Knitting:
How To Hold Yarn

Learning how to hold yarn when knitting is very important. Why? Holding the yarn properly will help you keep a steady and consistent tension while you knit.

Knitting in the Continental method is often referred to as knit left handed. It is very EASY especially for crocheters, as you hold the yarn as you would if you were a right handed crocheter...in your left hand.

On this page, you will find FREE and EASY instructions including pictures on how to hold yarn when knitting continental style.

Let's begin: How to Hold Yarn Continental Method

1. The needle which holds the stitches to be worked is held in your left hand.
2. The yarn wrapped around your left hand fingers for tension.
3. I wrap the yarn around my left pinky twice.
4. Then let the yarn float over the back of my hand to my left forefinger.
5. The forefinger should be located at the top of the left needle ready to have the yarn worked into a stitch.





6. I like to use my left middle finger and left thumb at the tip of the left needle in order to guide the yarn and for support while my left forefinger is in the air to maintain tension.

From here, you are ready to learn how to knit or learn how to purl.

Little Tip: It is important that your tension is not too tight and that the yarn is able to flow easily over or through your fingers as you work the stitches. If it is too tight, you'll have problems knitting the next rows.

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