How to hold the yarn and knit with the left hand

Knitting with the left hand, known in the UK as the Continental style, is considered by some to be faster because the movement is more economical. However, the tension is often looser than that of right-handed knitters. This is partly because the potential speed means that each stitch has less attention but also because the picking action of the RH needle is less defined by a set position and is more fluid.

Step 1: Holding the yarn: Wrap the yarn around the fingers as shown. The idea is to be able to grasp the yarn and control the flow through the fingers. The LH needle is held with the thumb and middle finger.

Step 2: Knitting:Insert the RH needle into the next stitch and manoeuvre the tip of the needle from back to front and from right to left around the strand of yarn being held taught in the left hand. Draw the tip of the RH needle through the stitch, hooking the loop at the same time, then drop the stitch off the LH needle.

More from "Fair Isle Colourwork":

• How to strand and weave Fair Isle motifs using both hands-2
• How to strand and weave Fair Isle motifs using both hands-1
• How to hold the yarn and knit with the right hand
• Variations on a theme
• Tools of the trade
• Weaving In
• Holding the yarn
• Blocking
• Joining in yarn