Knitting Styles Survey, Part 4: Exploring the Diversity

This is a long-overdue final installment on the blog series on knitting styles.

If you haven't followed my blog that long, here's a refresher. In late 2020 I wrote a blog post on categorizing knitting styles based on how the working yarn is held and how stitches are mounted. But actual hard data on knitting styles was sparse. To go beyond anecdotal wisdom, I conducted a survey on knitting styles, gathering insights from over 1,300 respondents from diverse backgrounds who shared their experiences, preferences, and challenges regarding knitting styles and the impact of handedness on knitting.

As a follow up to the original post, I examined the responses using statistical analysis methods and wrote three posts, exploring topics such as the most common knitting styles, differences and similarities between right- and left-handed knitters, and regional variations in different parts of the world. You can read the previous parts of the blog series here:

• Part 1: Broad Strokes

• Part 2: Right vs Left-Handed Knitters

• Part 3: Geographical Considerations

Statistics was the easy (and fun!) part but there was so much more information that mere numbers couldn't reveal. For this fourth and final part I went through nearly 30 pages worth of open-ended comments written by 410 knitters. Through content analysis, three broad themes emerge from the data: cultural background and heritage, continual learning and adaptation, and embracing the diversity in knitting styles.

Interspersed in this blog post you'll find actual quotes written by the respondents, illustrating the themes discussed. They have been edited for style and brevity but not in content.

Let's dig in.

Cultural Background and Heritage

Many knitters described how personal background and experiences influence their knitting style. Factors such as cultural heritage, familial traditions, and previous crafting experience, like learning to crochet first, shaped their approach to knitting.

I suspect my style was greatly affected by early exposure to a knitter from the Middle East and by having crocheted for many years before knitting.

There is no school for knitting. We all learned it as a tradition which was passed down so personal preferences change or dominate our style.

Across continents and generations, family ties play a pivotal role in transmitting knitting knowledge. Many respondents fondly recounted learning from mothers, grandmothers, or even great-grandmothers, each carrying the torch of tradition from their homelands. Whether it was a grandmother from Czechoslovakia or a mother from Australia with Irish heritage, being taught knitting by a relative or family member has the most influence in the specific knitting style you adopt today.

I was located in North America (USA) when I learned to knit, but I learned to knit from my grandmother who was born in Latvia. And now when I teach anyone to knit, I teach them the Continental western mount style instead of the more common throwing method here in the US.

Knitting styles are therefore not as much dependent on where you live now but on where the person who taught you comes from, what their cultural heritage is, and how they were taught to knit.

But knitting styles are not set in stone. Having learned one way doesn't prevent you from adopting a different style later on in life when circumstances so require.

Continual Learning and Adaptation

While family ties might have a played a big role on knitting styles in the past, migration, globalization, and online platforms such as Ravelry or YouTube facilitate the exchange of knitting knowledge that goes beyond geographical borders. As knitters encounter diverse techniques and patterns, they adapt and integrate new practices into their knitting repertoire.

I'm a left handed knitter who learned from a book. My knitting defies any style categories but seems to work 15 years on! It's a hodgepodge, and still evolving as I learn new techniques and watch new-to-me knitters on video. I also will switch techniques every couple rows as my hands tire from one style but I haven't reached the stopping point I desire.

Experimenting with different styles and techniques to find what works best is something that came up time and time again in the comments. Knitting styles may evolve over time: you may start with one method and later switch to another for improved speed, tension, or efficiency.

I learnt how to knit in English (throwing) but I was fed up with how slowly I could knit in this way. I taught myself Continental knitting from YouTube videos after searching for ways to speed up. I kind of adapted what I saw until I found a way that was instinctive to me: holding the yarn in my left hand over my index finger.

Continental knitting, in particular, was often touted as being a fast method compared to other styles whereas combination knitting, using a mix of knit and purl stitches in different mounts, was seen as helpful in achieving consistent tension.

I'm a continental knitter, but I switch my purl technique depending on the project. If making something that requires long, continuous stretches of purls, I use the Russian method because I can perform it much faster. If the stitch pattern requires switching back and forth between knit and purl stitches, I use the typical continental purl to avoid twisted stitches and keep my tension consistent.

On the flip side, though, were knitters who felt forced to change their knitting style due to societal norms or pattern-writing conventions. Their usual knitting style was seen as "wrong" or "weird" by others, and they felt pressured into adopting a more usual knitting style to better blend in with their peers.

I learned as a kid and so my left-handedness was ignored, since it was easier to learn from my peers without mirroring required in the equation. I'm currently in a transitional phase to learn continental. As a lefty I'm encountering a lot of variances, many of which go against the instructions out there on the 'right' way to do it, but as an adult I can now rationalize that whatever I do is right, as long as I get the intended results.

The requirements of left-handed crafters, in particular, were often overlooked by those who first taught them to knit.

Taught to knit by a right-handed grandmother, I never knew there was another way to knit until much later in life. I often wonder if I had learnt to knit left handed I might be less awkward and more efficient with my knitting.

Yet there were many left-handed knitters who shared how they adapted to right-handed instruction or learned to knit in a way that felt more natural to them. Some may knit in the same direction as right-handed knitters, while others reverse instructions to better suit their left-handed orientation.

