How To
Sitting Next to Greatness, in Knitting Class
Since we announced Lorilee Beltman’s new class in Snippets last Saturday, a lot of folks have been signing up. It’s a class about continental knitting, of all things.
This one is coming up pretty soon—on June 27—so line up your ducks and register right here.
Wanting to learn continental knitting may be your main reason for being interested in this class, but the best reason to take a class with Lorilee is to experience what we have come to think of as the Beltman Effect.
What is the Beltman Effect?
It’s what happens when Lorilee Beltman teaches us. The Beltman Effect is a sense of calm that washes over us as we dive into a knitting technique that’s new to us, or that we taught ourselves, but still don’t have full confidence about. It’s that really great feeling that we’re in good hands, and our teacher is going to get us through the halting first steps of beginnerhood. It’s also the a-ha moment that comes when you’re learning from someone with an extraordinary amount of tips and tricks in her pocket, ready to share.
Lorilee is truly gifted, and we’re lucky to have her teaching for us.
We’ve seen the Beltman Effect at work in every class that Lorilee has taught for MDK. After each session, we get a big ol’ virtual canvas bag that is virtually stuffed with rave reviews from students who are blown away at how much they learned, and how much fun they had. She’s the kind of teacher who makes you proud to be a knitter, and eager to learn with her again.
It almost doesn’t matter what she’s teaching—we’re going to be enriched in knitting knowledge. But in this case, Lorilee’s class is on a topic that has been much requested by MDK readers: continental knitting.
What Is Continental Knitting?
There are as many ways to knit as there are knitters! Knitters in North America and Western Europe tend to fall into one of two major knitting styles, the English or American style (also referred to as “throwing”) or the continental style (also referred to as “picking”).
If (like Ann and me and many knitters in North America), you are a thrower, you may find the continental style a bit mystifying or even intimidating. The yarn flicks so fast you can hardly see it! How do they do that?
Why Learn Continental Knitting?
I’m not a continental knitter myself—yet—but here are a few reasons why I am really excited to learn it.
When you knit in the continental style with the yarn held by the left hand, your hand motions are minimized; there is less stop and start. Many find this to be a more comfortable, faster way to knit.
Once you learn continental knitting, you might find that some knitted fabrics become more fluid and fun to execute, like brioche, lace, linen stitch, and mosaic.
If you know both picking and throwing, two-handed colorwork is a breeze. This is my number-one reason for wanting to learn continental. When I’m working stranded colorwork and holding one color in each hand, that left hand is totally making it up as it goes along. I just know it could be easier with proper technique!
The best reason of all: curiosity. Learning a new way to make knits and purls will expand our minds and our muscle memory, and give us a deeper understanding of the architecture of knitting. If I’m taking daily walks and doing Wordle to ward off age-related cognitive slide, I might as well learn a whole new way of doing my favorite activity.
If this sounds intriguing, learn more on the enrollment page here, including what Lorilee plans to cover and the minimal supplies needed to participated. (A smooth yarn and a circular needle, basically!)
I’m looking forward to experiencing, once again, the Beltman Effect. Can’t wait. See you there!
Having experienced the Beltman Effect myself (as in, NOWW I can Kitchener without having to agonize!) I can’t wait to learn how to do Continental knitting properly. Thanks for this!
And for me, I cannot throw. It’s like I don’t even know how to knit. I’m so bad at it that I had to figure out how to do color work with both yarns in my left hand
Me too, Amy! I tried to learn English style for stranded colorwork. It made me feel like crying. Then I found out you can hold both yarns in the left hand. Whew! (But no matter the technique, when I do stranded colorwork, it seems that no two stitches come out the same size. Oh, well, it looks fine from a distance.)
I’ve watched Lorilee’s Craftsy class on Magic Loop and Judy’s Magic Cast On. Yes, she is a wonderful teacher!
Please can u make a video how to sew knitted garments and also how to pick up stiches on a band around the neck thank you God Bless you
Love knitting would like to learn
When Mom taught me to crochet and to knit she taught me the continental way. But in the 60s I never saw any one else do it nor did I know it had a name. I dont think I could do it any other way.
