the knit stitch is in the front - not in the back. Therefore, the fabric will tend to lean when we continue to knit into the back of the stitch, or the trailing leg. Would this make sense?
I thought I was a continental knitter as it turns out I'm a combination knitter. I am having a terrible time of navigating fisherman's rib in 2 colors, should I purl my first row instead of knitting it?
Don't think of it as "wrong". You've just been adding your own, special design element 😉. If it's any consolation, there is a real stitch pattern called Twisted Stockinette where every other row of stitches is intentionally twisted. But, this could be something you want to sort out as you move forward so you don't have those twisted sts. It creates a very different looking and feeling fabric. Happy knitting!
People should be aware that this is the more efficient knitting style and I always feel so sorry for new knitters when I see tutorials in any other style. The throwing method is the worst. Also, people that knit this NORMAL style usually know about the how the loops are constructed and can adjust western patterns.
There is no one-size-fits-all for knitting styles/methods. There are so many subtle variations of each motion that what may be comfortable and efficient for one knitter is not the same for another. Even knitters that use the same style may have noticeably different motions. Thank goodness we have so many options to try.
The beauty in knitting is that there is no such thing as a wrong way. As long as your consistent with what you're doing throughout your project and you like the way it looks, who cares? After all knitting by definition is just a manipulation of yarn in a consistent manner to create a piece of fabric.
oh, if only your opinion was as popular as western style knitting...
nice! before i heard it called combination, many years ago, i would tell people i "knit wrong, but it works out in the end."
This is the way my Granny, born on the westcoast in Sweden, taught me to knit.I didn’t know it had a name, so I’ve always called it ’Granny Olga’s knit and purl’. My teacher in handicraft in third class at school went completely mad trying to teach me ’the right way’, ( i e turning the yarn counter cloockwise round the needle when purling ) which ended up with me quitting knitting. I picked up knitting again at the age of 50, and I have been a happy knitter now for 25 years, practising both ways of purling. 😄
I am a continental knitter I realized from this video that I was purling combination style. but when I did the knit stitch I put my needle through the front so all my knit stitches were twisted. This video showed me that I know how to stop twisting my stitches.
It seems that there are people who mean well, but think they know more when they don't know that Combination is as much a legitimate a knitting style as Western Continental. Eastern or Russian method is worth knowing also as they include some alternate purling which I use when knitting purl stitch in rounds such as in rounds for ribbing. I prefer Combination purling especially when knitting cabled patterns with a lot of reverse stockinette as I don't get "rowing out" which is those repetitive looser rows which can make reverse stockinette looking like you just didn't knit that part very well. I don't get that uneven reverse stockinette when using Combined purling.
There is always something new to learn with knitting and I love learning more things. With crocheting, there are so many different stitches and they are not hard to learn. Knitting can be similar. The more one knows about how the stitches are made, the easier it is to figure out how to make corrections or get better results or find an easier solution with many stacked decreases such as for a raglan sleeve. When I know I am having a K2TOG on the public side of the knitting, I will use a Western Continental purl for those two stitches (on the backside of the knitting) then I don't have to remount them, just out of convenience for myself.
I like to call those people who demand "you are doing it WRONG" as the "Knitting Police". But if they saw someone knitting Portuguese style, they'd say "isn't that interesting". Huh? Right or wrong knitting is result driven. If you do not like your result, then you use a technique which makes the knitting correct in that instance. Sometimes in knitting a twisted stitch is used decoratively like in Japanese knitting patterns. Shen you know what works and when to use it, it makes knitting all the more fun.
We should not be afraid to know more and improve our own knitting. Combination knitting is just beautiful knitting and it is one of the best ways to knit for the fingers if you have Arthritis. Hands can be rehabilitated from severe Arthritis such as mine were, by a change in diet (no dairy as I could not handle the protein) and Combination knitting. I was thrilled to find a way to knit which did not hurt. Now my hands feel so good I can do styles which sent shooting pains. Don't use them much but find it interesting to know anyway. Originally I knit English Flicking method, and I still use it but not often any more. I generally knit daily to keep the Arthritis as bay and up to 4 or more hours as is is "my Zen moment".
