Knitting continental: The Ordinary Knitter – episode 60

The Ordinary Knitter Podcast
Knitting
Knitting continental: The Ordinary Knitter – episode 60
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Knitting continental

knitting continental
Proto-socks

Welcome to Knitting continental, episode 60 of The Ordinary Knitter, the knitting podcast that’s (mostly) about the projects. Find it on iTunes through your podcast app or subscribe via the feed link on the right hand bar (https://www.theordinaryknitter.net/feed/podcast).

My name is Heather and I’m @theordknitter on Twitter, @theordinaryknitter on Instagram and @ordinaryknitting on Ravelry. I have a teenage daughter who’s coming up to her GCSEs and who would like to be a linguist, so we’re trying to raise £500 to cover her travel to, fro and within Europe for a trip this summer. She’ll be staying with family at each destination as we’re lucky enough to have family sprinkled through France, Germany and Hungary. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to make a wee contribution, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/polly-europe and hearfelt thanks from Polly’s mum. Back to the knitting.

This week: new knitting goodies for Christmas, sock progress and more hot water bottles.

Ft knitting patterns

Ft yarns

Knitting continental

knitting continental
Caught knitting (UK-style)

I was going to say that the two main methods of knitting are continental or ‘English’ (UK-style as I prefer to call it), but that’s a gross simplification. Knitters tend to divide into those who hold the yarn in their right hand and those who hold the yarn in their left, but beyond that there are lots of variations in technique, from those who tuck one knitting needle under their arm to those who never knit with straight needles (me!) and even those who knit backwards so that they never have to knit on the wrong side.

The various techniques, recognised and improvised, have their pros and cons. I’ve always felt that not knitting continental marks me out as a bit of an amateur, like not being able to tie my shoelaces or whistle, so in this pod I talk about my experience of trying to incorporate it into the socks. It’s been a very mixed experience, ultimately boiling down to a combination of “help, I don’t feel in control!” and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’d hoped that knitting continental would ease the strain on my left arm but it didn’t make any difference that I noticed and gave me a bit of jip on the ribbed top of the foot, so for now I’m sticking with UK-style knitting. My next project will be a hot water bottle cover that’s knit in the round in stocking stitch so maybe I’ll give it another go then. I’m a big fan of biting the bullet, as long as I can spit it out again.

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