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Knitting Styles: Continental vs. Throwing (with Video)

March 1, 2023 Leave a Comment

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

There is more than one way to knit. There’s even more than two, but today we’re focusing on the 2 most common knitting styles: continental and throwing. Like many knitting skills, these each are known by other names. Continental style knitting is also known as German, Picking, and occasionally even European style knitting. Throwing is also known as English style knitting (less often: right-handed or American style). Whatever you call it, these techniques both result in a knit stitch.

Throwing or English Style Knitting

If you’re reading this in America, odds are, this IS your grandmother’s style of knitting.

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

This is throwing style knitting. With this technique, knitters hold or tension the yarn with their right hand. Also with the right hand, the working yarn is wrapped around the needle to create each new stitch. Throwing style knitting is also called English style knitting, and you often find this technique in America and England, as a first technique taught to many budding knitters. 

In throwing, I personally wind the yarn around my right pinky, and over and under my ring, middle, and index finger. Others prefer a loop around their pointer finger. For me, that resulted in stitches that were too tight, but for you it might be perfect. It’s just a matter of personal preference and what feels right in your hands. 

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

Continental or Picking Style Knitting

The style that can help you knit faster. (If you’re a prolific thrower, however, you may not find that this is faster. Depends on the knitter.)

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

To knit a stitch continental style, you insert the right hand needle into the first stitch on your left hand needle. Then the working yarn is wrapped with the left hand before drawing up a loop with the right hand needle. The action is so small compared to throwing style knitting, which is part of why continental style has a reputation for being faster than throwing. (Just Google “how to knit faster” and dozens of blog posts will appear teaching you how to knit Continental style. Pro tip: if you’re curious to compare how different knitters tension their yarn for picking, read through a few of them. 👍🏻 )

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

Continental vs. Throwing Styles Video

Since I find video to be particularly helpful when comparing knitting techniques like this, here’s a 3-minute overview comparing the two styles.

Like this video? Don’t forget to subscribe to the Hands Occupied YouTube channel for more.

Learn the differences between picking and throwing style knitting to help decide which is right for you.

Filed Under: Knitting Tagged With: continental style knitting, english style knitting, Knitting, knitting styles, knitting technique, picking, throwing

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
Spent time with family this weekend down South. Go Spent time with family this weekend down South. Got some stitching in & felt spring for a minute, which was lovely. ☀️ 
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I’ll be catching up on comments, etc. tomorrow. 
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#handsoccupied #travelknitting #planeknitting
Which way do you knit? Picking, throwing, Portugue Which way do you knit? Picking, throwing, Portuguese, Shetland… how about lever style? 
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Today on the blog, we’re defining & comparing the two most common knitting styles: continental and throwing. They’re each known by a few names, and odds are one of them really is your grandmother’s knitting style (if she’s a western knitter that is). There’s a new video to help demonstrate the differences too. Another good one to save & share! 😉 
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#handsoccupied #continentalknitting #englishknitting #americanknitting #howtoknit
This past weekend, my husband and I visited family This past weekend, my husband and I visited family out of state. Here’s what I packed to keep my hands occupied for the drive. 😉 
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I try my hardest to be realistic about how much knitting I’m going to get done vs. the effort of schlepping my WIP(s) and yarn around. I definitely almost brought double this amount of yarn, which would have been hilariously unnecessary for a weekend trip. Why am I like this? 😆 Do you also struggle with overpacking when it comes to crafts? 
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