Unintentionally Twisted Stitches // Technique Tuesday

[@antoniahall7507]

I’ve been battling twisted stitches for my entire knitting career! Thanks for this very clear explanation of why they appear!

[@wrongturnVfor]

oh goodness, everyone I talked to kept calling it right and left leg and when doing complicated stiches I could never figure out which was which. THis simple concept of leading leg has made my life so much uncomlicated. Thank you, thank you thank you

[@MidwifeinNC]

Twisted stitches have been the bane of my existence! I was "un-knitting" a sock and found I had twisted some stitches - I thought I was over that! So I found this video. Thank you SO MUCH. I think I get it now!

[@knittedbrow5712]

Your explanation of not just “how” but “why”is what sets you apart - your technique videos are invaluable reference material.

[@luciusraum2294]

I've watched so many videos and your explanation is the first time I understood leading vs trailing. THANK YOU

[@sjg9887]

Oh my god! I’ve been struggling with this for so loong when switching from flat to round knitting. Turns out I’m a combination knitter!! Thank you so much for the video!

[@chrissy24-7]

I have been knitting since I was sixteen, on and off thru the years. Someone told me i was twisting stitches and i tried to fix them for my last sweater. I couldn't figure out why some sts were twisted and some not, butt it turns out i was wrapping k and p in different directions. 😂 So i was combination knitting without knowing it. So no wonder my sweater looks so messy to me. Now i understand about using the leading leg always. I wish I could hug you, I'm so grateful ❤

[@alicrawford1857]

I watch your videos often and can't believe I missed this one. This would have saved me a year of brain twists. I've watched many about this subject and yours finally answered all my questions. Cannot thank you enough for such and extensive and detailed explanation.

[@lindarose712]

Really appreciate your clear video and describing how stitches are formed: importance of being able to identify leading vs trailing leg, how the needle enters the existing stitch, the direction the knitter wraps yarn around needle. Excellent information which avoids the claim that a type of knitting is “wrong or right” and focuses on what causes the stitches to do what the knitter intends or not. (For a person raised to have a “right way/wrong way” mindset, rather than an “understanding how it works” mindset, this is liberating 🧶💕💫🌱)

[@reavanante2160]

Thank you for your clear demonstration. Solves a lot of problems. I've never heard this explained before.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad it helped!

[@pauladirac7441]

Thank you so much for pointing out that the leading leg is connected to the stitch to the right (and for showing it in a contrasting color). That was a connection my brain hadn’t made before and it’s so helpful!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LauravanBarneveld63]

I just learned how to knit yesterday (I have been crocheting for 6 years) and while the stitches themselves are not hard to do at all, I kept having some problems in the test swatches I did. This video helped tremendously both for not creating any twisted stitches but also understanding the stitches better. I can now easily identify twisted stitches as well. Very clear video and explanation, it was a very smart choice to choose a different color yarn because that really helped! Thank you!

[@mhhuman3553]

Wow! THANK YOU for your explanation. I learned how to knit when I was a little girl and trying to pick it up now (in my 50s). I was doing this and knew it was wrong. I have watched hours of videos trying to understand it. In Spanish, German, English but you are the first on to explain it. And brilliant! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@robyngarrett8068]

Thank you for this demonstration.I have been knitting for well over 60 years and had never heard of leading and trailing yarn. Your teaching method was very easy to understand. I also found this link on fb.

[@robinishmael7980]

Your demonstrations and explanations are excellent! You are a very good teacher! As a novice knitter, I know that I can visit your channel and get clear guidance and understanding on so many techniques or issues that I encounter. Thank you for sharing your skill and knowledge.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You are so welcome!

