Comments on: Eastern European Knitting Note http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/ Smart Man Knitting Smart Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:49:05 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-14 Eric Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:31:00 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-14 Regarding EEK and knitting into the back of the loop: the idea is to do what will twist the stitch you are knitting into, so if knitting into the front of the loop does that, then that's what is needed. You figured it out just fine. Thanks for writing. Regarding EEK and knitting into the back of the loop: the idea is to do what will twist the stitch you are knitting into, so if knitting into the front of the loop does that, then that’s what is needed. You figured it out just fine. Thanks for writing.

]]> By: Eric http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-13 Eric Tue, 11 May 2010 04:06:32 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-13 I haven't tried plarn yet. I have a video in a post on my blog that is pretty good. My current odd knitting idea is to use thick white synthetic rope, soft stuff, to see what sort of oddity I might create. I'm inspired by a male knit artist I read about on knitty.com. He knits with lead, steel wool, safety tape, and such. Not very practical. I haven’t tried plarn yet. I have a video in a post on my blog that is pretty good. My current odd knitting idea is to use thick white synthetic rope, soft stuff, to see what sort of oddity I might create. I’m inspired by a male knit artist I read about on knitty.com. He knits with lead, steel wool, safety tape, and such. Not very practical.

]]> By: Cyndi http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-12 Cyndi Mon, 10 May 2010 22:48:06 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-12 On another topic. Have you tried plarn? Fascinating stuff and very easy to make. I tried Whole Foods' produce bags and they're a pretty minty green and quite soft. For a project I'm thinking a net shopping/beach bag. Just a thought. What do you think? On another topic. Have you tried plarn? Fascinating stuff and very easy to make. I tried Whole Foods’ produce bags and they’re a pretty minty green and quite soft. For a project I’m thinking a net shopping/beach bag. Just a thought. What do you think?

]]> By: Cyndi http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-11 Cyndi Mon, 10 May 2010 22:39:16 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-11 Oh hey, that’s great that you tried. After watching a couple of YouTube videos on EEK I find that I do the purl stitch slightly different. When purling I slip the yarn in front of the needle and grab it with my needle and pull it in. That way it’s one quick movement rather than twisting the stitch from the back. In my last reply I did not mention that. Also I watched the lady who was listed as one of the Guiness Book of World Records’ fastest knitter. Aside from feeling like I knit as fast a slug moves! I did pick up some pointers. One was to keep small movements and not to “piston” the tip of the needle when picking up the yarn. She said “pistoning” was to stick the tip of the right needle in too far when reaching to pick up the yarn. “Pistoning” takes time to reposition and pick up for the next stitch. Minimizing movement to increase speed requires working closer to the tips of the needles. Amazingly it did improve my speed a little. Then relaxing the shoulders and arms and not gripping the needles too tightly helps a lot with increasing speed. Sounds like a lot to concentrate on but after a while it becomes habit. Different knitting styles. No, I haven’t tried the Portuguese style yet but it certainly looks intriguing and I do plan on experimenting with it soon. Recently I’ve tried Peruvian style and like it quite well. Knitting backwards is fun and knitting Western style left handed seems to work ok all though I am primarily right handed. After all the experiments are completed I still go back to EEK because I find it’s the most comfortable and I love the control of the tension it allows. Thanks to my father I am a bit of a perfectionist and I really like to see nice even rows on a completed project. Question. There are a few times that EEK is a challenge with patterns. When the pattern says knit in the back of the stitch I generally reinterpret that to knit in front of the stitch. (since I already knit in the back of the stitch) It seems to effect the same results. I just wondered, in your experience, what were your thoughts on that? Glass needles and other needle info. I agree with your assessment on the weight of glass needles. The whole reason I love working with wood is because they’re much lighter than metal. When thinking about the possible problems with glass, besides the obvious fragility, I realized that weight would be an issue. So, as nice as glass sounds like it would be, in my mind they’re a bit eccentric in reality. I might get one pair for the novalty and fun of it. One last item. This weekend I took your advice on the 0000 Steel Wool for deglazing my wood needles. It work marvelously. My beautiful rosewood needles are now my absolute favorites! They feel as soft as silk and the yarn glide over them like butter off a hot knife. Thanks ever so much! And, I love your added comments about your “bamboo eating” cat. He’s too funny. :o) Oh hey, that’s great that you tried. After watching a couple of YouTube videos on EEK I find that I do the purl stitch slightly different. When purling I slip the yarn in front of the needle and grab it with my needle and pull it in. That way it’s one quick movement rather than twisting the stitch from the back. In my last reply I did not mention that. Also I watched the lady who was listed as one of the Guiness Book of World Records’ fastest knitter. Aside from feeling like I knit as fast a slug moves! I did pick up some pointers. One was to keep small movements and not to “piston” the tip of the needle when picking up the yarn. She said “pistoning” was to stick the tip of the right needle in too far when reaching to pick up the yarn. “Pistoning” takes time to reposition and pick up for the next stitch. Minimizing movement to increase speed requires working closer to the tips of the needles. Amazingly it did improve my speed a little. Then relaxing the shoulders and arms and not gripping the needles too tightly helps a lot with increasing speed. Sounds like a lot to concentrate on but after a while it becomes habit.