I once met a woman who was staring at me knitting when I was in a doctor's waiting room and I was working a cabled pattern (which looked beautiful) and she remarked to me "You knit wrong". I asked her: "What is the name of your knitting style?" She didn't know. So I cycled through the knitting styles I've learned seeing if I could help her identify how she knit. She asked me then as if I am a knitting teacher. I told her "no, but I know this for my own benefit, I suppose I could teach others, just hasn't happened yet. She never said thank you, she never told me my knitting looked beautiful. She was just negative. She walked away in a huff and never even said one word. Rather hurt my feelings. I was not in any way belittling of her.
Just don't let the "Knitting Police" spoil your day.
courag 1 I enjoyed your write up and maybe one day I'll be watching you teach on youtube! I 100% agree do NOT let the "Knitting Police" spoil your day or spoil your knitting style and knowledge. I wish you could share a photo of your knitting I bet it is gorgeous.
courag1 Thank you for freeing me from the knitting police. I have been combination knitting for years without knowing it by using these same tricks to produce a nicer finished fabric.
I was taught to continental knit by German woman. Some say I knit 'wrong', but I always respond, "No, this is continental knitting; it's more efficient and not wrong".
I started knitting this way after taking a Continental knitting class and being frustrated. I kind of stumbled on it, and discovered somehow what it was called. I was fortunate to take a class with the late and wonderful Annie Modesitt, who taught us that with decreases, it was more important to know how to fashion a decrease that leaned in the correct direction than which specific decrease the pattern called for. Her "Confessions of a Knitting Heretic" was self-published, and it's full of illustrations about how to translate Western-style pattern directions to Combination knitting.
Ty so much for sharing this information! I’ve learned knitting from my Mom, which is from an eastern country. I was a child then and never knitting since, but when I started again, the hand mouvements came alone…only to realize that I’m not knitting like everyone on RUclips! I was told by friends that I was knitting wrong, as the author you mentioned said it happened to her too! And just like her…I stopped knitting, not being able to understand how to read western style instructions! I picked up my needles again 2 months ago, this time decided to make it work…at least for some simple sweaters… And then I searched for more tutorials and form one comment to another I stumbled on this term: combination knitting…which I discovered is MY style of knitting! And now, I have a whole book written on it for read, thankfully to you so…I just bought it, and started read it and came back to tell you ty ty ty!
I remember learning about combination knitting from Annie Modisett years ago. I had forgotten her last name and couldn't recall how to do this. Thanks for mentioning her.
I love combination knitting. I also noticed at the end of your video your working yarn laid down on the table in a heart shape and I thought how appropriate. Thank you for your video I watched it just to learn a bit more and enjoy someone else also knitting this way.
GAME CHANGER!! When I tried to follow regular videos my stitches were always twisted... Looking at knitting this way makes much more sense as I am no doubt a combo! 🤷♀️ Knowing I can manipulate the stitch when needed will help me immensely, THANK YOU!!
As an added complication, I knit combination true left handed, from right to left. Yes there’s many ways which produce good stitches.
I would love to see a video of you knitting!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I apparently was taught by a combination knitter just over fifty years ago and have been doubting my technique and defending myself ever since!
Have recently been studying the Brioche Stitch and couldn't figure out why all the video tutorials seemed to use knit/purl techniques that seemed confusing and then by accident i came across your video...what a relief!!! I knit Western, Purl Eastern. Lol...feels a lot like i felt when i was a kid and was told i was an "alto" which i thought meant i couldn''t sing...then i learned i could sing just fine, just differently!!! What a great tutorial!!! THANKS!
oh my gosh, I knit the same way no wonder my knit stitches were twisted every other row.
When you do your set up, how did you get it to work? I'm here because I'm having trouble with fishermans rib.
@@merlynnthegreat I combination knit, continental, and just learned Fisherman’s Rib! Loved the fabric it produced.
Are you working flat or in the round?
