Friday 30 August 2013

FO, but slow

So this didn't exactly turn into the high-speed Hitchhiker that I had hoped for.



I persevered with the Continental technique, I really did but after about halfway through the shawl there was no discernable increase in speed and I was finding it pretty hard going to be honest. It isn't that I can't knit with the yarn in my left hand. I can and I can keep a fairly even tension too, but it just doesn't seem any quicker.

And yes, I was sad enough to time myself too, before you ask.

In the course of my internet reading though I did come across several links to Lever Knitting, also known as Irish Cottage Knitting. This method is espoused by The Yarn Harlot no less, so I did give it a go and found it to be a little more intuitive and natural-feeling than the Continental style. I guess I am a born thrower, and having the yarn in my right hand just feels 'right'

I did also come across several hints and tips for faster or more ergonminc knitting. Some of them I think I knew already or instinctively use but I thought I would share them with you anyway.

  1. Power loading (again, a la The Yarn Harlot)- sounds scary but it just means to scrunch up your left hand stitches up as close to the needle tip as possible.
  2. Live on the edge - keep the stitches on both needles as close to the needle tips as possible to minimise exessive movement.
  3. Don't re-tension - once you have the yarn tensioned comfortably try to ensure you have enough yarn for your row or round, reducing the need to stop and re-tension your yarn.
  4. Practice - any new technique should be practised for at least 20hrs, giving time for your brain to learn all the subtle micro movements needed and develop that muscle memory.
  5. Relax - tension in your neck and shoulders can impede muscle movement and slow you down.
More details about the shawl are on my ravelry page in case you are interested.

3 comments:

  1. Interesting post. I've tried to knit Continental but to me, even though I crochet, holding the yarn in my left hand for knitting is just plain weird. I also can't seem to tension it properly either.

    Maybe I've been knitting too long as a thrower. I guess 40 years of throwing is hard to break.

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  2. Thank you. I can do basic crochet so I think that is why I can tension the yarn OK but as you say it just 'feels right' the other way round. It's good to be able to alternate different techniques and avoid RSI but I think that the way you are first taught is bound to feel more comfortable. We are creatures of habit after all.

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  3. I am a very tight knitter and continental is good for loosening me up - i learnt it when knitting the maze as it is super fast as long as i don't try and purl - they just went haywire.

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