Monday, June 04, 2007

How Do You Hold Your Yarn?

I have heard much talk of toe-up knitting. Everyone who tries seems to love it, so I am jumping on the bandwagon too. All eager to get started, I sought out a little guidance on starting the technique. My KnittingHelp.com had the video guidance I was in need of.

What struck me about this video assistance is not how neat and simple the technique looks, but how she holds the string. She holds the yarn in her left hand, taught, and works the right needle into the stitch to snag the yarn and pull it through. I hold the yarn in my right hand put the right needle through the stitch then wrap the yarn around the needle and pull it through to make the stich. I have tried her way of doing and it makes sense, but it got me thinking, is that the way most knitter knit? Have I been doing it the remedial way? Help out here with an impromtu survey and let me know, how do you hold your yarn?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hold the yarn in my left hand, same as you do. My mom holds it in her right hand and she seems to be able to knit faster than I b/c of it. Though she does make more mistakes and rips out more often, so I guess it works out.

...Sarah said...

Sorry Natalie, I accidentally deleted your comment. But here it is:

I have tried to hold in the left hand - really - it seems to make more sense. Somehow, the yarn keeps going back on over to the right side... I guess I am a thrower (a pitcher, or a yankee knitter - whatever, I hold it in the right).

a friend to knit with said...

That girl on the video was knitting the european way (wow was that video boring!) :)
I do it the good old american way, and hold it in my right hand......the european way is MUCH faster after you get it down....i just never want to waste my time learning it! :)

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

I only hold it in the left when I'm stranding, otherwise it;s right hand all the way...