(If I recall correctly, ) Working on the round, it was a breeze, but trying to learn the stitch flat and then convert the directions to working in the round was the complicated part. As long as you are working the LEADING leg of the stitches as talked about here, I think your issue here is probably converting flat instructions to working in the round, or vice versa. And not an issue of combination knitting and a need to remount stitches.
I’ll see if I can find the website that had instructions for setting up for both flat and in-the-round and post below
What an excellent tutorial! Over the years I had to figure these things out by myself, as I knit combination continental. Your video will save others much grief and trial and error!
Ruth Stubens Me too! Now I’m an expert on reseating stitches.
Have been told numerous times I am knitting wrong...always say it works for me and just keep on knitting....learned from watching my mother, who was left handed, and then throwing the yarn the most comfortable for me. Thanks for all the great videos.
Just because it's unconventional doesn't make it wrong as long as it works for you. Happy knitting!
Thank you so much for this video! This is the way I knit, because this is the way my mom taught me about a decade ago. Apparently it is called Combination Knitting. So here it is, I have an answer: I use combination Knitting in a Continental Style. I have been told so many times that I am knitting in a wrong way, that even when I tried teaching a friend some basic knits and purls, I mentioned that I am knitting "the wrong way"... I know I am a good knitter, and most importantly: I love knitting. So thanks for the video :)
Combination knitting isn't the standard way of knitting, but that certainly doesn't make it wrong. If it works for you and (more importantly) you love it, that's what really matters. Happy, happy knitting!
I am so glad I found this, you have saved my sanity. Now I truly understand. Many thank you's!
Wow thank you again. I am a former combination knitter who had to relearn how to knit because of a pattern I was attempting required you to twist the stitch by "knitting through the back loop" which of cause was my usual way of knitting. I thought it would be to difficult to remember to make the necessary adjustments with an intricate pattern, although it has been years I miss knitting the way I was taught by my mom. My new passion is lace knitting now that I understand the logic behind it I may have to relearn combination knitting. I do believe it was a lot easier on the hands and wrists, certainly more relaxing and easier to read the knitting (i.e. right leg in back = knit, right leg in front = pearl.
Spoiler alert... I'm hosting a mystery knit along in August and it has lots of lovely lace!
Yay!! This has a name!! I have been doing this for *years* and I love it. Had no idea it was a thing.
Im a combination knitter and i didnt even know it till recently. I keep all my fingers down on the needle and only lay the yarn over my finger without wrapping anywhere. Combination knitting also makes the norwegian purl super easy.
I've been knitting this way for over 50 years. It's fast and easy. I don't even need to look at my work while knitting. My stitches are smooth and even.
So happy to have found this video! I was among tjose who was doing this and thought I was doing some thing wrong. I find this so much easier than straight western style. Thank you for the clarification!
This really helped me understand what was going wrong with my knitting, I didn't realise I was combination knitting! Thanks so much, what a wonderfully comprehensive explanation!
Thank you for the tips! Combination knitting is easier for continental knitters, but I never knew how to interpret the patterns to make sense. Really clear instructions!
Learning to use charts is very beneficial since / is a right leaning decrease and \ equals a left leaning decrease. No more deciphering ssk versus k2tog!
This helps your tension to not use more yarn is not being used, if you have rowing out combination knitting. Great tutorial.
Really helpful for a newbie who just found out she knits combination style!
That was SO helpful! The analysis of decreases especially, thank you!
This video is extremely helpful!! I have been knitting for about 5 years and only just now discovering that I am a combination knitter. A new project sent me down the rabbit hole trying to understand this method so that I can follow the pattern. This also finally explains some of the difficulties I've had with previous projects and why for the most part my finished work still looks the same.
Wow, I've been combination knitting without even realising it! It's great to learn the reasons behind why I found myself doing it that way as I learned - thank you!
Thank you for your video. As I’m a combination knitter, this tutorial is a great addition to the previous video. I learnt something extra through watching the different decreasing methods have on the stitches. Thank you for sharing!
