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The English method is the most common style of knitting in the english-speaking world. In the English method, the working yarn is held in the right hand. How you hold the yarn is up to you, as long as you can maintain even Gauge. One of the more common methods is to weave the yarn over and under the fingers, as seen below:

English Method Hand Position

Other variations include the position depicted above, while wrapping the yarn around the pinky finger once, wrapping the yarn around the pinky, and over the index finger only, etc. Whatever the position chosen, the key is to select a method that's comfortable and allows you to provide even tension on the working yarn.

The Knit Stitch[]

The Knit stitch is performed by holding the working yarn behind the needles.

English Method Knit Step 1 Insert the right needle left-to-right through the front of the loop of the stitch on the left needle as shown:
English Method Knit Step 2 Then, holding the needles between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, use the right hand to wrap the yarn around the right needle counter-clockwise:
English Method Knit Step 3 Next, draw the yarn through the loop toward you:
English Method Knit Step 4 And, lastly, slip the stitch off the left hand needle, and pull the working yarn to tighten the newly formed stitch.


The Purl Stitch[]

The Purl stitch is performed by holding the working yarn in front of the needles.

English Method Purl Step 1 Insert the right needle right-to-left through the front of the loop of the stitch on the left needle.
English Method Purl Step 2A Then, holding the needles between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, use the right hand to wrap the yarn around the right needle counter-clockwise:
English Method Purl Step 2B
English Method Purl Step 3 Next, draw the yarn through the loop away from you:
English Method Purl Step 4 And, lastly, slip the stitch off the left hand needle, and pull the working yarn to tighten the newly formed stitch.

Advantages/Disadvantages[]

The English method is generally considered to be slower than the Continental method. This makes sense, as there is a fair bit of arm movement necessary to form new stitches. However, English method knitters generally create materials with fairly even Gauge. Moreover, this method is easier for those who are strongly right handed.

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