[@Lisa_Flowers]

I still can't get over how well you communicate information about knitting! I feel like it's so common for people to say that you should ALWAYS do this or NEVER do this, but rarely tell you _why_ , what the effects of both choices are, or communicate things in a way that encourages actual understanding and not dogma. And while there is value to conventional wisdom and often a good reason why it exists, it's so much more helpful as a beginner knitter to hear the 'why' behind things, and to have the effects of different actions explained nonjudgmentally and clearly. It's very empowering to knitters to tell us how doing something one way vs the other might affect our work, while ultimately letting us make the decision on what we want to do. I feel like this mentality isn't common, but it's a style of teaching that I gravitate towards over and over. Thank you for providing this information in an accessible, simple and easy to understand way. 8 months after first watching this video and I have prevented many mistakes because I watched it!

[@nicolastevenson4558]

Had just been having a go at working as a left hander ( naturally left handed but knit as a right hander for 50 years ) I was getting twisted stitches. I realise now I had inadvertently become a combination knitter in all the strangeness of changing hands and also switching to using the continental hold on the yarn at the same time! Very clearly explained, Thankyou.

[@Bestaussiegirl]

Thank you for this explanation. So clear and well demonstrated. I’ve been knitting for 60 years and never had any idea about twisted stitches. I have never had this issue, but found this link on fb and decided to have a look. Wonderful! 👍

[@lesleydrury1240]

A very clear explanation..as always. I did have a vague understanding of this topic but ur demonstration made everything much more understanable as to why this happens. Thank u. I look forward to ur videos every week .

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad to hear that

[@tarynwyatt8731]

Omg this is EXACTLY what I needed to know, I am totally a combination knitter and I was trying to knit and purl through the leading leg of the stitch but it was still turning out this way🤣 so now I know I need to make sure to wrap counter clockwise. I think... but I'm so excited to know this is why my stitches look wonky like that, it's precisely what my work looks like. Thank you, I've been devouring your channel, you are hy far the most helpful KZbin knitter I've encountered ❤🙌🙏

[@AshleyUlwelling]

As always, you explain the what and the why and I have learned something! Great video, Roxanne! Thank you!

[@solstise]

I watched your video as I unraveled my eight last rows for the exact same reason as the first swatch you show, thank you for the explainations!

[@barbefa1]

I am trying to be a combination knitter and your video is priceless. Their isn't much help to learn how to do this in videos and I appreciate your so much. I want to knit western and purl eastern continental so this is exactly what I needed and your other video for decreases. I don't know what I would do without you helping me in my knitting journey!

[@lydia6438]

This is a great video--really explains this very well. It helped my friend understand that she was a combination knitter. Thanks for this!

[@MaireGreske]

Thank you for posting this. For years my knitting was like the zig zag sample you showed. It was always so hard and tight to knit, until I realized I was wrapping the yarn the wrong way. This explanation is very clear.

[@bluolive]

❤❤❤ thank you for this video. I was going nuts on why all of a sudden my stitches were twisted. Thank you again!!

[@Strenmiso]

You're a real life saver. I always had that dread pf accidentally twisting my stitches, since I'm a beginner and can't tell the difference. But know i now that I'm doing it right, thanks to your legs explanation. Thank you so much 😊

[@ageoftheexile]

Wow I didn't even know I had this problem happening until I watched this video! Your clear explanations really helped me understand what the leading leg even is and why I'd want to knit through it. I was taught originally to always knit through the front leg (not necessarily through the leading leg), and I didn't consider that it would result in twisting my stitches accidentally. Now that I'm looking at my practice swatches, I see that I still have a lot to work on. Thanks so much!

[@alenakremer6837]

I guess I am a combination knitter!😂 Thank you for the clear explanation! I couldn't figure out for the life of me why my stitches were twisted even when I was always knitting or pulling from the front, and never had this issue knitting in the round! I will be coming back to this video for sure!

[@cydnicaldwell1337]

I've heard the term "combination knitter" for a long time. I wasn't exactly sure what that was: however now I know what it means and how to 'fix' any accidental twists I might make as I occasionally do wrap a purl stitch clockwise. Thank you for the very informative & helpful video!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You are so welcome!