Interested!
I taught myself to knit at age 4 before I could read, by looking at pictures. I do hold my yarn in my left hand (because I am left-handed) but my knitting style is, shall we say, unique? Looking forwards to this class to see if I can improve my technique! (Let’s try to teach an old dog a new trick.)
Am very interested…experiencing carpel tunnel symptoms and hoping this might help.
I’ve been trying to manage carpal tunnel as well and feel like I’m the slowest knitter on earth. There are so many projects I could do if knitting continental can help those issues. I’m excited for the possibilities.
For anyone who is, or knows, a right handed crocheter, continental knitting is a natural fit, as you are already used to holding yarn in your left hand, and doing things with a tool in your right hand.
I hadn’t thought of that, but I did find continental knitting easy to learn even though I first learned the other way. It’s so much faster, especially for knit/purl patterns. For colorwork I hold both yarns over my left index finger.
I have done a great deal of knitting in the past. As I am trying to start again and am finding new techniques in patterns that I am unfamiliar with such as increasing stitches and some of the newer knitting “language”.
Also, circular needle knitting.! I did use that on a young child’s coat years ago but cannot remember the particulars to that type needle
Would love to join so I can feel confident to knit again which I so love!
I am already a continental knitter . My mother taught me as a young child. I still couldn’t tell you what hand I hold my yarn in. YO’s are so much easier that way, and probably purling too as well as other things. Your hands/fingers are already in position to execute certain maneuvers so these movements – at least for me – feel more natural. What I am hoping is that one day Lorilee will teach Portuguese (around the neck) knitting. I learned Portuguese purling through a knitting group opportunity. The instructor’s samples were gorgeous. But simply could not get the hang of the knit stitch (more complicated than purling oddly enough) despite numerous searches on the Internet for clear instructions. So much of the action occurs away from the camera. I wonder if Lorilee is familiar with Portuguese knitting. I’ve seen a few of her videos in the past, and like you said, she is simply the best!
Continental knitting is, in my humble opinion, is a very important bridge between the knitting world and the crocheting world. If you are a picker it will be much easier for you to learn how to crochet, and if you are a crocheter, it will be much easier for you to learn how to knit.
Also, in my humble opinion, there is no right or wrong way to knit. If you are getting your loops through your loops in a way that feels good for you, then you are knitting and you should be proud of yourself. BUT it is always a good thing to keep learning new things and Lorilee is one of the best teachers I’ve ever seen. She brings a great deal of joy to her classes and I have never felt like she was teaching me how to fix my knitting style. Instead, I end up loving my knitting even more!
I totally agree
Yeah, it’s sure not about fixing the way you knit! I’d fight anybody telling somebody they’re knitting wrong. I’m intrigued about the connection to crochet, that makes a lot of sense.
My grandma tried to teach me crochet when I was little, but it never clicked for me. When I learned to knit in my 40s, I was taught to throw the yarn. That just felt so weird to me and my left hand seemed to be doing nothing! So I switched to holding the yarn in my left hand and that went much easier. When I showed my teachers, they wanted to know who taught me Continental! I didn’t know it was a whole other thing……. so, thanks, Gram!
I also learned by throwing but taught myself L handed which I find more efficient and thus quicker. But I have a wonky L forefinger hold style so I’m interested to learn a more comfortable L hand technique!
I am really interested in learning to knit the continental method as my right hand is sore from doing the yarn throwing method Please HELP1!!!!!
I tried once to learn and created a very large hat. Looking forward to any hints regarding gauge.
I’ve wondered if Continental would be helpful for knitting folks with arthritic hands. Maybe after this class, some students will be able to share their experiences from that angle?
It helped me with wrist and hand pain, not arthritis pain, but I expect it may help.
I first attempted continental knitting in Lorilee’s class at the first Sock Summit in 2009. The class was excellent, but I didn’t convert at the time so I need this refresher. But the Beltman Effect is so much more valuable than skills for me — in that class in Portland, Oregon, I met a woman who recognized me from our 1970s New Jersey middle school (but I was a year older and of course didn’t remember her, being sooooo much younger than me). That continental knitting class kicked off our deep and lasting friendship – thanks to the Beltman Effect!