My right-handed mum tried to teach me to knit when I was a child but I couldn’t get the hang of it as she tried to teach me left handed. I ended up teaching myself as an adult and mum still thinks I knit left handed. She doesn’t realise I knit exactly the same as she does.

Changing or adapting knitting styles later on in life was often quoted as a remedy against hand fatigue and discomfort caused by arthritis or joint pain. Small changes in knitting technique can minimize hand movements, and this was seen helpful in alleviating hand strain and allowing for longer sessions of the beloved hobby even when suffering from these ailments.

I learned to knit English style but later switched to Continental because it hurt my hands less. Now, I only throw with certain stitches, like knitting 3 or more stitches together.

Some knitters embrace hybrid techniques and seamlessly switch between styles based on project requirements or ergonomic considerations. In particular, many knitters commented on improved efficiency, tension, and float management in stranded colorwork when holding yarns in both hands: one hand knitting in the Continental style and the other in the English style.

I carry one color in each hand for colorwork, throwing with the right hand and picking the left hand yarn. For more than two colors, I carry one in the right and the rest in the left.

Others turn to mirror knitting (knitting backwards or from left to right) when working on small stretches of stitches, such as in entrelac. This ability to switch knitting direction without turning your project and purling wrong-side rows improves speed and efficiency in knitting.

I prefer knitting right to left, but have taught myself how to work knit and purl stitches left to right, for when I have a lot of stockinette worked flat and I don't want to work the purls, or don't feel like flipping my work over every row.

While some knitters adhere closely to conventional methods like the English or Continental styles, others charted their own path. Indeed, some comments reflected this notion of developing a unique, idiosyncratic knitting style that no one else has, such as unconventional ways to tension the yarn.

I have never seen anyone else who pinches to tension, like I do. I have been told it looks weird, but it works, so why not!

Embracing the Diversity

By and large, the knitting community celebrates the diversity of techniques, traditions, and perspectives. Comments frequently expressed both a curiosity about alternative styles and a willingness to explore different approaches whether for the sake of variety, skill development, or problem-solving.

I've tried virtually all knitting styles except lever, and I love them all! But belt knitting has worked by far the best for posture and comfort.

For the first time, some respondents were able to put a name on their knitting style or a specific part of it. Especially less-commonly taught variations of the English style, such as flicking or lever knitting, were often mentioned in this context.

I was taught to throw and just gradually evolved a flicking style. I only recently realised it is a ‘thing’ and has a name.

I "made up" what I later found out was called lever knitting. It felt natural but I was never shown that style.

Growing up among people who knit differently can be isolating. Many respondents felt vindicated when they learned later on that the way they have been knitting all along is a valid knitting style.

I learned throwing as a child, then taught myself Continental as an adult. I soon realized purling "the wrong way" was faster than the correct way, so I continued knitting this way for years while everyone told me I was doing it wrong. Finally a few years ago I found reference to combination knitting and had proof I wasn't wrong all those years.

Being able to put a label on the way your knit can also help in finding a community of other knitters using the same style. What you thought was just a funny quirk may, in fact, carry a whole legacy of tradition from another culture.

I was taught to knit as a child by a woman who was an immigrant from Eastern Europe in the early 1950s, so I learned Continental Combined/Russian style. It wasn't until I was an adult and bought knitting books that I learned there was another way to knit.

Comments around handedness in knitting highlight the importance of awareness and inclusivity within the knitting community. Many knitters advocated for resources, patterns, and tutorials tailored specifically to left-handed crafters, promoting a more inclusive learning environment.

I'm naturally left-handed but few resources were available for left-handed knitters growing up, including in the book given to me (half a page, if that, was dedicated to it at the very end of the book) or in the entirely right-handed knitters surrounding me.

Additionally, the comments shed light on the complexity of handedness in knitting. While some knitters adhere strictly to either right- or left-handed techniques, others can fluidly switch their knitting style depending on the situation or personal preference.

I usually do what I call typewriter knitting: Continental when I work off the left needle and I throw with my left hand when I work back off the right needle. I never turn my work.

Conclusions

The survey responses offer a glimpse into the rich diversity of knitting styles, shaped by family traditions, regional influences, and individual innovations.

Were you always taught about the dichotomy of pickers vs. throwers? While conventional wisdom may assume there are only a few standard methods of knitting, the comments reveal an immense diversity in knitting styles and techniques among knitters. Far from being a stagnant hobby practiced by little old ladies, knitting is ever evolving, and this diversity in styles and techniques highlights the creativity and adaptability of knitters as they find methods that suit their individual needs, preferences, and physical limitations.

Another insight that can be gleaned from the comments is the significant role cultural heritage and family traditions play in shaping knitting styles. Many knitters mentioned learning from close relatives or family members, often spanning multiple generations and cultural backgrounds. While knitting techniques vary widely across different cultures and geographical regions, the global knitting community is a melting pot of diverse influences and practices.

Knitting is viewed as a lifelong journey of learning and growth. We may take different paths to get there but we all reach the same destination in the end.

Did you discover something new about your knitting style? Let me know in the comments!

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