Very well presented. I am a combination knitter. The way some is knitting “wrong” is if the don’t get the results expected. Understanding how to make minor changes to get the expected results.
Yes, I know now I am not wrong. Thanks for the confidence boost.
Yes, me too! I am enjoying knitting this way it seems so much more rhythmic and relaxing not to mention quicker. I usually crochet so this feels more natural
OMG! I’m currently knitting a lace scarf which includes K2tog, k2tbl, and p2tog. Well, evidently I’m a combination knitter. When I purl, I don’t remount…I knit the leading leg which is behind. However, I’ve not been consistent with the stitches I mentioned above. Thank you so much for I’ll take pics, frog, and knit again. Looking forward to the final product.
I just found out that what I randomly learned on RUclips was combination knitting. This video was very helpful, thank you!
Thank you for the section on remounting stitches for K2tog! I knit this "combination" way, which seems to be common in Eastern Europe, because it's far more efficient than the standard Western method, but I've tended to do K2tog wrong, since I learned it doing the standard method.
OMG thank you I've been trying to find this information for weeks thank you you've saved my sanity😁
Combination knitting looks great. I’m too old to be bothered by other people’s opinions that I only deal with on the internet. I like how I knit and enjoy doing even other styles, but Combination has become my go-to style. Wow, saving money not having to see a psychiatrist. Who knew?
Being self taught before the age of RUclips, I have a hodgepodge of technique. It has prevented me from moving on with knitting projects such as lace stitches. You have answered every question and problem I have had for years and I am so excited and grateful! Blessings on you Goddess!
This video helped me with my tension. I'm such a perfectionist that I kept restarting my latest blanket. I've been knotting for about 22 years but mainly since 2011. I've always had my knitting looking with different tension throughout. I'm very happy to have watched this. Originally I was knotting "backwards or wrong way." That's what I was told by a knitting teacher 21 years ago. That's when I learned I'm a continental knitter. I'm left handed so it works. I've knitted many blankets and people love them but they had the ugly look with tension. I'm originally from Chile, been living in Canada since I was 6. I miss Chile. I'm not sure where I got knitting from. I don't know any family member who knits but I have artists in family. Thank you and I'll check out your patterns. I'm still trying to figure out making patterns from scratch but I've adapted patterns to my style and have made charts to go with my taste. I'm very curious on how to write a pattern on the star of David. I'm currently knitting a blanket for a Jewish friend and I've not found a lacey pattern. If you have any suggestions or have tutorials I'd love to check them out. Gracias.
So glad the video helped. I am not aware of any star of David patterns, but you may try searching on Ravelry. They have a pretty good directory of patterns. Happy knitting!
Thank you! This was the best tutorial of all I've ever seen! I watch every day some tutorials searching s. th. I don't know. Although a knitting teacher I severl times have found s. th. new for sme! Why don't you learn the continental way jf knitting if you love it so much? It really doesn't need a long time! I learned so many kinds of knitting to be able to show everyone the stile that's best for anyone. Be blessed and thank you for this great video!
Wow, this tutorial was great!!
This was SO helpful. I wanted to start combination knitting and was intimidated
Thank you! My grandma taught me how to knit and I recently picked up knitting again after about a decade break. I just had a friend tell me I do combination knitting and I had no idea what she meant! Also, turns out I have been doing my K2tog wrong because I didn’t know I needed to remount them! Oops. Thanks for these tips they are super useful.
What a great video! I am a pattern designer and I use combination method for years. All you mentioned here is very helpful to understand the differences and simply to realize that this method isn't wrong - it's just different :) What I really love about the combination style is that I know what stitch is next without looking at it (when reading or watching). It's so easy to feel with your fingers if the next one should be purl or knit when their legs are placed differently. Best wishes, Marzena.
Thank you so much, so incredibly helpful! I really appreciate your channel. Very clear direction that breaks down the mechanics.
Still trying to find an in-depth vid on combination seed stitch. Djinn mentions this in an off-the-cuff way in one of her vid's, but I'd love to see a vid from you on just this one topic. I need some depth! 😃
I'll add it to my topic idea list.
