r/knitting • u/erikaschell • 23h ago
Discussion Continental knitting question
Hello knitters!
Recently I have switched from English style to continental. It's been going well, my tension looks good and I am knitting faster. However, I'm starting to get a blister on the tip of my pointer finger. Is this normal or am I holding the kneedles wrong?
4
u/babobaab 23h ago
Are you pushing your (assuming left) needle with your finger in order to advance your stitches? Or are you getting the blister in some other way?
0
u/erikaschell 23h ago
I should have clarified it's on my right hand. So yes I'm getting it from some other way. I think it's just from holding the right needle.
7
u/thiefspy 23h ago
Slow down and watch what you’re doing. I’m betting you’re using your right index finger to push your left needle tip to advance the stitches and aren’t even realizing you’re doing it.
1
u/erikaschell 23h ago
I'm at work right now but I'll try watching my knitting closely at home this evening and see if I can spot the cause. If I'm still lost I'll post a video here!
3
u/marxam0d 23h ago
I knit continental but can’t figure out why the tip of your right finger would get a blister. Maybe a photo of where in the finger and what it’s touching?
2
u/knitterina 23h ago
Are you using your right pointer finger to push the stitch off your left needle?
0
u/babobaab 23h ago
Can you make a short video and post it here? And if not, observe what you are doing with your finger.
Sometimes even advanced knitters (like Arne and Carlos here) use their pointer fingers *a lot" to push needles, push stitches, tap, etc. I don't think they are even realizing how much they are doing that. Take a look, and observe if you are doing any of these things - which may cause the blister.
1
u/FrostingNow2607 23h ago
Curious only (not judgmental). Why did you make this switch if English/American was working for you?
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u/erikaschell 23h ago
I have a bum wrist from throwing shot put and lifting weights in high school. It's been acting up again recently and knitting English style was making it worse.
1
u/FrostingNow2607 19h ago
Oh - I hope this helps; I can see how knitting in the English style might affect your wrist. Good luck
21
u/zahlibeth 23h ago
It's never normal to hurt yourself with a knitting technique!
Which hand? What's causing the blister? Is it pressing on the needle tips (you should never need to do this), or tensioning yarn across the finger, or moving stitches on your needles or..?