I [heart] Continental!

I learned to knit English style, although I didn't know it at the time. When I was little, it's just the way I learned. When I first read about Continental knitting, I thought it was so weird! Holding the yarn with your left hand!! But when I tried making this double knit hat for my brother, I made myself learn to do both so I could hold both yarns at the same time! It definitely took some getting used to, and I ended up with a slightly different gauge (due to my tension) for one side of the hat than the other side, meaning the inside hat was bigger than the outside hat (but I just worked it out as part of the fold-up brim).

I also learned to purl "wrong" when I was little. This was my mom's doing, because she didn't know it created twisted stitches. I'm still not sure she gets it, after I've showed her a few times recently. But doing only the purl stitches clockwise and knit stitches counter-clockwise (all through front loops), I would create the alternating rows pattern of twisted/not twisted in my stockinette work. I myself didn't even notice this pattern until I was trying to teach a friend of mine to purl. I was showing her while at the same time reading the directions from a knitting book. I noticed the difference in what I was doing versus what was depicted on the page, was momentarily confused, and thought, "Oh well, both ways make a purl stitch!" Later I must have read more about it on the internet or examined my work, or both, and realized what was going on here!

I discovered a cool knitting blog by Grumperina when I was searching for patterns online. She is one awesome knitter, and I believe she is local to me (Cambridge, I think). She's also a grad student, I think studying something neuroscience related, so that is pretty cool as well! Anyway, through her expertise, I discovered combined knitting. Ah-ha! Here's a use for my backwards purling!! But it's only really convenient for continental knitters, and only in straight needle (back and forth) knitting, not knitting in the round (obviously, since stockinette in the round is only knit stitch, no purl).

I was resistant to continental knitting for a while, found it awkward and my hand muscles weren't used to it. However, in more recent times, I have put forth the effort to knit this way because it is fabulous for ribbing! And for seed stitch. Anything that requires switching from knit to purl frequently. And I have come to l-o-v-e it! It's almost like I can't imagine how I didn't knit this way for so long. Sure, sometimes I may have projects that I still use English knitting for, but right now I am enjoying my new skill. Although, I do admit I have not mastered the combined knitting. Since I am ribbing, I am too afraid I'll get confused with the twisting and mess it up. But maybe for a future project, who knows!