Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive » My New Knitting Thing

My New Knitting Thing

Nov 25th, 2007 by Kathy

I got several different questions about what changed in my technique when I posted about my gauge issues. I have not responded to one darn note. I feel really bad about that.

I’ve been trying to stay totally in the moment with my kids as we head into the holiday season, my computer time is getting the squeeze. I have to admit I like not being so technologically connected all the time. The flip side is enormous guilt at not being able to do it all… yada, yada, yada… I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir so here’s my idea: let’s all just sing Christmas carols and rejoice in what we can each offer at any given point in time. Oh, good, I love it when everyone agrees.

Now to talk about what changed in my Continental technique to get the gauge correct. I attempted two photo shoots. One with the remote control and the second with Leil behind the lens. Neither worked out too well so this is the one picture where my fingers are actually in focus (thanks Sweetie).

The best way to start is to attempt a description of my old style. I was holding the yarn in my left hand but it was really loose. Maybe 2 inches between the knitting and my finger. Not a good thing for tension control, too wiggly in all that slack. In addition, I was doing this wrap thing for both knit and purl. I wasn’t ‘picking’ my thread up with the tip of the needle. I was putting the needle through and then using my left hand to take that 2 inches of slack and wrap it around the needle before pulling it back through. This created no tension on the yarn. Just big, loose stitches.

The Churchmouse goddess changed a couple of things in my technique:

1. First off, the distance between the knitting and my left-hand pointer finger shrunk down to less than an inch. That is visible in the photo above (I’m purling there).

2. I was also instructed to freeze the middle finger of my left hand on the top stitch of the left needle. Previously, I was using the middle finger to push the yarn here and there. I’m just now getting comfortable with this new habit. The left hand is now just controlling the yarn feed and tension. It’s not doing any of the work of getting the yarn to wrap around the needle. All of that is controlled by my right hand.

3. The right hand. Big changes here too. Everything got small and tidy. I now just dip in the needle to knit and gently pick the yarn and pull it towards me. To purl, I do exactly the same thing only in reverse. No big movements with the hand, just come up, snatch the yarn and pull it back through. This has been the hardest change and I’m still practicing to make it feel comfortable.

I can not believe the speed I’ve picked up with the changes. My hands are more still, the needles are traveling way less distance, all the movements being made are efficient and purposeful. It’s also less strain on my hands. Churchmouse offers drop-in sessions for knitting. I plan to go and continue perfecting my technique. It’s made my knitting so much more enjoyable!

The yarn I’m using: Rowan Felted Tweed #145 Treacle.

Posted in Knitting | 14 Comments

14 Responses to “My New Knitting Thing”

on 25 Nov 2007 at 6:14 pm1adrienne

Glad you have found something that works for you. I was so away from the computer this week as well and it felt SO GOOD!!!! I have to do that more often!
on 25 Nov 2007 at 8:14 pm2Mama Urchin

I want to learn to knit continental, maybe after Christmas. I love Rowan felted tweed, I think Papa is going to get a sweater from it.
on 25 Nov 2007 at 9:47 pm3claudine

Oh no, the way I’m knitting now sounds like your old style, I never got the hang of the picking thing. Didn’t realise that it could affect my gauge. You learn something new everyday I think I should practice picking some more!
on 25 Nov 2007 at 11:27 pm4Kristin L

Thanks for the tips. I think I pick OK, but maybe could move the left hand closer for better tension. Today is my day that I usually have a little time for knitting, so I think I’ll try some of your changes as. Fa la la la la …..
on 26 Nov 2007 at 2:10 am5nicolette

Are you lefthanded? I learned to knit at the age of 7 at primary school… the way the nons teached was not always pleasant but I learned to knit very well. Those computerbreaks can be such a relieve!
on 26 Nov 2007 at 8:51 am6Administrator

Claudine: You are such a fabulous knitter, one of my idols! The movement of the left-hand middle finger is an interesting debate. I did a lot of learning at www.knittinghelp.com and she uses that middle finger on the left-hand to control the yarn. This is obviously a flavor of continential knitting that has a lot of subtlety to it.

Kristin: …la, la, la, la.

Nicolette: I’m right handed. I was taught to knit holding the yarn in my right hand but it never felt comfortable to me. I tried Continental and it immediately clicked for me.
on 26 Nov 2007 at 9:31 am7Anina

I my have to visit the Churchmouse lady. Do you think she could help lefties?
on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:42 am8April

You have inspired me to have a closer look at my knitting technique. I am dealing with tendonitis in my wrists and can definitely benefit from my movements being efficient and purposeful.
on 26 Nov 2007 at 1:42 pm9Carla

Hey Miss Kathy-

I looked at the machine stitching posts on your blog, and I think I’m going to “copy” you and try a big freezer paper flower. It looks like I can maybe handle that. LOL! Did you roll your quilt and work from the middle out, or just go block by block, and not roll it?

Did you see this? I was surprised that I didn’t find your name on this list of participants. I’m sure you’ve got a million projects going, but I just though I’d share in case you wanted to join a whole bunch of other quilters in making some blocks. I’m going to try and join in-like I need another project. LOL! I’ll keep you posted on the flower quilt project! Thanks for all of your help! You’re awesome!
on 26 Nov 2007 at 1:43 pm10Carla

OOPS forgot to give you the link to the quilt along! Sorry!

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2007/11/quilt-long-week-1.html

They’re on week 3 now! I’d better get caught up. I just found this site today!
on 26 Nov 2007 at 1:44 pm11Tina Mackowiak

I can’t wait to get home from work today to try that new way of holding the yarn. I knew I was doing something wrong, but it was looking OK so I kept doing it…..wrong. But now I know, and I’ll be practicing. Thanks so much! Tina
on 26 Nov 2007 at 4:21 pm12Administrator

Carla: First, I did straight stitch quilting on the sashing to anchor the whole thing. Then I ironed on my template block by block, starting in the center and working my way out. That was a nine block quilt so I did the center block first, the blocks on either side, the blocks above and below, and lastly, the 4 corner blocks. I roll the parts not being worked on so it fits under the machine and makes it all easier to handle.
on 29 Nov 2007 at 8:18 pm13Cici

thanks for this. i’m just learning to knit (Continental seems to be the right “fit” for me) and I have huge gloppy stitches when I purl. I’m definitely going to be making these same changes.
on 30 Nov 2007 at 1:27 pm14JudyC

Good work Kathie! I crochet left handed and do everything else right handed and I noticed early on that my grandmother never moved her right hand and worked the needle for every stitch. Since I do it with the non dominate hand I realized that I hold the needle with the left hand but I actually move everything on the right hand…I swoop the thread over the needle, do my loops and all using the right hand.

I need to call next week and get a refresher knitting class so I can make a small bag that I bought! Continental seems like it will be my way to go, but we’ll see!