@@thechillydog That would be wonderful. I've combed through the web and come up dry. So frustrating. Thank you.
Thank you, I was purling the combination way, but didn't know that I should knit in the lead leg, so my knitting was weird. Now, i understand !
I was told I was knitting wrong by a yarn instructor/owner and that’s why I screwed up my knitting (her words), I stopped knitting for about a year, I went back to knitting for the reason I started, for the pleasure of knitting and proud of the way I knit 😁. I never went back to her shop, I went back only because I got a gift card, she was/is the same condescending person from before, I never talk to her again and just bought enough to cover the gift card. I have taught myself the Norwegian Way (Arne&Carlos) and trying to teach myself the Continental Way (ExpressionFiberArts) but have learn the most from the different instructors on You Tube 😉😊
I enjoy your videos, they are comforting and educational.
Excellent video! Thank you for your very thorough explanations and clear video
Thank you! This is so helpful. I finally know how to knit the right and left leaning decreases correctly for my knitting style. This is what I set out to learn this evening and you nailed it. I’m starting a lace scarf for a friend in a beautiful yarn and I want it to be perfect. Thank you again!
Fantastic! So happy I could help. 💕
Excellent video. I’ve been exploring combination knitting and your instructions were very clear and helpful. Thank you.
This is such a handy video and I will use it as reference. I’ve always wondered why I was following instructions but things didn’t look right so I’m so thankful this has clarified that I just need to do a few things differently as opposed to changing my knitting style.
Thank you for such a wonderful video. As an experienced crochetter trying to expand my horizons, this has been the only method I have been able to do something with. Not even with continental. But there are very little resources and, as I know nothing about knitting, it's not like I can try to carry on my knowledge. I am wondering if you could make a video covering increases, both in the middle of the row and at the end/beginnging of it. Thank you.
This is so informative. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this. It has changed my knitting life! Lots of love from Lisbon....
So since watching this video, I've discovered that I'm not a combination knitter, but a 'backwards' knitter - I always wrap clockwise! This produces twisted work for me and I have never been able to figure out why. I get beautiful tension, but twists instead of Vs in my stitches. I knit continental, so wrapping my purls anti-clockwise is a right pain, so I think I'm going to try picking my knit stitches anti-clockwise and work through the leading leg and see where I end up.
This was so helpful! Thank you!
Great explanation. Thank you!
This was a great explanation after watching I have a much better understanding of combination knitting it was clear and well demonstrated no other video really explains it so well thank you I hope you'll keep making helpful vids!
Excellent, helpful, and a well explained 🎉video!! Thank you!!!!!
I’ve been trying combination knitting but since I’m working in the round the stitches behave differently on the needles! I find that the purl stitches have the leading leg at the back of the needle and I have found that the easiest way to purl them in a combination style is to purl them with the yarn in back rather like a Norwegian purl! I’d love more information and help on combination knitting in the round. Thank you!
Ooo, I'll definitely add combination knitting in the round to my ongoing list of video tutorial ideas.
Such a well explained video.
This is very helpful. Thank you. I am in the process of switching to combination. I find the basic process of it very simple and easier on my hands, but the details were a little confusing before I found this.
Thank you!!! I use this method and I "read" the legs of my stitches like "the one who is easier to pull" and "the one who is stiff" then I knit on the easier one and that prevents the twisted stitches when I was following tutorials but I just made it by intuition... Now thanks to you I understand why that happened!! And now I can understand more tutorials. Really thank you very much ❤️
Maybe you can explain in a video if is different o how to cast off with the combined knitting. I always get wonky ends when I close elastics or ribs :( and I don't understand what I'm doing wrong or if is just my tension.
Very helpful! I'm working on a large blanket at the moment, and have been thinking about experimenting with combination knitting to see if it helps my speed and hand comfort. Over half of it of it is plain old garter stitch, but portions of it are knitted in a ribbed mesh stitch (k2g YO on the front; sl 1 purlwise wyif, p1, psso, yo on the back), and I couldn't quite wrap my head around how one could combination purl the back side without the stitches getting hopelessly twisted and messing up the lovely spiraled lace panels. Your discussion of decreases was exactly what I needed. Will experiment with it on the next repeat and see how it goes!
