Pickin' And Grinnin'

Day 95: My readers have often heard me refer to the fact that I use the European method of "picking" when knitting, as opposed to "throwing" in the American style. Picking is a much faster system, particularly when working ribbing because it is much easier to bring the yarn to the front of the needle for a purl stitch. In picking, the working strand is held in the left hand. Depending on the individual knitter, tension is achieved by carrying the yarn over the backs of one or more fingers or by winding it around a finger. I prefer to wrap it around my pinkie. It then passes over the index finger from back to front.

To make a knit stitch (top), the working thread should be behind the left needle. The tip (only the tip!) of the right needle is inserted in the first stitch on the left needle in the normal fashion and is "picked" through to the front. The stitch is then slid off the needle. At this point, the knitter will see how easy it is to bring the working thread to the FRONT of the left needle for a purl stitch. To purl (bottom), the yarn is held in front of the left needle. The right needle passes through the first stitch on the left needle in the usual manner. A slight twist of the left wrist drops the working thread over the tip of the right needle from front to back, and the stitch is then taken off the left needle. There is no tedious transferring of the yarn from front to back as there is in throwing. Rather, it is how the needles are positioned which allow the stitch to be knit or purled as desired.

Picking is easy to learn whether you're right-handed or left-handed (I am right-handed), but for lefties, it is much easier than throwing American-style. Try it! You'll be pickin' and grinnin' in no time at all!

And The Stockings Were Hung

Day 68: Since November 30, I have turned out ten pair of socks in women's sizes 6-9. I don't recall an occasion when I have worked as steadfastly at the needles over such a prolonged period. Even though both friends who placed their orders told me that I didn't need to rush, I felt compelled to get the job done quickly so that they would have them in time for Christmas gift-giving. There were a couple of days when I turned out less than a whole sock, but others when by bedtime, I had completed a sock and a half.

I credit my swiftness to knitting in the European style ("picking" as opposed to "throwing"). In picking, the yarn is held in the left hand. The right hand stays almost stationary and the yarn is brought forward to purl by a simple movement of the left index finger. It makes ribbing a breeze! Interestingly enough, I was taught by my paternal grandmother to pick, although I learned most of my other needle skills from my mother's mother. She insisted that I throw, so until I was on my own in the world, I abandoned picking and struggled with the tedium of throwing the yarn with each stitch. Once I reverted to the European style, knitting became a much more enjoyable task. Socks remain one of my favourite projects, but maybe I'll take my time with the next pair.