[@sekwa75]

A, potentially, interesting note: I am a mirror continental knitter, and how you wrapped the needle at 8:35 is exactly what I do when knitting backwards. It gives me an untwisted stockinette fabric when knitting flat.

[@ladykarolyn1]

I never knew that I was doing combination knitting and that *that* was why stockinette always felt like so much effort, especially my knit rows. Thank you for explaining this so well! I might actually knit more now. I do crochet quite a bit, but I've often wanted the look of knitting for a certain project and just defaulted to crochet because it was too hard. This is making a huge difference!

[@flaming002]

This was the exact issue that I was having when I picked up knitting again! I used to knit english style with the yarn in my right hand, and the stockinette would look fine, but then when I learned to crochet and came back to knitting, I found that the stockinette looked funny. The issue that I was having was that I was wrapping the yarn over during the purls CW instead of CCW because I found it easier at the time! Fantastic explanation thank you so much!

[@barbaratodd1769]

Thank you so much for this video. I now know I have always been a combination knitter and always had so many problems. I am now purling properly! Thank you!

[@ellenchappell1574]

I was an unintentional combination knitter when I first started. My knitting teacher corrected how I was working the stitches, but this was so helpful to understand how I did it. I used to get so frustrated. Thanks for the great explanation.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You are welcome! I'm so glad you understand it now. :-)

[@oleladyx5613]

I'm left handed. This is one of the few explanations that I have seen that doesn't seem to matter which handed you are. Keep your YOs going counterclockwise, and watch which leg (back or front) is leading and enter the loop accordingly; back of the loop for back leg leading and front of the loop for front leg leading. Most teachers for knit and crochet do use terms like dominant hand but then say right or left for other directions. It can get confusing. Thank you very much for this. I kept wondering why my stitches didn't look like it was supposed to. Now I know.

[@EvieO1950]

Explained very well. Really good information for a new knitter like me to understand the stitch makeup and how to spot mistakes I may have made unknowingly. Thanks!!

[@msjennl10]

People get very angry with me when I tell them live stitches on the needle aren't twisted and people usually aren't twisting their stitches by "purling wrong" 😅 thank you for the excellent, well explained additional resource I can share with them!

[@BeautifulOaks]

Thank you. Ugg! You have demystified my errors and troubles with past projects.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad to hear it!

[@BeautifulOaks]

I see, now....uggg...I have done combination knitting on some projects that caused the stitches to twist, resulting in inconsistent knitting. I’m keeping the wrap counter clockwise from now on. Thanks, Rox!

[@mathswithmrzuber1259]

I'm embarrassed to say I've knitted my first five projects using twisted stiches. I couldn't work out why my seed stiches didn't look as advertised. Thanks for this terrifically clear explanation!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You got it figured out, which is the important thing! It's hard as a new knitter to really see what is actually happening (and why), as you build muscle memory. Once you no longer have to think about what *you're* doing, you'll be able to pay more attention to what the sts are doing. Also -- don't be embarrassed! There's a reason I made a video about this: it's a very common mistake! :-)

[@kaylemoine1571]

Technical but good explanation.

[@elaineenstone6834]

Excellent explanation. Thank you.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You are welcome!

[@lindahodgkins4197]

Wow, love to be able to train my knitting eye to see the suttle changed in the stitches. Love your tips

[@charlottenewland4311]

Wow! Such a helpful video - thank you so much!

[@joanie9258]

This was such a helpful explanation! You went into such detail & your video & colors were so clear & closeup to see exactly what you were explaining. I would like to see more about fixing mistakes. I seem to always get myself in a jam & have issues getting back to where I need to be.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I have a playlist on my channel that consists of videos for fixing mistakes

[@gabrielamarques6387]

Great explanation! That was almost intuitive for me, but it was very useful to hear and truly understand about the leading/trailing leg. For sure will avoid future mistakes. Thanks!

