How to Hold Yarn When Knitting (2 Simple Methods)

Made horrible experiences while holding the yarn? Grab the easiest ways to hold the yarn and minimize knitting stress.

Why Holding the Yarn Is Important?

• A must step before starting knitting.
• You will be able to get perfect tension.
• Anyone can pull up any type of stitches he/she needs.
• Poor tension will provide difficulties in knitting, faulty stitches as well as pain in the hands.

How to Hold Yarn When Knitting – Methods of Yarn Holding

There are thousands of methods. From all of these, the continental and the English methods are good enough to control the tension and make stitches. The continental knitters hold the knit on the left hand and the English knitters do that on the right one.

1. English Style

So, the first rule of the English method is to hold the yarn in your right hand. This style is considered the easiest one for beginners. Just follow the actions step by step.

Instruments Needed Here

• Needle with yarn loops
• A plain needle

Step 1: Create Tension Using Fingers

Take the yarn in your right hand. Then hold it between the third finger and the pinky. Hold it over your middle finger, under your second finger, and finally, over your index finger. Then fully turn your hand and find the yarn under perfect tension.

Step 2: Check the Tension

To examine the yarn tension, push down the yarn. If it snaps back, your yarn is surely in good tension. Creating balanced tension is very important before starting knitting. So, never underestimate that!

Step 3: Take your Needle

Place the needle in the left hand. Don’t forget to form cast-on loops.

Step 4: Bring the Plain Needle

And then, take the other needle (plain needle) in your right hand. Insert the needle to knit. Therefore, you can pull your yarn and stitch. 

Step 5: Make the Needles Closer

Put needle tips very close. If you want to make different sizes of stitches, you will have to use different sizes of needles.

Step 6: Use the Pointer Finger

The yarn needs support here. Support the yarn using a pointer finger. Put it between two fingers. Tension the needle in your right hand, insert the needle from left to right and wrap your yarn.

Finally, all are set and you are fully ready for knitting.

2. Continental Style

In continental style, yarn is taken in the left hand. This style is quite faster. This method is easy for those who already know to crochet. Here, less hand and needle movement and less stress on the joints are needed. So, many people find it suitable for them. Check out the steps.

Instruments Needed

As the same as the English style.

Step 1: Hold the Yarn

First thing is to learn how to wrap the yarn. In this process, the placement of yarn is very crucial. Use the left hand. Take the pinky finger, drape the yarn.

Step 2: Wrap the Yarn

And finally, wrap it around the finger (obviously the pinky finger).

Step 3: Don’t make the Yarn Floppy

Take help from the pointer finger. Scoop the yarn and regulate the yarn tension. If somehow the yarn is floppy, it will be very hard to grab and pull the needle.

Step 4: Bring the Needle

Take the needle properly using your thumb and middle finger. And then swiftly make the yarn tight and strong. And then, hold the plain needle in your right hand. Bring needle tips as close as you can. At this time, the opposite sides will be apart.

Step 5: Flip Your Hand

Flip your hand over and the yarn will go over the back of your other four fingers.

Step 6: Wrap Around the Index

Then wrap it around the index finger.

Step 7: Keep Index in Air

Put nearly 1 to 2 distances from the index to needle. Keep your index finger always up in the air.

Now start your needling.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Difference between crocheting and knitting?

While knitting, we use long needles to make loops. Here stitches are formed on the right- and left-hand needles. Whereas, in crochet, we use a single hook to make loops. For beginners, crocheting is much easier than knitting. Crochet stitches take a little bit extra yarn than knitting stitches. You can also learn how to hold crochet yarn.

2. Which knitting is quite better? English or Continental?

It varies from person to person. But there are a lot of people who can use both methods so fast. However, continental methods ensure smaller arm and hand functions. And so, it minimizes stress and is easy to operate. The fastest knitters in the world do continental knitting. Whereas, the English style seems to be very easy to learn and time-saving for beginners.

Conclusion

Holding the yarn is considered the hardest thing to do while knitting. Find all the best ways for holding the yarn. Besides, this article will help you to know what tensioning actually is and why it is needed badly.