Continental Knitting - German-style Knitting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Knitting with the yarn in one's left hand is commonly referred to as Continental knitting,German-Style Knitting, left-hand knitting or European knitting. Unlike English knitting, the yarn is kept in the left hand and more importantly, the left hand never leaves the needle. While the English knitter can work by lifting the one hand up off the needle to wrap yarn around the opposite needle, the Continental knitter keeps both hands on their respective needles at all times.
Most German/Continental knitters feel that this style is more efficient than the English/American method.
Continental/German style knitting is also referred to as "picking", whereas English/American style knitting is referred to as "throwing".
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[edit] Hand motions
The motion of the right wrist is used to slip the right needle into the loop of the stitch being knitted and 'scoop' or 'hook' the yarn onto the right needle. An alternative method of collecting the yarn involves using the thumb or index finger of the right hand to hold the yarn in place as the new stitch is being pulled out of the loop.
This knitting style is often easier to learn for people with crocheting experience, since the way the yarn is held in the left hand is similar to crochet, and the motion of the right hand is similar to the motion seen in crochet, although the knitting needle is held under the palm of the hand. One major difference in the motion of the right wrist is that in crochet the needle is held more like a pencil; this method of holding the knitting needle like a pencil was briefly made popular around 1900 under the guise of being more ladylike. Nowadays, however, the majority of knitters hold both needles under the palm.
[edit] Yarn tension
The tension in the yarn is controlled by threading the yarn through the fingers of the left hand. Typically, the yarn is looped around the little finger and over the index finger.
[edit] History
This style originated in continental Europe, specifically recognized in Germany, but is also found to a significant degree in the English-speaking world.
Other knitting styles include English knitting (aka right-hand knitting) and Combined knitting.
