Grab five free sock patterns from Knitting Daily here.

Weaving in the toe stitches: The Kitchener Stitch

The majority of the Western world knits two ways–English or Continental. The basic difference is which hand holds the yarn.

1. English knitting originated in France (go figure) but became widely used in England and its colonies. English knitters hold the yarn in their right hand. That’s the important distinction.

2. Continental knitting originated on the continent of Europe, mostly in Germany. Continental knitters hold the yarn in their left hand. I learned to knit this way.

Both English and Continental knitting produce exactly the same product. You can’t tell by looking at a knitted object if the knitter held the yarn in the right or left hand, so it’s a matter of preference. Because I learned the Continental way, that’s how I teach, and those are the videos I will put on my website, unless noted. So when you can, choose videos that demonstrate your favorite way to hold the yarn and don’t get confused if a video or book is showing the yarn in the “wrong” hand.

This lady knits English style (not the way I teach), but that doesn’t matter. Notice how i-cord requires double pointed or circular needles. You knit three stitches, then push down to the end of the needle and knit from there. The first stitch of every row will be pulling the yarn from the last stitch on the needle. Try it a few times and you’ll get the hang of it. Felt this cord in the washing machine and you’ll have a nice strong strap for a bag.

To see more videos demonstrating various knitting stitches, go to knittinghelp.com or search youtube.com.

Hi, I’m Jena. I’ve collected my favorite knitting videos, links and resources on this website to help you develop your knitting skills.

Please visit my shop for patterns and kits and use the links on my sidebars to buy your knitting supplies. I chose suppliers who have the best prices and often free shipping so you save gas and time and find exactly what you want.

If you have any questions, my email address is sticksandyarn@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by!