Knitting is a popular and enjoyable craft that can be both practical and creative. There are several different knitting styles, and one of the most popular is continental knitting. This style is known for its efficiency and speed, as well as its ease of use. In this article, we will guide you through the process of continental knitting step-by-step, so you can learn this versatile technique and start creating beautiful knitted items.
To begin continental knitting, you will need a set of knitting needles and some yarn. It’s important to choose the right size of needles for your yarn, as this will ensure your stitches are the appropriate size. Once you have your materials ready, you can start by casting on your stitches. This is done by creating loops on one of the needles, which will form the foundation of your project.
Once you have cast on your stitches, the next step is to hold the yarn and the knitting needles correctly. In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand, while the right hand holds the needle. This grip allows for quick and smooth movements, making it easier to knit.
To start knitting, insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from left to right. Then, using your left hand, bring the yarn over the right needle. With your right hand, pull the right needle through the stitch, creating a new loop on the right needle. Continue this process, moving the stitches from the left needle to the right needle, until you have completed the row.
Continental knitting may take some practice to master, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it to be a fast and efficient way to create knitted items. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a continental knitting pro!
Benefits of Continental Knitting
Continental knitting, also known as German knitting or left-handed knitting, is a knitting technique that uses the left hand to hold and tension the yarn while the right hand manipulates the needles. This method is gaining popularity among knitters around the world due to its numerous benefits:
- Speed: Continental knitting is often considered faster than the traditional English knitting style. The continuous motion of the yarn and the minimal hand movement required for each stitch allows for increased knitting speed.
- Efficiency: With the yarn held in the left hand, continental knitting can be more efficient and ergonomic. The shorter distance between the needles and yarn helps reduce strain on the hands and wrists, making it a preferred choice for knitters with arthritis or other hand-related issues.
- Consistency: The way the yarn is tensioned in continental knitting lends itself to consistent stitch size. This can result in more even and uniform fabric, perfect for projects where precision matters.
- Smooth and Floatless Purling: One of the key advantages of continental knitting is its purl stitch. Since the yarn is already in the left hand, purling becomes a simple process of flicking the yarn with the middle finger. This technique eliminates the need to wrap the yarn around the needle, resulting in smoother and faster purl stitches.
- Compatibility with Colorwork: Continental knitting allows for easy colorwork knitting, such as Fair Isle or stranded knitting. With both hands free to hold different yarn colors, knitters can swap colors effortlessly and achieve intricate color patterns without any hassle.
Overall, continental knitting offers a range of advantages, including increased speed, efficiency, consistency, smooth purling, and compatibility with colorwork. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter, it’s worth giving this technique a try to see if it suits your knitting style and preferences.
Gathering the Required Supplies
Before you can start continental knitting, you will need to gather the necessary supplies. Here is a list of items that you will need:
- Knitting needles: Choose a pair of knitting needles that are suitable for the yarn you plan to use. The size of the needles will depend on the thickness of the yarn. If you are a beginner, it’s recommended to start with medium or bulky weight yarn and a corresponding pair of needles.
- Yarn: Select a yarn that is appropriate for your project. Consider the desired color, texture, and fiber content. Acrylic yarn is a popular choice for beginners because it is affordable and easy to work with.
- Tapestry needle: A tapestry needle is necessary for weaving in loose ends and finishing your knitted project.
- Scissors: Keep a pair of scissors nearby for cutting yarn and trimming excess ends.
- Stitch markers: Stitch markers can be helpful for keeping track of stitch patterns or marking certain sections of your knitting.
- Row counter: A row counter can be used to keep track of the number of rows you have knitted, especially in more complex patterns.
Once you have gathered all the necessary supplies, you will be ready to start learning how to continental knit.
Casting On Stitches
Before you can begin knitting, you’ll need to cast on your stitches, which creates the foundation row for your project. There are several different methods for casting on, but in this tutorial, we’ll be focusing on the long-tail cast on method, also known as the Continental cast on.
To start, you’ll need to leave a long tail of yarn, approximately three times the width of your finished project. This tail will be used as a foundation for your stitches. Place the tail over your thumb, and hold it along with the working yarn between your thumb and index finger.
Next, insert your needle between the tail and the working yarn, from top to bottom. Use your thumb to hold the needle in place, while keeping tension on the yarns with your index finger and middle finger.
With your free hand, reach behind the needle and grab the working yarn with your index finger and middle finger. Pull the working yarn through the gap between your thumb and needle, creating a loop on the needle.
Repeat this process, inserting your needle between the tail and working yarn, and pulling the working yarn through the gap, until you have cast on the desired number of stitches.
Once you have cast on all your stitches, you can remove your thumb and adjust the tension of your stitches by sliding them closer to the needle.
Continue practicing this casting on method until you feel comfortable with it. Remember to keep practicing and be patient with yourself, as it may take some time to get the hang of it. With practice, you’ll be casting on stitches like a pro in no time!
Holding the Yarn and Needles
Before you begin continental knitting, it’s important to understand how to hold the yarn and needles correctly. This will help you maintain tension and control while you knit.
Here are the steps to holding the yarn and needles:
- Hold the yarn: Hold the working yarn in your left hand. Allow the yarn to pass between your fingers, from your left pinky to your left index finger. The yarn should run over your left index finger, creating tension.
- Hold the needles: Hold the right needle in your right hand and the left needle in your left hand. The tips of the needles should point towards each other.
