English knitting uses the throw method, where you hold the yarn in your right hand and flick it over the needle to form stitches

English style knitting (also called the throw method) is one of two main ways to hold needles and yarn. Instead of keeping tension with your left hand, you hold the working yarn loosely in your right hand and use a small flicking motion with your fingers to wrap it around the needle. This method feels natural if you're used to throwing a ball or writing with a pen, and many English and American knitters learned this way first.

The throw method works just as fast as the alternative (Continental, or picking style), though it uses slightly different hand movements. If you've tried knitting before and found it awkward, switching to English style might feel easier—or you might already be doing it without knowing the name.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the yarn in your right hand and use your right index finger to wrap it around the needle for each stitch.
  • English knitting requires the same basic stitches as any other method—knit and purl—but the hand motion is a flick rather than a pick.
  • Tension comes from how loosely or tightly you hold the yarn in your right hand, not from your left hand.
  • Most beginners find English style easier to learn because the throwing motion feels familiar, even though it takes practice to keep even tension.

How to hold the needles and yarn for English style

Hold both needles the way you would hold two pencils or chopsticks—one in each hand, with the working needle (the one with stitches on it) in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. Your hands should be relaxed and roughly 6 to 8 inches apart. The needles should point slightly upward and away from your body, not straight out in front of you.

Take the working yarn (the yarn attached to the ball) and drape it over the index finger of your right hand, letting it hang loosely between your right index and middle fingers. The yarn should have enough slack that you can move your finger without pulling the yarn tight. This is different from Continental style, where the yarn stays on your left hand. In English style, your right hand does all the work of positioning the yarn.

Rest your hands on your lap or a table so your forearms are supported. This prevents hand fatigue and keeps your stitches more even. Your left hand stays mostly still—it only moves to push finished stitches down the needle and to position the needle for the next stitch.

How to throw the yarn for a knit stitch

Start with stitches already on your left needle. Insert your right needle through the first stitch from left to right, the same way you would in any knitting method. The right needle should go in front of the left needle, creating an X shape where the needles cross.

Now comes the throw: use your right index finger to flick the yarn up and over the right needle, wrapping it in a loop. The motion is small and quick—just a quick upward flick of your finger. The yarn should wrap around the right needle in a complete circle, coming back down on the far side. This takes practice to do smoothly, and at first your throws may be uneven or too loose.

Once the yarn is wrapped, use the right needle to pull the new loop through the stitch on the left needle, just as you would in any knit stitch. Slide the old stitch off the left needle. You now have one new stitch on the right needle. Repeat this motion for every stitch across the row.

How to throw the yarn for a purl stitch

Purl stitches in English style use the same throwing motion, but the needle goes in from a different direction. Insert your right needle through the first stitch from right to left (the opposite direction from a knit stitch), so the right needle is now behind the left needle.

Flick your right index finger to wrap the yarn over and around the right needle, the same way you did for the knit stitch. The motion is identical—only the needle position changes. Pull the new loop through the stitch and slide the old stitch off the left needle.

Many beginners find purl stitches slower than knit stitches when learning English style, because the needle position feels less natural. This is normal. As your hands learn the motion, purls will speed up. Practicing ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches in the same row) is one of the fastest ways to build muscle memory for both stitches.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common mistake is throwing the yarn too hard or too loosely. If your throws are too tight, your stitches will be small and hard to work into on the next row, and your hands will tire quickly. If your throws are too loose, your stitches will be uneven and gaps will appear in your fabric. The fix is to practice the motion without needles first—just flick the yarn over your finger 20 times in a row, focusing on a smooth, medium-speed motion. Then try it with needles.

Another common problem is inconsistent tension between stitches. This usually means you're changing how tightly you hold the yarn in your right hand as you work. The yarn should rest in the same place on your right hand for every stitch. If you find yourself gripping harder on some stitches, take a break and shake out your hand. Tension improves with rest and repetition, not with pushing through fatigue.

Some beginners accidentally wrap the yarn the wrong direction around the needle, creating twisted stitches. If your stitches look crossed or tilted instead of straight, check that your yarn is wrapping clockwise around the needle (when viewed from the right side). This is the standard direction for both knit and purl stitches in English style.

Building speed and even tension

English style knitting speed comes from relaxing your hand and letting the throwing motion become automatic. At first, you'll think about each step: insert needle, throw yarn, pull through, slide off. After 30 to 60 minutes of practice, your hands will start to do this without your brain directing each motion. This is when speed naturally increases.

To build even tension, knit the same straightforward pattern (like garter stitch, which is knit every row) for at least 20 rows before moving to a new stitch or pattern. Looking at your work row by row, you should see your stitches getting more uniform as you go. If row 5 looks messy but row 20 looks neat, that's progress—your hands are learning.

Practice in good light and with yarn that shows your stitches clearly. Dark yarn or fuzzy yarn makes it hard to see whether your stitches are even. Once you're comfortable with a smooth, light-colored yarn, you can move to any yarn type.

English style versus Continental style

The main difference between English and Continental style is where the yarn is held. English style holds the yarn in the right hand and uses a throwing motion. Continental style holds the yarn in the left hand and uses a picking motion with the right needle. Both methods create identical stitches and fabric—the only difference is hand position and movement.

English style is often considered easier for beginners because the throwing motion feels familiar. Continental style is often considered faster once you're experienced, because the hand motion is smaller. Neither is objectively better. Many knitters use English style for their entire knitting life and knit just as fast as Continental knitters. Choose whichever feels more natural to your hands.

Some knitters learn both methods and switch between them depending on the project or yarn. This is called ambidextrous knitting and takes extra practice, but it's possible. For now, pick one method and stick with it for at least a few hours before deciding whether to switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is English style knitting slower than Continental?

No. Both methods reach the same speed with practice. English style uses a larger hand motion (the throw), while Continental uses a smaller motion (the pick). Beginners often find English style faster to learn because the throwing motion feels more natural, but experienced knitters are equally fast with either method.

Can I switch from English to Continental style later?

Yes, but it takes practice. Your hands will feel clumsy at first because they're used to the throwing motion. If you want to learn both, spend at least 10 hours with one method before switching, so your hands have time to build muscle memory. Many knitters stick with their first method because switching feels harder than it's worth.

Why do my stitches look twisted?

Twisted stitches usually mean the yarn wrapped the wrong direction around the needle. Check that your yarn is wrapping clockwise (when you look at the needle from the right side). Also check that you're inserting the needle through the stitch the correct direction—left to right for knit, right to left for purl.

How long does it take to get comfortable with English style?

Most people feel comfortable with the basic motions after 1 to 2 hours of practice. Even tension and speed take longer—usually 10 to 20 hours of actual knitting time. Don't expect perfect stitches in your first project. Mistakes are part of learning, and your tension will improve naturally as your hands practice.

Do I need special needles for English style knitting?

No. English style works with any needles—bamboo, metal, plastic, straight needles, circular needles, or double-pointed needles. The only difference is personal preference. Many beginners find bamboo needles easier because the yarn grips slightly, preventing stitches from sliding off. Metal needles are faster once you're experienced.