Different knitting styles. No, I haven’t tried the Portuguese style yet but it certainly looks intriguing and I do plan on experimenting with it soon. Recently I’ve tried Peruvian style and like it quite well. Knitting backwards is fun and knitting Western style left handed seems to work ok all though I am primarily right handed. After all the experiments are completed I still go back to EEK because I find it’s the most comfortable and I love the control of the tension it allows. Thanks to my father I am a bit of a perfectionist and I really like to see nice even rows on a completed project.

Question. There are a few times that EEK is a challenge with patterns. When the pattern says knit in the back of the stitch I generally reinterpret that to knit in front of the stitch. (since I already knit in the back of the stitch) It seems to effect the same results. I just wondered, in your experience, what were your thoughts on that?

Glass needles and other needle info. I agree with your assessment on the weight of glass needles. The whole reason I love working with wood is because they’re much lighter than metal. When thinking about the possible problems with glass, besides the obvious fragility, I realized that weight would be an issue. So, as nice as glass sounds like it would be, in my mind they’re a bit eccentric in reality. I might get one pair for the novalty and fun of it. One last item. This weekend I took your advice on the 0000 Steel Wool for deglazing my wood needles. It work marvelously. My beautiful rosewood needles are now my absolute favorites! They feel as soft as silk and the yarn glide over them like butter off a hot knife. Thanks ever so much!

And, I love your added comments about your “bamboo eating” cat. He’s too funny. :o )

]]> By: Eric http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-10 Eric Sat, 08 May 2010 04:21:46 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-10 After your comment I revisited Eastern European knitting style, watched a few videos of it and tried it in the round today again. You are right, if you do it all in the back loop you can do in the round without twisting. It's been so long I forgot how I was taught, but the woman runs a yarn shop and she confirmed that the way she was doing it you can't work in the round. I found you can with the method I found on youtube today. So I knitted about 500 stitches as a test. Only problem is there is more wrist movement in eastern european style and I was feeling it in my right wrist especially. The tension was more even between knit and purl than when I do Portuguese style knitting, but I still had to watch my tension a bit so I didn't get too loose. When I learned to knit I found I was getting some stress effects in my middle finger of my right hand but after a while that went away. I bet with more practice my hands would adapt to EEK as well. I may use it more now, but more likely for flat knitting as that is where my tension issues are most visible in Portuguese style knitting. One thing for sure, EEK is easier than even continental style knitting. The yarn is always behind the needles and you just move your right needle around it depending on how which stitch you are using. Portuguese style is still faster and easier for me. Have you tried it? After your comment I revisited Eastern European knitting style, watched a few videos of it and tried it in the round today again. You are right, if you do it all in the back loop you can do in the round without twisting. It’s been so long I forgot how I was taught, but the woman runs a yarn shop and she confirmed that the way she was doing it you can’t work in the round. I found you can with the method I found on youtube today. So I knitted about 500 stitches as a test. Only problem is there is more wrist movement in eastern european style and I was feeling it in my right wrist especially. The tension was more even between knit and purl than when I do Portuguese style knitting, but I still had to watch my tension a bit so I didn’t get too loose.

When I learned to knit I found I was getting some stress effects in my middle finger of my right hand but after a while that went away. I bet with more practice my hands would adapt to EEK as well. I may use it more now, but more likely for flat knitting as that is where my tension issues are most visible in Portuguese style knitting.

One thing for sure, EEK is easier than even continental style knitting. The yarn is always behind the needles and you just move your right needle around it depending on how which stitch you are using. Portuguese style is still faster and easier for me. Have you tried it?

