US vs. Continental Knitting.

[Supertheory]

Which is better?

US is pretty much the only style of knitting I've ever encountered, but I've been watching some videos on youtube about continental knitting, and it seems MUCH nicer. It looks less strenuous (for all of those worried about repetitive stress injuries), and way way way way way faster.

I think I might make the switch.

Does anyone here use the continental method? Has anyone switched from one to the other? Why?


Oh, if you're not sure what the difference is (I wasn't), Continental vs US demo.
 

[Catcheen]

I do both when I'm knitting fair-isle, but otherwise I prefer US. I think continental is very nice, but my tension is harder to control.  

[knitting_needle_ninja]

Neither.

I guess I'm weird. I suppose I'm closer to the continental version, but I purl strangely (I've been told it's the "German" way of doing things, but I don't know what this means), so I have to knit into the back loop of every stitch so that they don't twist. I hold my yarn the same way when I knit as I do when I crochet. Oddly enough, though I'm extremely right handed, and was taught to knit and crochet by a right handed person, the way I hold my yarn and knit is reminiscent of the way my left-handed grandmother held hers (she died four years before I learned to knit, and lived 2000+ miles away, so it's not like we spent a lot of time together). It's interesting the way some things are genetic like that.

Oh, and I was taught to knit by a French Canadian. Quebec is very strongly influenced by Europe, so that could explain how I ended up with a strange Continental hybrid for my knitting style.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Continental for the most part. It's so much faster. I don't control the tension in my yarn like that though...it's hard to describe how I hold it.  

[Sachiko13]

knitting_needle_ninja

Neither.

I guess I'm weird. I suppose I'm closer to the continental version, but I purl strangely (I've been told it's the "German" way of doing things, but I don't know what this means), so I have to knit into the back loop of every stitch so that they don't twist. I hold my yarn the same way when I knit as I do when I crochet. Oddly enough, though I'm extremely right handed, and was taught to knit and crochet by a right handed person, the way I hold my yarn and knit is reminiscent of the way my left-handed grandmother held hers (she died four years before I learned to knit, and lived 2000+ miles away, so it's not like we spent a lot of time together). It's interesting the way some things are genetic like that.

Oh, and I was taught to knit by a French Canadian. Quebec is very strongly influenced by Europe, so that could explain how I ended up with a strange Continental hybrid for my knitting style.

I knit the same way. I taught myself from books, and one book suggested knitting that way for some reason (maybe rugs - I can't remember, and it's an old book from the 70's, which fell apart and I no longer own), so I tried and preferred it, then forgot there was any other way to knit.  

[Supertheory]

One thing she does say in the video is that she usually uses a needle up to two sizes (I'm assuming she's talking mm) smaller than what the yarn actually needs. I'm pretty good with controlling my gauge, well, most of the time, but I'm hoping that after taking some time to re-adjust I'll do ok.

I'm thinking of trying it out on my next project - a round neck sweater with set-in sleeves - but the yarn I'm using I find quite slippery. I'm sure continental will be faster in the long run, but I don't know if it'll be longer to learn it than to just do the whole thing in US.  

[AriRashkae]

knitting_needle_ninja

Neither.

I guess I'm weird. I suppose I'm closer to the continental version, but I purl strangely (I've been told it's the "German" way of doing things, but I don't know what this means), so I have to knit into the back loop of every stitch so that they don't twist. I hold my yarn the same way when I knit as I do when I crochet. Oddly enough, though I'm extremely right handed, and was taught to knit and crochet by a right handed person, the way I hold my yarn and knit is reminiscent of the way my left-handed grandmother held hers (she died four years before I learned to knit, and lived 2000+ miles away, so it's not like we spent a lot of time together). It's interesting the way some things are genetic like that.

Oh, and I was taught to knit by a French Canadian. Quebec is very strongly influenced by Europe, so that could explain how I ended up with a strange Continental hybrid for my knitting style.

Annie Modesitt Knits/purls like that. She calls it combination knitting, and I've found it much easier (and neater!) than "traditional" Continental purling. As long as you remember to orient the stitch the right way, I think it's a better method, combining speed and eveness.  

[Knit Happens]

I guess I've always done Continental.

However, I don't really have a good hold on the yarn that works both for knitting and purling.  

[Evagaline]

I'm fairly new to knitting (being an avid crochetter for years ^_^) and the only style I've ever encountered is US. I'm really glad you made this topic though, because I recently developed tendenitis in my wrists. With more than one option of knitting, I can avoid making the condition worse! biggrin  

[Aki Yasu]

I've always done us knitting, but l think I'll learn this other method.  

[Supertheory]

One of the reasons I was interested in continental was simply that it looks faster than US. Smaller motions, more efficient. Quantity is a big issue for me when I knit, and that really drew me to it. The problem is that it's taking too long for me to learn. I've decided to continue on with working US style on my sweaters for class, then do Continental for a few smaller projects.

Another t hing I like about it, is that it seems FANTASTIC when you're working with two colours. Who needs to put yarn down when you can just switch hands?  

[karli beth]

Well, i've alway knitted U.S. (but i hate it) i could NEVER get my tension right and then i would just ruin my project. Continental IS alot faster but, atleast for me, alot harder to teach yourself how to do.  

[sonicrunner001]

When I started knitting, I was a thrower, that's how my mother taught in 5th grade, that's how she does most everything. (she is a master knitter) but then I dropped the needles for a few years, and then picked up the hook. (crochet hooks) and I became quite proficient at it. I then tried to pick up the needles. I just cannot throw for the like of me, So I am in the posistion of being stuck in continental not able to convert to throwing.