This video was honestly the first time I heard someone challenge the fold wisdom that continental knitting is faster or, more importantly, more efficient. I loved all your tips about making the moves more ergonomic and I'm so intrigued with lever knitting! I have to check it out. I've actually switched to continental a year ago, but only partly because of the rumour it was faster - mostly because of my octagenarian Polish grandma who got distressed everytime she saw me knitting, since there was clearly something wrong and unnatural going on with my needles :P
Millions of years ago, before youtube, I tried teaching myself how to knit and tried to learn English style. At this time I was crocheting. So, switching hands with the yarn confused me so much that I quit Knitting. A few years later, when RUclips became popular, I started watching videos that had people knitting in the continental way. It was so easy to pick up that way. However, over the years I noticed that anything I tried to make was always wonky. I started watching your videos and wanted to try the lever knitting. It is difficult but I am forcing myself to really make the effort. The hardest part is training my left had to pick up some of the work. Lol I think I'm doing much better now and it's so much more comfortable than continental. So, thank you, Carrie, for teaching this way!!
I’m so glad I’ve helped you on your journey! When I learned to crochet it was after knitting with holding yarn in my right hand. It took me awhile to get used to having yarn in my left hand and I felt so fumbly. Now I’m ambidextrous with holding my yarn. 😁🧶
I am a Lever knitter. A Irish cottage knitter. I tension the yarn over my little finger ,(not wrapped,) One thing I only hold the yarn , only over the tip of my index finger. Both my needles work together, in anything the left needle does the work Unfortunately I do not find circular needles very easy because they are so short. But thank you for your time
Great video! Thank you for sharing your tips. I am a Continental knitter, but just recently I decided to learn to knit English/flicking as well. My plan is not to substitute Continental knitting but to add to my knitting ability. I have been paying more close attention to overall tension in my projects and truthfully I can say my tension is pretty even. Minor discrepancies at times, but in general good tension. As far as knitting faster I'd say I don't necessarily consider speed the main object of knitting. Though it is good to knit at a reasonable pace that allows for finishing projects in a timely manner, I don't think that all has to be sacrificed at the altar of "knitting faster." I can get into a very comfortable and reasonably good pace knitting Continental, but that just happens due to muscle memory and the fine-tuning of my knitting abilities over the years. As I look to add tools into my knitting toolbox, I also am practicing combining both styles in a project if it gives me better results/tension, or if the stitch pattern is conducive to mixing both Continental and English in one project. I know knitters that pick knit stitches Continental style and throw/flick purl stitches English style. Their results are great. In addition, I have learned to knit backward and Combination. All these methods bring good solutions to certain problems and good ways to approach knitting. I enjoy the process of knitting as much as the finished object and I plan to add to my toolbox as needed going forward. :)
I know this video is a bit older. I haven't watched your lever video yet, but I am curious. I did increase my speed by utilizing ideas from lever, especially utilizing my left needle. I still knife grip, and I have no desire to flick. My right hand mostly moves forward and back, pick up the work. The twisting the finger of flicking doesn't work for me. Trying to hold the project in the pencil grip was hard for me which is why I didn't switch my grip.
Hey Thank you for making these videos! I started knitting about 2 months ago and was taught English throwing. I did a bunch of research, but your lever knitting video was the clearest for me, and after I watched it (ok a few times) I switched to a combo lever flicking type thing? I was originally looking for "faster knitting" but the stuff you point out about efficiency and ergonomics really made rethink what I was trying to get at. This video reinforced those thoughts, and I am happy where I am for now. (the pencil grip is a bridge to far for now, so I am staying overhand. ;) )
The first tension you showed is kinda how I do mines. I'm just starting. Except mines a little different instead of wrapping it around my index finger I wrap it around my middle finger. Its carzy cause it just came naturally but i could never figure out how i did it until. I had to stop and look. 😅
I have tried 9 inch circs. I have a review of them. I did switch my grip to overhand for them. I tensioned my yarn the same way I do for lever but brought my forefinger under the working yarn so It pushes the yarn foreword. My review has video of me using them.
@@CarrieCraftGeek I couldn’t find your review. I’ve always been an English style knitter, but have adjusted how I knit to more of an adapted flicking style. Much more efficient than throwing for sure.
@@CarrieCraftGeek my grandmother used to do lever knitting (Irish cottage style) while holding the needle like a pencil, but I don’t remember ever seeing her use a circular needle.
I can flick a knit stitch. but the purl is beyond my brain's ability to comprehend. So I'm still knitting continental. Over the years I've made some improvements, none of which have increased my speed. However my tension has improved. I used to wind a rows worth of yarn on my forefinger and gradually unspool it to knit. I now tension yarn over my fingers, big difference. I keep hoping to make more changes that might increase speed (I am inordinately slow), but I'm not too confident I will.
grettings from bavaria i learn knittig englich wahy i life wiht multple skletose mey left hand is not so gut but my rhigt hand is better thanks for this video lovly👋👋👋👍👍 i love england 💂♂💂♂💂♂sorry bad englisch ❤❤❤ michaela
This video was honestly the first time I heard someone challenge the fold wisdom that continental knitting is faster or, more importantly, more efficient. I loved all your tips about making the moves more ergonomic and I'm so intrigued with lever knitting! I have to check it out. I've actually switched to continental a year ago, but only partly because of the rumour it was faster - mostly because of my octagenarian Polish grandma who got distressed everytime she saw me knitting, since there was clearly something wrong and unnatural going on with my needles :P
I'm an English knitter and i threw my yarn. Now I flick the yarn but now I'm going to go watch your other video!