The way you did is russian knit and purl which I prefer to the western method.
This is a so fantastic video! Thank you!
Ha! Just when i thought i knew what knitting involved this had to come along. I wouldn't have even thought how to describe the direction i wrap my yarn in! I can say I've spent hundreds of hours knitting and never ever thought for one second about whether my stitches were twisted or not, good god. I never understood how exactly ssk vs k2tog looked like apart from doing one with the other in projects for balanced decreases! Does this matter for increases too?
Thank you for the video. I guess what wasn't clear to me is what to do when the say 'knit/purl through back loop - If I do (knit st) I won't get the efferct they are looking for in traditional knitting, will I? thank you very much again.
Do you have any tips or instructions for M1L and M1R in this method when you’re on the wrong side of your work?
What about stitches that ktbl? Or how do you do a twisted stitch?
I just remember always to replace ssk2tog with k2tog and k2tog with ssk2tog in my head. That's why I LOVE charted patterns, because they leave me to SEE what I am knitting.
Thank you! I couldn't for the LIFE of me figure out how doing a slip slip knit changed the orientation of the loops and made it a left leaning decrease ... It made ZERO sense to me. This helped immensely.
Thank you!
I've just learned today that I'm a combination knitter. I've always struggled with left/right slanting increases/decreases and with knitting in the round, because my stitches would always wind up twisted. So I just gave up and did those with the Western method.
This video is so helpful. It shows things that I already learned on my own through multiple trials and errors, but I now have a confirmation of which is the proper way to do the k2tog. Are there any other right-leaning decreases for combination knitters other than k2tog? Because it does eventually end up being a Western knit stitch.
An unpopular but effective alternative to the right slanting k2tog is to kpno (knit pass next over). Knit a stitch, slip the new stitch back to your left needle without twisting, pass the second stitch on your left needle over the first, return the first stitch to the first stitch to the right needle.
I wrap my yarn clockwise on knits and counterclockwise on purls. I learned many years ago and have taught my daughters and sister to knit the “traditional” way so they don’t have deal with altering increases and decreases on patterns. I just wonder why I would have been taught this way or what style it is. Thanks.
I should clarify -I hold my yarn in my left hand knit with the leading leg behind on knits and leading leg in front on purls
I’d love to knit this way, but I can never figure out how to knit a purl, I.e., how do you seed stitch with combination knitting?
if Work in round, it become more complex, it is difficult to purl when the working leg is at back.
it helps to think of knitting and purling like this video explains slipping knitwise/purlwise (5:40) knitting is front-to-back and purling is back-to-front
try knitting a small stockinette sample where on the wrong side rows, the first half of the stitches are purled eastern and the second half are purled "normally". then on the right side rows, knit all. don't overthink it. just front-to-back, front-to-back, front-to-back, front-to-back, like you're going to slip knitwise but actually knit them. you're still going to be doing your knit stitches western style regardless of what the purl stitches were so when you flip the work, all of the stitches will be mounted like you're used to to work the wrong side row again.
seed stitch is to garter stitch what 1x1 ribbing is to stockinette stitch. they are both essentially columns of garter/stockinette that alternate which way they face every column.
when you're working 1x1 ribbing, you knit stitches that were purled the previous row and you purl stitches that were knitted. so for combination knitters that means stitches you knit will always be eastern-mounted and stitches you purl will always be western-mounted. when you're working seed stitch, you only knit stitches that you knitted the previous row and only purl stitches you purled on the previous row. so that means you'll work knits on western-mounts and purls on eastern-mounts.
purling eastern-mounted stitches is weird and the only thing i hate more than knitting western on western-mounted stitches. it is the exact mirror of that so instead of coming in front of the front loop and inserting back, you go behind the back loop and insert up towards your face.
