How to Knit Continental Style

The Basics of Learning to Knit Continental Style – Step by Step.
In the Continental or European method of hand knitting – the Yarn is held in the Left hand and the tension is controlled by the Left Index and Middle fingers.

The stitches are picked up and knit using the Right hand – and There is minimal arm and shoulder movement in this style of knitting as the arms can be held close to the body while knitting. The yarn is picked up onto the needle with a slight twist of the wrist.

I think that the ‘Continental’ style of knitting may be done slightly differently in different countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland, and elsewhere in the European region. Everyone has their own style or develops their finger, wrist and hand movements to a version that suits their body best. There is no one RIGHT or WRONG way of knitting. Whether you stretch your index finger out or bend it as you work the yarn and control the tension, how you wrap the yarn around your fingers is an individual preference. It is important to experiment and find what method works best for you.

I learned to knit as a young child. I remember my first early attempts at knitting at around the age of 6 and I think by 8-9 years of age I was knitting small items of clothing etc for my dolls and stuffed animals.

I have made some YouTube videos that demonstrate the basics of this Scandinavian, European, Continental style of knitting. I will be making several short videos to demonstrate this technique, so that you can see close-up how the knitting is done. If the videos aren’t clear enough, please let me know.

FINNISH STYLE CONTINENTAL KNITTING

CAST ON and work the KNIT STITCH

PURL STITCH
How to pick up and form the PURL STITCH