[@barbefa1]

Thanks!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You're very welcome! :-)

[@crabbychipmunk4432]

That explanation was very helpful! Thank you! I've been trying to understand this and your video is the first time it's made sense to me.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I'm so glad!

[@amygregg1658]

This was incredibly clear and helpful! I had no idea I was a combination knitter!

[@MidwifeinNC]

Me either!

[@DonnaBMacK]

Thank you for sharing this information, done so clearly. Take care!

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Thanks Roxanne, I am always amazed at our pedagogical skills. Even though I knew all this material, I do not believe I could explain it so clearly, simply and concisely as you do. Congratulations !!! You always make me feel like a great learner, but I think it is because you are such a great teatcher. You have all my gratitude. One subject I would love to learn more about is how to get a regular tension while knitting Continental. I have practiced over and over again, with very bad results, no regularity. I don't mind being a slow English knitter, but sometimes when I knit very plain stockinette sweaters in the round, I get tired from the repetitive movement. Is it possible to change mode of knitting in the middle of a project and get the same gauge, and same regularity in stitches ?

[@RoxanneRichardson]

It is possible, assuming that you get the same gauge with both knitting styles. When I started transitioning to Continental knitting, I got the same gauge for continental and English. Once I completely transition, I noticed that over time, my Continental tension has relaxed, so I need a needle one size smaller for Continental than I need for English. I have to keep that in mind if I decide to switch styles mid-project.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

@@RoxanneRichardson Thanks for your help, that is a great observation.

[@Evelyn22harry]

Thank you! Thank you!! I am left handed and learned to knit from a right handed knitter. I've always been complimented for my " interesting cross stitch " knitting. I would like to know how I can continue my "cross stitching on circular needles. Please help.

[@jeanniescrochetcreations4978]

I take them off and put them the right way before knitting. Thanks!! Have a safe healthy Halloween!!

[@claudiafigueiredo7969]

This video is so helpful. Thank you :)

[@theastewart6721]

Thanks for another interesting video. I have heard of combination knitting and am wondering if there are any advantages to it. I knit with “other” way. I don’t want to call it the standard way or the right way because who am I to say what’s the correct way. Everyone has their own style. But I am curious if there are any advantages. I also wonder about mirrored knitting too. Maybe you can do a video on these topics one day. I doubt I’ll ever change my style as I’ve been knitting so long this way but it’s fun learning! Thanks Roxanne!🤗🤗

[@sandraroper9866]

Thank you for an interesting video. Please can you make a video on picking up stitch from a provisional cast on that also includes (knit &purl ) stitch. Especially for underarms of garments. I unzipped my provisional cast on and have 2 stitches where my purl stitch is. Can you show me how to fix it.

[@vrijrein]

Thank you so much!

[@leenagodbole8300]

This explains EVERYTHING

[@leenagodbole8300]

I was a very confused unintentional combination knitter. I literally have a sweater knitted in the round that looked great until I seperated the front and started knitting flat that sent me on this journey.

[@JosieStew]

That was very helpful thank you

[@marsy1480]

Thank you!

[@psh4680]

I began knitting English style as a teenager and now, in my 70's, have been learning how to knit Continental and love it since it is so much faster; however, I cannot seem to get the tension the same for knits and purls, therefore creating what I think is called 'gutters' or I think some people call it 'rowing out.' My purls are always larger and looser. I would love a video explaining how to avoid this, if possible. Maybe this would be helpful to others as well.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Thank you for the suggestion! It's on my list of video ideas! :-)

[@bgummeson]

I’m an English knitter and have been playing with Norwegian and Russian (both classical and Grandma) styles. My Russian purls seem to be much tighter than the knits, and my Norwegian purls are slightly looser than the knits. I am doing the Norwegian purls with the yarn wrapped snuggly around my finger and not with my index finger extended. I’m looking forward to Roxanne’s answer to your question!

[@brendadavis8477]

I also have different tension for knit vs purl when using continental style. I use Norwegian purling and continental knitting for flat stockinette which results in more consistent tension.

