How to knit Faster: Continental Knitting Tips & Tools

Speed and accuracy that every knitter dreams of in craft. Continental knitting is one such method for increasing efficiency without compromising stitch quality. In this, your working yarn is in your left hand, and the right knitting needle is for picking up the yarn to create stitches. Let's explore through this blog how to become proficient in it, tips, and tools that work best. Read our blog to learn tricks and tips to knit faster.

Continental Knitting- A Traditional Style

This unique knitting style originated in Europe, especially Germany. It is also known as 'picking', in which you hold working yarn in your left hand and the right-hand needle to pick up the yarn rather than throwing it over the needle like in English knitting style. This style of knitting reduces your hand movement and produces faster, smoother stitches. Read how to knit in the continental style in our blog. 

Let's browse and find out why it's so famous:

• In this, you don't require much hand movement, so just relax and enjoy the technique.
• If you know the crochet technique, then you can easily find it intuitive and easy to pick up.
• This style works great if you want to knit intricate patterns.
• Once you have mastered this technique, you can knit faster. Check out the difference between knitting faster vs smoother.

Role of Knitting Tools in Continental Technique

If you don't have the appropriate tools, you won't be able to utilise this technique perfectly, which means speed and stitch quality. Explore some knitting tools and help you select the right one for your project:

1. Single-Pointed Knitting Needles are traditional knitting needles, which are ideal for back-and-forth knitting. It is simple to use and works best for flat projects. When working with the continental knitting technique, it works perfectly fine with both knit and purl stitches. When you use a straight needle, hold the working yarn in your left hand and a needle in your right hand to pick up yarn.

2. Double-Pointed Needles, which are**** short, straight needles that come in a set of 4 or 5, have points at both ends. With this type of variety in the dp needles, you can easily knit small round projects, such as socks, mittens, or hats. Not only this, but the style of knitting allows a smooth transition of stitches between the needles, especially when you are knitting in tight spaces and for small circumference projects.

3. Circular Knitting Needles are popular among knitters and are connected with flexible cables to make versatile flat and round projects. The continental technique perfectly suits these needles; you get even stitches and better overall fabric.

When to use Continental Style

You can use this technique:

• When working on the larger projects.
• In case you are working on a repetitive pattern.
• Working on colorwork technique.

When to use English Style

You can effectively use:

• When working with complex stitch patterns.
• You feel more comfortable with throwing.

Discover Continental Knitting Tips

Here are some suggestions/tips, which will help you to easily transition from English to the Continental way of knitting:

• In this new technique, starting with the simple basic knitting stitch, such as the garter stitch, and not with the complex one. You will learn how to hold the needles and apply the technique.
• To get even tension, it is essential to maintain the same yarn tension throughout the project as you do in English style.
• Watch tutorial videos; these will help you to learn quickly.
• Switching technique takes time to learn, so don't get frustrated in between.
• Practice it regularly so that you can easily get used to hand movement.

Continental Knitting Style Pros and Cons at a Glance

It is a great journey for those knitters who love to explore new skills and methods to make their patterns creative. The continental style gives your crafting routine a different approach and rhythm. Knitting needle sets from KnitPro, such as Symfonie, Dreamz, Karbonz, and Zing, provide you amazing knitting experience.