]]> By: Eric http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-9 Eric Sat, 08 May 2010 04:13:02 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-9 I find I'm not too particular about the needles I'm using unless the yarn is too slippery and thus its "scary" to knit with metal, especially on smaller sizes where every movement is bigger due to scale. I lean toward the acrylic Zephyr needles on socks because of this. Glass needles may sound intriguing but glass is heavy and slick. I wonder about the breakability of glass needles. Not sure I would want to risk my money on them when I have other needles that work fine. I find I’m not too particular about the needles I’m using unless the yarn is too slippery and thus its “scary” to knit with metal, especially on smaller sizes where every movement is bigger due to scale. I lean toward the acrylic Zephyr needles on socks because of this.

Glass needles may sound intriguing but glass is heavy and slick. I wonder about the breakability of glass needles. Not sure I would want to risk my money on them when I have other needles that work fine.

]]> By: Cyndi http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-8 Cyndi Fri, 07 May 2010 16:04:39 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-8 After reading your note on knitting the round using the EEK method. I have to comment. I have knit socks and all sorts of items that require knitting in the round. Sometimes I've used circular needles but most of the time I use DPNs (I really like the DPNs better). I've never had a problem with twisting stitches while knitting in the round. Now I do knit and purl out of the back of the stitches. It is possible that if you knit out of the front and purl out of the back (or visa vera) that when knitting the round your stitches will be twisted. I know this because I've done it when trying help a Western Style Knitter with a project. If you keep that in mind that problem is easily rememdied by knitting/purling out of the side that will allow the stitch to lay properly. After reading your note on knitting the round using the EEK method. I have to comment. I have knit socks and all sorts of items that require knitting in the round. Sometimes I’ve used circular needles but most of the time I use DPNs (I really like the DPNs better). I’ve never had a problem with twisting stitches while knitting in the round. Now I do knit and purl out of the back of the stitches. It is possible that if you knit out of the front and purl out of the back (or visa vera) that when knitting the round your stitches will be twisted. I know this because I’ve done it when trying help a Western Style Knitter with a project. If you keep that in mind that problem is easily rememdied by knitting/purling out of the side that will allow the stitch to lay properly.

]]> By: Cyndi http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/eastern-european-knitting-note/#comment-7 Cyndi Fri, 07 May 2010 14:47:02 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=80#comment-7 Hello! I've been an EEK and didn't know it until recently. Most everyone I know knits "American Style". In any case I love EEK method. Now I wanted to comment on your observations on coated wooden/bamboo needles. Early on in my knitting experience I started with metal needles and then I tried bamboo. Since I have used only wood/bamboo because they are less slippery and much lighter for long session knitting. It was surprising how much the weight mattered. While I've never had a problem with coated bamboo needles (probably because I don't think any of those I have are coated) recently I purchased a beautiful set of rosewood needles from a LYS. Those were coated. As soon as I started knitting the yarn stuck to them like glue! Ugh! That was so disappointing too since they really are very pretty and feel so nice to hold. I will try the steel wool you mentioned. Hopefully that'll do the trick. Thanks for sharing your insights. Back to the wooden needle idea. I am interested in trying other types of wooden needles. The harmony wood looks gorgeous except I've heard that the wood tends to separate. The ladies in my knitting group have used clear fingernail polish to "glue" them back together. Because of that, though, I have shyed away from buying harmony wood. So far I only have bamboo, rosewood, and birch. Next I'm looking for ebony, maple, cherry, etc. Do you have any experience with glass needles? Hello!
I’ve been an EEK and didn’t know it until recently. Most everyone I know knits “American Style”. In any case I love EEK method. Now I wanted to comment on your observations on coated wooden/bamboo needles. Early on in my knitting experience I started with metal needles and then I tried bamboo. Since I have used only wood/bamboo because they are less slippery and much lighter for long session knitting. It was surprising how much the weight mattered. While I’ve never had a problem with coated bamboo needles (probably because I don’t think any of those I have are coated) recently I purchased a beautiful set of rosewood needles from a LYS. Those were coated. As soon as I started knitting the yarn stuck to them like glue! Ugh! That was so disappointing too since they really are very pretty and feel so nice to hold. I will try the steel wool you mentioned. Hopefully that’ll do the trick. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Back to the wooden needle idea. I am interested in trying other types of wooden needles. The harmony wood looks gorgeous except I’ve heard that the wood tends to separate. The ladies in my knitting group have used clear fingernail polish to “glue” them back together. Because of that, though, I have shyed away from buying harmony wood. So far I only have bamboo, rosewood, and birch. Next I’m looking for ebony, maple, cherry, etc. Do you have any experience with glass needles?

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