You looked the same! How could I not ask?
That was such a fun class. I need the refresher, too!
One of these days I’m going to find myself on a pickleball court saying, “Dammit Lorilee!”
Yet another example of the mighty Beltman effect!
Just signed up for the Continental knitting course. I believe that this time I will really learn and get some muscle memory working. Why do I think THIS is the time? Because I can go back to the video as many times as I want to get support and reminders. And, of course, a great instructor. There will be no one to blame but myself if I don’t succeed this time! All the tools will be available. Anxious for the end of June!!
I switched from English to continental because, as I learned and started to knit more, I was finding that the motion of throwing was way too hard on my right shoulder. It didn’t take me long to switch, and my shoulders are so much happier. And then I discovered that the ease of switching between knit and purl in continental makes it 1000% worth the switch, even without shoulder issues! I’m knitting a sweater now that’s almost all 1×1 rib, and I don’t think I would have or could have done it knitting English style. I even do two-color knitting with both yarns in the left hand, using a Norwegian knitting thimble.
It’s such a lot to read seems like a whole book
I use both styles when knitting 2 color patterns. No tangles, notwisting. Simply easier for me.
Interested!
Love knitting would like to learn
Love knitting
Would like to learn
Lorilee taught me continental knitting when she lived in Grand Rapids. I knit continental all the time now and miss Lorilee’s calm, presence so much. Whenever I had a question I could run over to her shop and she would drop everything to help out.
Too bad this class is only offered to retirees and people who don’t have to work a standard office day. Taking a three-hour lunch is not possible.
You must have missed the line on the enrollment page about the class being recorded so the enrollee can watch it whenever and however many times they wish.
I knit that way always. I call it European.
I was taught be a elderly Lady from Irland. And some some Italian in her too.
I was 9.
Now I’m 81 1/2. My kids friends and all other family’s have my had made items. Just for kicks I timed myself and I knit a St a second. I know I knit fast.
Please share all your mails!
i love the idea of Knitting it is a good skill
I have done a great deal of knitting in the past. As I am trying to start again and am finding new techniques in patterns that I am unfamiliar with such as increasing stitches and some of the newer knitting “language”.
Also, circular needle knitting.! I did use that on a young child’s coat years ago but cannot remember the particulars to that type needle
Would love to join so I can feel confident to knit again which I so love!
I’m excited
Would love to attend the classes, but I am a left handed knitter and it takes me a while to sort out and translate what to do – usually with videos I can stop and start untill I have my ducks in a row. Incidentially i only realised i knit funny when i started watching other knitters. Would it be a problem?
Azeez
Want patterns to knit for charity Diane Guenterberg
I’m a male knitter and having limited use of my left index finger following a nasty accidental self inflicted injury many years ago whereby I (long story shortened) hit my finger with a heavy engineering hammer.
I would like to know if there is any hope of mastering the full process of continental knitting.
Having been taught to knit as a nine year old boy by my dearly loved but now very sadly missed grandma, I had never even heard of Continental knitting. Now, having seen a few short demonstrations of Continental knitting via a few online tutorial I am acutely eager to learn how to effectively do it.
As it is often said: old habits die hard and I’m painfully aware that it will also apply to me having been a ‘thrower’ all this time (now aged 83 years).
Yes . It sounds interesting
. Thanks
When Mom taught me to crochet and to knit she taught me the continental way. But in the 60 I never saw any one else do it nor did I know it had a name. I dont think I could do it any other way.
I usually knit on straight needles this isnew for me
I learned to continental knit from u-tube, my Oms tried to teach me, but it didn’t take them…. It keeps her alive thru my fingers
I’m intrigued by how these stitches look. I look forward to working into and through.
Looking forward for your tutorials in modern knitting. Thank you
I’m looking forward to learn how to knit. I do crochet but not knit. So this is my first time.