In continental style knitting, a weaver holds the yarn in the left hand like a crocheter. In combination weave, Annie Modesitt teaches us to do reverse like reverse weave, which gives them a different stitch setting. I use continental blend fabric. These are my pros and cons.
What’s good about continental blend fabric?
Knitting continental style is fast for me. My yarn is ready to be gathered in a new stitch, just like when I crochet. English knitting has yarn in the right hand and you throw it over the needle for each stitch. I learned English first, but switched to continental for speed.
Combination knitting looks strange at first with knit and reverse stitches mounted differently on the needle, but it has five distinct advantages – the last one is something I just discovered.
- A reverse stitch is done as quick and easy as a stitch, like a mirror image of a stitch. No additional movements.
- A purl stitch has exactly the same amount of thread as a knit stitch, not an extra long loop for the normal stitch saddle.
- Because a purl stitch has the same amount of thread as a knit stitch, knitting back and forth does not produce “rows”, which occurs when the purl rows have looser tension than the weaving rows.
- When ribbing, different stitch assemblies prevent mistakes.
- When making cables, there is no excess slack between the last cable stitch and the next stitch.
While knitting an Aran sweater, I read two comments on how to deal with the slack problem to the left of each wire. I studied my fabric, observed if it was loose as I worked, and there were none. I give credit to the combined fabric.
What’s wrong with continental blend fabric?
At first, the different stitch setting for reverse stitches feels a bit strange. What feels even weirder is how the stitch assembly changes again when folded back. The K and P stitches are put back on so that when you rework the right side, they do not sit on the needle as before. This can take some getting used to.
Why bother?
It’s wonderful when you stretch in the round, because if you accidentally try to purl, or purl, it won’t work at first. The needle won’t go in, you look down, you realize you’re trying to make a mistake, and then you put the needle in the right way. Without errors. Accelerates knitting of a foot of rib for soldier socks.
These are my thoughts on the continental blend fabric. It is ideal for knitting faster with fewer mistakes. For more information, check out the free tutorials at annie modesitt dot com.