Combined Knitting: A Tutorial

Sarah

In my last post, I demonstrated how to knit backwards. Today, I'm sharing a tutorial on how to knit in the "combined" knitting method. The most well-known combination knitter is probably Annie Modesitt; according to her web site, this method is a combination of Western and Eastern knitting methods -- hence the name.

I'm not usually a combination knitter, but I find it useful to knit this way when I am knitting large pieces of stockinette flat, because this method gives me a more even tension and prevents me from "rowing out." My tension in combined knitting is much more similar to the tension I get when knitting in the round, so if a project asks me to knit stockinette both in the round and flat, I switch to the combined knitting method for the flat portions. Other times I switch up my knitting methods just to avoid the tedium of lots of plain stockinette. I also think that switching now and then -- provided it doesn't create obvious tension changes -- can be helpful in avoiding injuries to the hands and wrists, since you're then not using the same muscles in the same way over and over.

To knit combined, begin on the purl side of the work. To purl, insert the right-hand needle into the next loop on the left-hand needle as shown.

Now, bring the yarn under and around the right-hand needle, as shown.

Bring the yarn through the loop, creating the new stitch on the right-hand needle.

Let the old loop slide off the left-hand needle. You have now created a new purl stitch. It doesn't really look any different from your usual purl stitch on this side, but if you look at the right side...

...you can see that the stitches are sitting on the needle in a different way.

You can probably see it better in this photo. If you knit this stitch the "regular" way (inserting the needle from the left to right), it would end up twisted. We don't want that, so...

...Insert the needle straight through as shown.

Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle and bring the new loop through.

See? New knit stitch.

Below is the finished knit row. In a loosely spun cotton yarn like this (Blue Sky Alpacas worsted weight cotton) I find it much easier to get even tension knitting using the continental method than my usual style. Even if you don't have tension problems, it's fun to try out different knitting methods -- you never know when you'll come across something that will help you to enjoy your knitting even more!

Comments

[debbie]

I never understood combined knitting until now. Thank you so much for taking the time to show all of us how to do it.

[Laura]

Dear Sarah - It your blog partner Laura! I am a 'combination' knitter and recommend it to others. When I switched to Continental Knitting a few years ago I found that working that purl stitch in reverse is actually easier and when combined with the knit through the back loop is a super fast and efficient way to knit. Great for those times when you have to power through a lot of stockinette!

[Cynthia]

Thank you for the great tutorial! I was wondering, when you make the knit stitch through the back loop, do you wrap the yarn the regular way, or in the other direction like the purl stitch was done?

[Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)]

I have been wondering how to do combined knitting for the longest time but was too lazy to learn. I'm a continental knitter, like Laura, so I was interested to read her comment. I am going to try it immediately. Thanks for the great tutorial!

[Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)]

Okay, I tried it. (Yes, that fast!) Laura, you're absolutely right--it is so much more efficient for continental knitting! You don't have to wrap the yarn on the purl stitches at all, just "pick" it, as you do for knit stitches, only in reverse. So much easier! And knitting through the back loop is actually faster than knitting through the front loop.

[Karen B.]

I was a combined knitter for years and didn't know it until a Stitches class 3 years ago. The teacher informed me that I was purling incorrectly. Ha! Now, I find that it's the way to go when knitting Continental.

[Ruth]

I knitted like this for years thinking it was the 'right' way to do knit and purl. Then I happened to see someone else knitting and was horrified to realise I'd been doing it all wrong.

Thanks for giving a name to my 'error'

I may have to go back to it.

[Diana Merdian]

I am a new combination knitter and am having trouble with lace stitches. Please show yarn overs and decreases.

[Sharon Crawford]

I have the same question as Cynthia - when you make the knit stitch thru the back loop, which way do you wrap the yarn (over or under needle)? Also, can you knit this way and carry the yarn in your right hand as you would for English knitting?

[Laura]

Hi guys, it's Laura again answering the questions. The knit stitch is wrapped the normal way - over the needle. You could 'throw' it with the yarn in your right hand.

If you are decreasing with this method the k2tog and ssk are different. You do not have to slip slip for the left leaning decrease - it is already done, but if you want to k2tog for the right leaning decrease you will have to reorient the stitches first.