Had my first allergy shot this morning...

[mrs_sweetpeach]

...and now my nose is running like crazy. Which, honestly, may or may not be related.

In other news, I'm past the half-way point on knitting Jayne Hats for the California Browncoats. Each hat takes about five and a half hours to knit, but I don't mind as I'm simultaneously watching tv, drinking tea, and occassionally hitting refresh to see if anything new had popped up on my friends list. And I'm getting much better at knitting continental, which is a bonus.

Comments

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

Go you! *g*

What's "knitting continental"? Just wondering. =>}

[mrs-sweetpeach.livejournal.com]

Continental is one name for one of the two most common knitting styles in the US, Canada, and Europe. The other style is often called the English method but some folks refer to it as "throwing" (as the yarn is held in the right hand and is thrown around the needles). Other names for the continental method are German knitting, European knitting, or left-hand knitting. In Continental, the yarn is held in the left hand and is captured by scooping it up with the needle -- picking, in the vernacular.

Years ago I taught myself to knit from a book -- but I managed to combine the instructions for right and left-handers into something that worked for the garter stitch but not stockinette. So I needed tutoring when I decided to get back into knitting. Both of my tutors were knitting with the English method when I went for them for help, so that's what I used until my local yarn shop offered a class in Continental. I had a bear of a time switching, but I think I've finally gotten to the point where I can reliably knit with either method.

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Okaaay. *g*

Since I'm not good at all at following a pattern without actually DOING it, I can't really imagine the kind of knitting you're describing. I need "Knitting for Dummies" I'm afraid. =>}

I have been told that I knit "wrong", but since I can do any stitch I want and also can follow patterns, I'm not too worried about it.

Good luck! =>}

[mrs-sweetpeach.livejournal.com]

Since you can do whatever stitch you want and you can follow patterns, you are not knitting wrong. I'd elaborate, but someone not only beat me to it, but said it better... http://www.fuzzygalore.biz/articles/continental.shtml

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

It's because I let go of the right needle to put my wool around the other needle. That's supposedly what I do wrong. But I can't keep hold of the needle AND put the wool around with one finger, so that's the way I do it. =>}

[mrs-sweetpeach.livejournal.com]

I think I let go of the right needle too. I know I use a big motion to wrap the yarn when using my right hand. That's a large part of why I can knit so much faster Continental style -- fewer and smaller hand movements. Nevertheless, whatever works for you is the right way to knit.

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

I'm still not sure what Continental means or looks like, but my English friend holds the right needle with her right hand while passing the wool over the left needle with her right forefinger. I tried that and it was impossible. I learned to knit the way I do when I was about nine and I can't be bothered to change that after almost fifty years. *g*

Fortunately, in spite of the way I knit, I'm quite speedy, when the arthritis isn't getting to me at least. =>}

To each her own when it comes to knitting, I say. =>}