How to Hold Your Knitting Needles and Yarn

There are so many ways to hold your knitting needles and yarn and everyone seems to have their own style.

I'd like you to keep in mind that it does take awhile to feel comfortable knitting.  

And as you begin to settle in more you'll find your own way to hold your knitting needles.

And you'll find a way of doing it all by yourself as you carry on learning to knit. 

Sometimes is just happens that way. As you relax more with knitting it will all become automatic in a way.

Of course it's always nice to see how someone else does it right?

All right then, I'll give you some ideas on how to hold your needles and yarn and then you can try some ways on your own.

How to Hold Your Knitting Needles

Holding your knitting needles is a matter of personal preference. 

As you continue learning how to knit you'll relax more and develop a nice little knitting rhythm all your own.

That's when you'll find your very own perfect and unique way of holding the needles and yarn.

At first it will feel a little awkward though, no two ways about it! So just give yourself a little time. You'll get it!

A couple of ways to try holding your knitting needles

For the top set of photos my hands are over the needles

In the second set above they're being held like pencils. You can try both or mix them up a bit or simply create your own unique style.

This is How I Hold My Needles And Yarn

My left hand steadies the needle and my forefinger helps to guide the knitting stitches. 

I hold the right needle between my thumb and forefinger and my hand is slightly over the needle.

A lot of people will stick the yarn over their forefinger on the right hand photo. 

Somehow I got used to knitting with the yarn going over my middle finger instead.

Sometimes I tuck the right needle under my arm. But that's me.

There's no right or wrong way so experiment with it and see what works better for you.

How to Hold Your Knitting Yarn...

Some people don't even try to hold the knitting yarn a certain way.  

They just let the yarn hang down loosely until they need to wrap it around the needle.  It works very well for lots of people.

Holding your knitting yarn comes down to comfort once again and how well it works for you.  

What you will have to decide is which knitting method you want to use though. 

The two most common are the English knitting method and the Continental knitting method.

Some people use both methods and it works for them so be sure to try both.

I'm left-handed and I knit the English knitting method or right-handed way.

I've been knitting for so many years now and I've tried knitting the Continental style. I can manage the knit stitch and that's it.  :)

But I think I'm too set in my ways to switch over and I'm quite comfortable knitting the English method.

Description Of English And Continental Knitting Methods 

The English knitting method means that your right hand will be moving the knitting needle through the stitches on your left hand needle. 

If you decide to wrap the knitting yarn around your fingers you will wrap the right hand.  

Here are two ways to try. See if one of them works for you.

The Continental knitting method means that your left hand will be moving the knitting needle through the stitches on your right hand needle. 

And if you decide to wrap the knitting yarn around your fingers you will wrap the left hand.  Here are two ways to try. Just experiment.

Some knitters don't even bother winding the yarn around their fingers. So don't feel that you have to do this.  

Once you've been knitting awhile your way will become the way that works for you. Everyone does it a little differently.  

Which Knitting Method Should You Choose?

The one that feels right for you!  Honestly.

You might want to try both knitting methods to see which one is more comfortable. 

Once again, it's going to feel awkward at first so take your time in finding the knitting method that you like.

Learning to hold your knitting needles and yarn takes practice and patience so don't worry too much about it for now. 

Just start knitting - you'll get it.

To help you along a bit I found two knitting videos for both styles of knitting (English and Continental). 

These videos will show you a couple of ways to hold your yarn. 

How To Hold Your Yarn Knitting Video-English Style

How To Hold Yarn Knitting Video-Continental Style

Important Note About Learning To Hold Your Knitting Needles 

Please don't feel that you have to learn how to hold your knitting needles and yarn. 

There really isn't one way to do it.  And there's definitely no right or wrong way.  

A lot of people simply knit the way that makes them feel comfortable and that's what I want you to do as well. 

Over time you'll pick up your knitting and hold your knitting needles just the way you like.

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