Stitches can be constructed in different ways, which is why it is important to know what kind of knitter you are. Therefore, let’s take a look at the two fundamental parts of knitting: method and style.

The knitting method defines how the leading and trailing legs of your stitches sit on the needle, how the working needle is inserted into the stitches, and how the yarn is wrapped around the needle.

The knitting style defines in which hand you hold your yarn, and how you wrap the yarn around the needle. Here, the options are endless, and since there is no right or wrong, I will not talk about it further. Whilst Continental and English style knitting is very common, there are many other ways to hold and guide the yarn.

With regards to the knitting method, there are three methods in total: western, eastern, and combination knitting.

Of these three methods, western knitting is by far the most common one, and most knitting patterns – at least in the western world – are written for western knitting. What this means for eastern and combination knitters will be discussed in my next blog post.

With all these different ways to knit, please remember that there is no ‘wrong’ way to knit.

My late mother always told me that her knitting was ‘wrong’, referring to her English style knitting. In addition to that she was a combination knitter. Not knowing any better at the time, I trained myself to change to Continental style western knitting. Whilst the method was easy to adapt to, Continental style knitting was incredibly difficult at first, but feels natural to me now.

So, unless you accidentally or unknowingly twist your stitches, whichever way you knit is perfectly fine!

Next time, we are going to look into the different stitch constructions for each method in more detail.

Until then, happy knitting!

Your Crafty Geo, Eva