Now I’ve really got it! I’ve had a breakthrough. After my last posting, in true shut-the-gate-after-the-horses-are-loose fashion, I thought I’d scrounge around the net and watch some fair isle videos. What insight! What inspiration!
It seems a great secret has been heretofore withheld from me. There are knitters who knit with two colors at the same time, English with the main color, Continental style with the contrast yarn! I am proud to count myself among them. The results have been stunning. Absolutely no tension problems because I am tensioning to knit with my left, rather than just carry.
First hang-up was, of course, that I am not a Continental knitter. I’ve tried before (see “Doing the Continental”) but have never been able to catch on. This time I was doubly determined. Dreaming of the day when I could quit dropping one yarn and picking up the other, I forced myself, all thumbs, to knit left-handed. Looking like a child tangled in its sticky, squeaky first knitting project, I picked up a simple piece I currently have on the needles. The Irish Birthday Cardigan is an easy knit, a basic combination of knit, purl and twist stitches. I figured that, even if I dropped a few it would be simple enough to pick them back up again. When I say I forced myself, I mean I FORCED myself. When, after two or three hours (felt like a year) I squealed aloud with delight “I’m DOING it! I’m knitting with my left hand!” my sleeping (left-handed) fella groggily replied, “What? I do everything with my left hand.” This did not remove the wind from my sails, I’m happy to say! I knitted myself to sleep, Continentally 🙂
Having smugly said that…It is -8F in Prince Edward County today. This is the coldest weather I’ve experienced in over 12 years. I will not go outside. Now I realize that there was method to my recent stash-enrichment activities of late. My poor, hairless dog was forced to go out doors looking like this today, wearing one of my old sweaters.
It was embarrassing for both of us. I’m so glad I have this laying around, and in Teddy’s power colors too! I guess you know what I’m doing today.
loavesandstitches
Ah, the joys of knitting with two hands! And, did you discover the difference in which color pops out more depending on which h and is holding it? There is a long ravelry discussion about it somewhere that I read. Have fun!
workdateknit
Oh the picture of Teddy is too funny. We used to put my dad’s old sweaters on our old english sheepdog in the winter when she’d had an ill-timed haircut and was cold. She looked just as put upon.
I knit continental and have never been able to get the hang of the other way! I keep saying I’ll try it out so color work can get easier but..so far…nope. Good for you!!
garretw
I would have told you that a while ago, but I thought that you knew that. So glad that you got it figured it out.
Love the picture of Teddy. Who could resist knitting him a sweater.
Glad you finally got ahold of the continental. It’s not as hard as it looks. That’s the way that I do it, though I’ve taught myself most other ways for variety. You may, someday, find that you like it better.
tinykitchenstories
I’m a Continental knitter! My German grandmother taught me years ago, and I can’t for the life of me knit the other way. So well done to you! And the pic of your dog is hilarious. Luckily they love us so much–he was probably more grateful to be warm than embarrassed to be in your sweater. Happy Continental knitting! 🙂
Pearl
Thanks for stopping by 😀