- Place the yarn over the left needle: With your left hand, bring the working yarn over the top of the left needle, from back to front. This creates a loop of yarn around the needle.
- Insert the right needle: With your right hand, insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from left to right. The right needle should go under the left needle.
- Wrap the yarn: With your left hand, wrap the working yarn around the right needle, from back to front. This creates a loop of yarn around the right needle.
- Pull through: With your right hand, pull the right needle and the loop of yarn through the stitch on the left needle. The stitch is now on the right needle.
- Repeat: Continue these steps, inserting the right needle into the next stitch on the left needle, wrapping the yarn, and pulling through. Repeat until you have completed the desired number of stitches.
Remember to practice and experiment with different tension techniques to find what works best for you. With time and practice, you will become comfortable with continental knitting and be able to create beautiful, even stitches.
Basic Continental Knitting Stitches
Continental knitting is a style where the yarn is held in the left hand, making it easier and faster to knit. There are several basic stitches that are commonly used in continental knitting. Here are some of them:
1. Knit Stitch:
- Insert the right-hand needle into the stitch on the left-hand needle from left to right.
- Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle counterclockwise.
- Pull the right-hand needle through the stitch, sliding the old stitch off the left-hand needle.
2. Purl Stitch:
- Insert the right-hand needle into the stitch on the left-hand needle from right to left.
- Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle counterclockwise.
- Slide the right-hand needle through the stitch, pulling the yarn through the stitch.
- Slide the old stitch off the left-hand needle.
3. Knit 2 Together (K2tog):
- Insert the right-hand needle into the first two stitches on the left-hand needle as if to knit.
- Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle counterclockwise.
- Pull the right-hand needle through the stitches, sliding the old stitches off the left-hand needle.
4. Purl 2 Together (P2tog):
- Insert the right-hand needle into the first two stitches on the left-hand needle as if to purl.
- Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle counterclockwise.
- Slide the right-hand needle through the stitches, pulling the yarn through the stitches.
- Slide the old stitches off the left-hand needle.
5. Slip Stitch (Sl):
- Insert the right-hand needle into the stitch on the left-hand needle as if to purl.
- Slide the stitch from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without working it.
These are just a few of the basic continental knitting stitches. Once you learn these, you can begin to experiment with more complex patterns and stitches. Happy knitting!
Increasing and Decreasing Stitches
Once you have mastered the basic continental knit stitch, you can move on to increasing and decreasing stitches. These techniques allow you to create shaping in your knitted fabric. Here are some common methods for increasing and decreasing stitches:
Increasing Stitches
There are several ways to increase stitches in continental knitting:
- M1 (Make One): Lift the bar between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the left needle with your right needle, then knit into the back loop of this lifted bar.
- Kfb (Knit Front and Back): Knit into the front of the stitch as usual, but before slipping the stitch off the left needle, knit into the back of the same stitch.
- Yarn Over (YO): Simply bring the yarn to the front of your work and then continue knitting the next stitch. This creates a new stitch by wrapping the yarn around the right needle.
Choose the method that works best for your project and the desired effect you want to achieve.
Decreasing Stitches
Similarly, there are different ways to decrease stitches in continental knitting:
- K2tog (Knit Two Together): Insert the right needle into the next two stitches on the left needle as if to knit, then knit them together as one stitch. This decreases one stitch.
- SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): Slip the next two stitches on the left needle one at a time as if to knit, then insert the left needle into the fronts of these two slipped stitches and knit them together as one stitch.
- K2tog tbl (Knit Two Together Through Back Loop): Insert the right needle into the next two stitches on the left needle through the back loops, then knit them together as one stitch. This creates a left-leaning decrease.
Again, select the method that suits your project and the desired outcome.
By mastering increasing and decreasing stitches, you can start to create complex patterns and add shape to your knitted items.
Finishing and Binding Off
Once you have finished knitting your project, it’s time to bind off or cast off your stitches to secure them and prevent them from unraveling. The following steps will guide you through the process of finishing and binding off your knitting.
- Knit the first two stitches.
- Insert the left needle into the first stitch on the right needle.
- Lift the first stitch over the second stitch and let it drop off the needle.
- Knit one stitch.
- Repeat steps 2-4 until there is only one stitch left on the right needle.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
- Thread the tail through the last stitch.
- Pull tight to secure the stitch.
You have now successfully bound off your stitches! To make the finished edge neater, you may wish to weave in the loose ends using a tapestry needle. Simply thread the loose end onto the needle, and weave it back and forth through the stitches on the wrong side of the fabric. Trim any excess yarn.
If you are planning on adding a decorative edge, such as ribbing or a crochet border, consult specific instructions for that technique. Remember to always practice and experiment to find the best finishing method that works for you and your project.
FAQ:
What is continental knitting?
Continental knitting, also known as German knitting or picking, is a knitting technique where the yarn is held in the left hand and the stitches are formed by picking the yarn with the right needle.
Why should I learn continental knitting?
Learning continental knitting can be beneficial for several reasons. It can increase your knitting speed, as it allows for a smoother and more efficient motion. It is also easier on the hands and wrists, as the movements are generally smaller and require less strain. Finally, continental knitting is often used in advanced knitting techniques and patterns, so learning it can open up a wider range of projects for you to tackle.
How do I hold the yarn in continental knitting?
In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand, similarly to how you would hold a pencil. To hold the yarn, loop it around your pinky finger, then bring it over your ring finger, under your middle finger, and over your index finger. The yarn should then come out between your index finger and thumb, where it can be easily controlled while forming stitches.