Flicking is really cool. But, I just haven’t put in the time to learn it since I throw from ring finger keeping my thumb and forefinger free.
Millions of years ago, before youtube, I tried teaching myself how to knit and tried to learn English style. At this time I was crocheting. So, switching hands with the yarn confused me so much that I quit Knitting. A few years later, when RUclips became popular, I started watching videos that had people knitting in the continental way. It was so easy to pick up that way. However, over the years I noticed that anything I tried to make was always wonky. I started watching your videos and wanted to try the lever knitting. It is difficult but I am forcing myself to really make the effort. The hardest part is training my left had to pick up some of the work. Lol I think I'm doing much better now and it's so much more comfortable than continental. So, thank you, Carrie, for teaching this way!!
I’m so glad I’ve helped you on your journey! When I learned to crochet it was after knitting with holding yarn in my right hand. It took me awhile to get used to having yarn in my left hand and I felt so fumbly. Now I’m ambidextrous with holding my yarn. 😁🧶
I am a Lever knitter. A Irish cottage knitter.
I tension the yarn over my little finger ,(not wrapped,)
One thing I only hold the yarn , only over the tip of my index finger.
Both my needles work together, in anything the left needle does the work
Unfortunately I do not find circular needles very easy because they are so short.
But thank you for your time
Great video! Thank you for sharing your tips.
I am a Continental knitter, but just recently I decided to learn to knit English/flicking as well. My plan is not to substitute Continental knitting but to add to my knitting ability. I have been paying more close attention to overall tension in my projects and truthfully I can say my tension is pretty even. Minor discrepancies at times, but in general good tension. As far as knitting faster I'd say I don't necessarily consider speed the main object of knitting. Though it is good to knit at a reasonable pace that allows for finishing projects in a timely manner, I don't think that all has to be sacrificed at the altar of "knitting faster." I can get into a very comfortable and reasonably good pace knitting Continental, but that just happens due to muscle memory and the fine-tuning of my knitting abilities over the years.
As I look to add tools into my knitting toolbox, I also am practicing combining both styles in a project if it gives me better results/tension, or if the stitch pattern is conducive to mixing both Continental and English in one project. I know knitters that pick knit stitches Continental style and throw/flick purl stitches English style. Their results are great. In addition, I have learned to knit backward and Combination. All these methods bring good solutions to certain problems and good ways to approach knitting. I enjoy the process of knitting as much as the finished object and I plan to add to my toolbox as needed going forward. :)
I know this video is a bit older. I haven't watched your lever video yet, but I am curious. I did increase my speed by utilizing ideas from lever, especially utilizing my left needle. I still knife grip, and I have no desire to flick. My right hand mostly moves forward and back, pick up the work. The twisting the finger of flicking doesn't work for me. Trying to hold the project in the pencil grip was hard for me which is why I didn't switch my grip.
Hey Thank you for making these videos! I started knitting about 2 months ago and was taught English throwing. I did a bunch of research, but your lever knitting video was the clearest for me, and after I watched it (ok a few times) I switched to a combo lever flicking type thing? I was originally looking for "faster knitting" but the stuff you point out about efficiency and ergonomics really made rethink what I was trying to get at. This video reinforced those thoughts, and I am happy where I am for now. (the pencil grip is a bridge to far for now, so I am staying overhand. ;) )
So glad you’re finding a way of knitting that works for you and I can be a resource. Happy knitting!
The first tension you showed is kinda how I do mines. I'm just starting. Except mines a little different instead of wrapping it around my index finger I wrap it around my middle finger. Its carzy cause it just came naturally but i could never figure out how i did it until. I had to stop and look. 😅
Do you ever use 9” circulars? If so, curious how you adjust for lever knitting/pencil grip
I have tried 9 inch circs. I have a review of them. I did switch my grip to overhand for them. I tensioned my yarn the same way I do for lever but brought my forefinger under the working yarn so It pushes the yarn foreword. My review has video of me using them.
@@CarrieCraftGeek I couldn’t find your review. I’ve always been an English style knitter, but have adjusted how I knit to more of an adapted flicking style. Much more efficient than throwing for sure.
@@CarrieCraftGeek my grandmother used to do lever knitting (Irish cottage style) while holding the needle like a pencil, but I don’t remember ever seeing her use a circular needle.
Sorry you couldn’t find the review. Here is a link if you are still interested. 🙂
ruclips.net/video/1Kdel9RoVuQ/видео.html
I can flick a knit stitch. but the purl is beyond my brain's ability to comprehend. So I'm still knitting continental. Over the years I've made some improvements, none of which have increased my speed. However my tension has improved. I used to wind a rows worth of yarn on my forefinger and gradually unspool it to knit. I now tension yarn over my fingers, big difference. I keep hoping to make more changes that might increase speed (I am inordinately slow), but I'm not too confident I will.
I’d take good tension over speed any day.
Watch the Shetland islanders knit, so fast ,you can't actually see what they are doing.
I love watching them. Don't think I'll ever get up to those speeds, but they are amazing.
Thank you
grettings from bavaria i learn knittig englich wahy i life wiht multple skletose mey left hand is not so gut but my rhigt hand is better thanks for this video lovly👋👋👋👍👍 i love england 💂♂💂♂💂♂sorry bad englisch ❤❤❤ michaela