How I Found Continental Knitting Without Even Knowing It
I was actually taught to knit using English style knitting, with the yarn held in the right hand and thrown around the needle for each stitch. But very quickly, almost instinctively, I changed the way I held my yarn. I didn’t know there was a name for it at the time. I wasn’t trying to follow a method or learn a new technique. It simply felt more comfortable in my hands, more natural to the way my fingers wanted to move. Only much later did I learn that what I had switched to was called continental knitting, also known as European knitting or picker knitting.
I’ve been knitting for close to 30 years now, and the vast majority of that time has been spent knitting continental. It’s the way my hands learned to move, the way my muscles remember, and the way knitting feels most intuitive to me. Continental knitting wasn’t a conscious choice in the beginning. It was something my body chose first, and my brain caught up later.
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What Is Continental, European, or Picker Knitting?
Continental knitting, sometimes called European knitting or picker knitting, is a style of knitting where the yarn is held in the left hand and picked through the stitch with the needle, rather than thrown with the right hand. The working yarn stays close to the needles, and the motion is often smaller and more economical. Many knitters who crochet first naturally gravitate toward continental knitting because the yarn tension and hand position feel familiar.
In picker knitting, the right needle simply scoops or picks the yarn through the stitch. This can make knitting feel smoother and more rhythmic, especially once muscle memory develops. Continental knitting is widely used across Europe and is known for its efficiency, speed, and reduced movement. That said, speed isn’t the goal for everyone. Comfort, longevity, and enjoyment matter just as much.
English vs Continental Knitting: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between English knitting and continental knitting lies in how the yarn is held and how each stitch is formed. In English style knitting, the yarn is held in the right hand and wrapped or thrown around the needle for each stitch. This creates a larger hand movement and often more finger action per stitch.
In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand and picked through the stitch with minimal motion. Many knitters find continental knitting to be gentler on the hands, wrists, and shoulders, especially during long knitting sessions. English knitting can feel more controlled for some knitters, particularly beginners, while continental knitting often feels fluid and efficient once learned. Neither style is better or worse. They are simply different approaches to creating the same beautiful knitted fabric.
A Lifelong Mission: Reducing Movement and Knitting With Ease
Even after decades of knitting, I’m still on a mission to reduce unnecessary finger movement and keep my hands as relaxed as possible. Knitting is repetitive by nature, and over time, tension and discomfort can build if we grip too tightly or overwork small muscles. Continental knitting naturally encourages smaller movements, but it still requires mindfulness.
I’m always paying attention to how much my fingers move, how tightly I’m holding the yarn, and whether my hands feel loose or strained. The goal is not perfection, but ease. I want knitting to feel sustainable for a lifetime. By minimizing excess motion and staying aware of tension, I can knit longer, more comfortably, and with far less fatigue. Knitting should feel supportive, not demanding, and continental knitting has helped me honor that.
Why Continental Knitting Feels So Natural to Me
Continental knitting feels like a quiet conversation between my hands and the needles. There’s a rhythm to picker knitting that allows me to settle into the process rather than fight it. Over the years, this style of knitting has shaped how I design, how I teach, and how I think about knitted fabric as a whole.
Whether you knit English, continental, European, or a blend of styles, the most important thing is listening to your body. Knitting should adapt to you, not the other way around. Continental knitting just happens to be the language my hands speak most fluently, and after nearly 30 years of knitting, I’m still learning how to make that language softer, gentler, and more sustainable with every stitch.