Habits of a Lifetime

I might make a momentous change. I have been thinking about it for a while, but the time has come. I might swap from being a British knitter to a Continental knitter. Basically changing from doing all the hard work with my dominant right hand, to using a more equal both hand approach.

I have a Danish friend who I have watched with envy. Just by looking at it, I can tell her knitting style is more efficient. Don’t get me wrong, I am a pretty fast knitter and unlike crochet, I can touch-knit (knitting without looking). When I meet Juliet Bernard in the Winter I asked her about her knitting style and she is a Continental knitter, plus she can knit backwards! Oh yes my friends, there were skillz in evidence.

My stumbling block has been the purl stitch – knitting backwards did not come easily. However it was by chance that I stumbled on a tutorial on Pinterest about Norwegian Purl stitch which fits the bill perfectly.

I have tried it and I think I might convert. In essence continental knitting is far more akin to crochet and if I do a little practice I will indeed be much faster. So I will keep you posted and tell you which way I decide to go in a few weeks.

I have been working on my new technique using the wonderful Alegria Yarn from Manos del Uruguay and some beautifully supple Addi Premium Needles.

When I found the yarn it reminded me of a certain Disney film which little girls I know simply adore. So I have made a keyhole scarf and a slouchy beanie with just one 100g skein. I have to say that the needles are really rather good. No twisting or tangling and handily have the size and the length printed on the wire. What a good idea. Thank you to Rooster Yarns for sending them to me to try.