[@wavingcat5]

I took up Combination knitting for this very reason (rowing out visible in reverse stockinette). The yarn goes around the same amount with purls as with knits this way.

[@McKenzieIdeality]

Man, this should be taught in every beginner knitting video. I had no idea this was a thing. But now im curious how this changes the way you would need to do different decreases. I think I twist on my purling rows by accident but noticed that when I decrease, they dont lean the directions they should because of it.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I have a video that might help Decreases for Eastern and Combination Knitters // Technique Tuesday kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2bXZHmAhLySf5I

[@hiiii2873]

Thank you

[@aptname9710]

For a knitter who doesn't see which leg of the stitch is sitting in front, are there any differences they can feel as they insert their needle to knit and purl the standard way? For example, will the live stitch's loop be extra loose or extra tight when the needle tries to go through?

[@sharongomez2484]

Hello , Is the leading leg coming from the yarn?

[@Ewphy1]

I knitted 3 sweaters before I realized that that twisting they did couldn't have been normal. Initially I blamed it on the yarn, but had to admit that 3 different yarns doing that to me would be too much of a coincidence. I searched the internet for "sweaters twisting diagonally" and similar terms but couldn't find anything eventually I started to look at my knitting more closely and realized my stitches looked different than in how other people knitted. thats when i finally realized that yhe search results for the twisted stitches i was getting were relevant to me afterall. unfortunately most of these blog posts were about how to fix a single accidental twisted stitch and not about continuous twisted knitting. Lucky i managed to figure it out myself though. I had learned knitting when i was a young girl. Now in my 30s im picking it up again and, though i was rusty i seemed yo remember how to knit and purl. Apperently I should have looked it up anyway. maybe the 3 twisted sweaters would have been prevented. To clarify : I was always wrapping my yarn clockwise, while knitting conventionally (knitting though front and purling through back) regardless of it was a leading leg or not.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Yeah, there are a lot of ways knitters can end up with twisted sts, and several ways they can avoid them (change how you enter the sts or change how you wrap the yarn). I'm glad you were able to figure out that you were doing something to cause the twist, and that you were able to figure it out on your own. You learned a lot more about how knitting works, because of it.

[@daphnevega1812]

The 2nd example of twisted sets, L leaning, looks like an interesting design. Is there a reason to not incorporate it intentionally as a design element?

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Twisted stitches are often incorporated intentionally into knitting patterns. It's most commonly used in ribbing where the RS knits are twisted (referred to as ktbl, which assumes leading leg is over the front of the needle) and the purls are worked as normal. Some knitting traditions use traveling twisted stitch patterns, which look like delicate, embossed cable patterns on the surface of the purled background. And in some cultures "crossed knitting" is the norm. I have some designs that use traveling twisted stitch patterns. Here's an example of one: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/translated

[@navarrostream5028]

Now I zam afraid to look at the sweater I almost finished for my grandot awhile back. Used to wrap my yarn the wrong way and didn't know it.

[@Emhefree]

I’ve knitted wrong for years and could never figure out why it never had the pretty v shape! It was always twisted rows, super uniform but not at all what I wanted!

[@Lisa_Flowers]

So as far as I'm understanding, it's okay to be a combination knitter as long as you always remember to work into the leading leg?

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Yep. You just have to understand how to compensate for the mount of the leading leg.

[@jamiey2632]

Great video! So clearly explained. I was a combination knitter and didn't realize it until I tried german short rows. I watched your German short videos so many times and could never understand why I couldn't get the double stitch to look right. So now, if I'm just doing plain stockinette I can keep with combination knitting but anything more complicated like lace is too much to handle. Ironically, I've also had trouble with twisted rib.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

For twisted rib, you could opt to have right-twisted sts (knit through the front -- trailing -- leg). Lace can be a challenge for combo knitters when knitting flat, if there are lots of double decreases, but should be fine when working in the round.