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Dumb knitting question of the day

GypsyEsqGypsyEsq member
in Eco-Friendly Family

How do you know if you do English or Continential knitting?  When I watch videos on knittinghelp.com I just watch the first one and do that.  I'm wondering if maybe I'm inadvertently switching back and forth.  Is that even possible?  I learned to cast on and knit from my MIL - I think what I do is called "knit-on" and not the long tail thing where you work backwards into the yarn.  Ugh...I'm so out of my league with knitting, I don't even have the right vocabulary.

Also - this sheepy knits longies pattern - honestly can anyone tell me how hard it is?  Short rows aside.  I'm really struggling with this lacey blanket project and I wonder if it's because all of the k2tg, ssk, yo, psso's etc... If I did a straight up knit/purl pattern would I do better?

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Re: Dumb knitting question of the day

  • Temp76535187505890Temp76535187505890
    The Sheepy Pants pattern is pretty easy in terms of what stitches you have to do.  It's mostly knitting, a little purling and infrequent KFB, k2tog, etc. 
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  • cooksrcooksr

    english vs continental is dependant on which hand you hold the yarn in (i think.. but I couldn't tell you which is which).

    Sheepy Pants is pretty easy to follow especially since it gives a lot of explanation and resources for new stiches. Short rows are not as hard as i made them for myself :)

    and yes, a blanket just knit or purl would be easier but you are learning a lot it sounds like!!

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  • Temp76535187505890Temp76535187505890

    You should watch one of the videos for English & one for Continental and note which hand the working yarn is held in. 

    I knit English and the working yarn comes off of the right needle and I use my right hand to wrap while a Continental knitter has the working yarn coming off the same needle but they hold it in their left hand.  

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  • reenireeni member

    As pp said, Continental vs English is just which hand does the feeding of the yarn; otherwise everything is the same.

    The different cast-ons won't make much of a difference in most projects, although the long-tail cast-on is the most common. I like the knit-on cast- on because I don't have to worry about running out of "tail" or having a lot extra. 

    The sheepy pants pattern is great because it has a lot of guidance for the beginner, but once you have done it there are many fun variations for the more experienced. You just have to know how to knit in the round; the rest she has clear directions for (kf&b, m1left and right, ribbing, I-cord, etc)

    Lace is tough to keep track of! Kudos to you for trying it -- stockinette is a lot less taxing.

     

     

     

     

     

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  • AnnaBananaBelleAnnaBananaBelle
    The sheepy pants pattern isn't too hard so far.  If you take it step by step and not let yourself get frustrated.  If you hold your working yarn in your right hand you are knitting English, opposite is Continental.    Pick up the Stitch and *** book, it'll help you with a lot of the basics :)
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