if you want to practice that purling through eastern and western mounted stitches, knit a sample in the round of reverse stockinette. make half of each round always eastern and the other half purled western on odd rows and purled eastern on even rows
knitting on western-mounts - insert needle down through front loop, front-to-back, (wrap yarn either direction)
knitting on eastern-mounts - insert needle down through back loop, front-to-back, (wrap yarn either direction)
purling on western-mounts - insert needle up through front loop, back-to-front, (wrap yarn either direction)
purling on eastern-mounts - insert needle up through back loop, back-to-front, (wrap yarn either direction)
I'm a continental knitter. Do you have to change the way you cast-on and bind off using the combination method of knitting? Will this fix tension issues if you knit tight but purl loose?
Hi Lina - I don't have a quick, easy answer about casting on and binding off because there are dozens of different ways to do both. Many would not be effected at all by your knitting method. Bind offs where you are actually forming knit/purl stitches could require extra attention. I don't have a one-size-fits-all answer for tension, either. Combination knitting could definitely impact your tension, but when it comes to stitch sizing, there are lots of other contributing factors, too.
@@thechillydog thank you
Combination Knitting allows one to just recognize which way you want to knit a stitch. I use the regular sling-shot method BUT, if I need a cast on which will mount my stitches in the orientation which I prefer for Combination Knitting, I do the same method of cast on BUT USE MY RIGHT HAND for the cast on. Then I get the mount I wanted.
For bind off, I generally knit a series of knit 2 together or bind off using a crochet hook. It depends on the project.
If its confusing i insert the needle throught right and wrap the yarn clockwise wether knit or purl both insert through front or right and wrap the Yarn clockwise
what is this called ?! I really need to know , im newbe in this i really need help 😢
I knitt my projects like : l knitt the knitt stich eastern style and insert the needle through front and i circle my needle (not the yarn) counter clockwise and i knit the purl stitch insert from front and circle the needle counter clockwise , whats this method called im searching alot couldn't find any , i first thought its twisted method and then thought combination but non of them knitt the knitt stitch counter clockwise they only do the purl and they do the purl
I am a combination knitter and have found that my stitches will lean to one side when knitting in the round. Do you have any suggestions to overcome this?
Hmm... First, make sure you are always working around the leading leg of the stitch. If some or all of your stitches are twisted it could create what looks like a lean. Otherwise, the lean could be from tension or stitch sizing issues which are caused by more things than I can address in a reply.
I believe the issue is that when knitting in the round, and using combined continental knitting, the forward leg on the knit stitch is in the front - not in the back. Therefore, the fabric will tend to lean when we continue to knit into the back of the stitch, or the trailing leg. Would this make sense?
@@kellihayden3987 Yes. Whenever you work around the trailing leg of a stitch, it twists the stitch and that could cause a lean.
I thought I was a continental knitter as it turns out I'm a combination knitter.
I am having a terrible time of navigating fisherman's rib in 2 colors, should I purl my first row instead of knitting it?
#2: So I've been knitting the wrong way for five years by taking the front leg and twisting my stitches? 😕
Don't think of it as "wrong". You've just been adding your own, special design element 😉. If it's any consolation, there is a real stitch pattern called Twisted Stockinette where every other row of stitches is intentionally twisted. But, this could be something you want to sort out as you move forward so you don't have those twisted sts. It creates a very different looking and feeling fabric. Happy knitting!
I like ribbing this method, because i am able to recognize even by touch whether i should knit or purl .
I’ve been told I was knitting wrong and I believed them 🙄
People should be aware that this is the more efficient knitting style and I always feel so sorry for new knitters when I see tutorials in any other style. The throwing method is the worst. Also, people that knit this NORMAL style usually know about the how the loops are constructed and can adjust western patterns.
There is no one-size-fits-all for knitting styles/methods. There are so many subtle variations of each motion that what may be comfortable and efficient for one knitter is not the same for another. Even knitters that use the same style may have noticeably different motions. Thank goodness we have so many options to try.
Thank you for this informative in depth video. From a lifetime combination knitter🧶