Just wanted to say thank you, after watching and watching I tried to flick ... nope. Got frustrated and stopped trying ... the next day the same ... but on the third day I got it until I tried to move the stitches along the needle ... they were way to tight, so then made an effort to loosen my death grip on the yarn and needles and now I am so happy to say yes I am now a flicker. I am actually enjoying my knitting more now if that is possible ... so a big heartfelt thanks for showing us in depth how you knit. Have a good one :)

Stacy, you’re my knitting “Mom”. I always turn to you when I need help. My knitting has come a long way since I found your channel.

It’s so great seeing someone else who knits the same style I do!! Somehow, when I started learning 20+ years ago, the flicking style ( not realizing that’s what it’s called) was what I began doing. I just wrap the yarn once around the pinky then over my pointer finger with the yarn feeding from the backside of the finger. It’s the most comfortable and efficient for me.

I cannot thank you enough for your three flicking videos, once I wrapped my head around the idea that you don't wrap the yarn with flicking it started making sense, pivot the right needle tip around the yarn. I have a clear schedule for today, a full pot of coffee, a full skein of practice yarn and a Netflix queue full of shows to watch--practice practice practice! (Now if only I could get my nails to be as pretty!)

I'M FLICKING!!!!!!! I'mflickingI'mflickingI'mflicking!!!!!I tried and tried and TRIED and I wasn't catching on and decided to use a different approach. Maybe it will work for some of you. I made a series of simple knit disclothes. First, I got used to knitting with the yarn over my index finger. I could not initially stand the feel, but I persevered. That took me two dishcloths. Haha. Then I did the needle pivot for another two dishcloths, and then the left index finger supporting the needle. I had to do it in baby steps because trying to learn it all at once was not working. Now I can flick with the best of them, but it wasn't easy for me to learn this technique. I agree - it is so much more enjoyable and I LOVE IT. THANK YOU, Staci, for constantly sharing your wisdom and knowledge! I love your videos!!!!!

I love how you talk to us as friends. You are very "down to earth" and not condescending to the beginners! I just discovered your videos as I want to practice flicking and I will be watching many more. They are clear and easy to understand...thanks again!

I taught myself how to flick - after seeing your videos - three years ago and have been enjoying my knitting so much more since! Thanks for the inspiration, as always :)

Here it is, five years after the post, and what a help! I'm knitting a scarf, one particular stitch's been bugging me. Now I see that a tiny change in the way my needles are held will solve the problem! Thank you, Staci! (from a flicker).

I always wondered what that style of knitting was called. I watch my friends at knit and natter in awe. whilst I just took my crocheting. my mother knitted like That too. click click click went the needles faster and faster. and I sat watching knitting 1 stitch.every few seconds. thanks so so much for making this video, it's bought back so many wonderful memories of my mother. and now I'm going to practice hard. gosh thats bought a tear to my eye. Thankyou. xx

I self taught 10 years ago, right about the time you were first releasing videos. Watching this makes me smile, I’m a flicker and I assume I probably started knitting this way just by watching you without even realizing it.

To avoid pinkie cramping, I hold a crochet hook with an (improvised) ergonomic handle in my yarn hand. I don't use the hook, and it doesn't get in the way--it just keeps me from having to curl up my pinkie so tight. I hold/tension my yarn the same way as in the video; even though I try to use different methods, I can't seem to stick with anything; I end up dropping the yarn all the time, and if I pick it up without thinking about it, this is just what's "natural" to me. Recently, though, my pinkie knuckle started cramping and hurting, so I started using a crochet hook. I don't have an actual ergonomic handle at the moment, so I just wrapped a bunch of yarn around the middle of it to make it thicker. You could also try holding a small ball of yarn or a wooden egg or something--anything that will keep your fingers in a more relaxed position. The object itself helps keep tension without having to wrap it around your fingers

Thank you for this video! Between this and a few others I finally have flicking figured out. If others are struggling....pay attention to how you wrap the yarn around the needle....most use a "western" style where they wrap their yarn counterclockwise. That's what we see in this video. Turns out I wrap mine clockwise, aka "eastern" style. Once I realized this difference I switched how the yarn wrapped around my pointer finger (from project to left side of my finger, over the top, and down the right side to my other fingers, and everything worked great. We are all so wonderfully made and beautifully unique.... hopefully this helps others learn a little more about their unique knitting style.

Thanks to you Stacey I am now flicking. It took me about a year to get efficient but now I love it so much! I keep my yarn the other way around my index fi get though 😅 couldn't make it work your way. But thank you so much for the inspiration! ❤️

Thank you, especially for that last part of the video. I’ve been knitting for 30+ years, and while I can knit just about anything reasonably well, I still knit as though I’m 8 years old- right hand holding onto the yarn and throwing (more like heaving) the yarn over the left needle. I’ve tried learning more effective and ergonomic ways, but I always give up too quickly out of frustration. But you’ve inspired me with your blanket story, and emphasizing how much practice it takes to master this technique. I do want to learn, because my crude technique affects my tension, speed and comfort! Love your videos, they are the only knitting help videos I watch- and they have helped me learn so many new and improved techniques. Thanks again!

I am a continental knitter but I really need to become ambidextrous when it comes to knitting. Thank you so much for this additional help in figuring it out!

Wooooow!!! You just lit the lighthouse for me!! I was looking at your vids not understanding how flicking was working so good for you. I just couldn’t get it right. It’s the ´put the yarn around the finger the other way around’ that cleared everything for me. Thank you so much. Also I started giving knitting lessons, but on my own knitting time, I’ve been watching your videos lately. I find it helps me explain tips better (and learn in the process as well...) Love you so and thanks again for your time and preparation.

I'm a continental knitter and always admire English knitters because their stitches are most likely very neat however I can knit faster. I have tried this English flicking way but failed. Now I know why I couldn't do this. The way I grabbed yarn was wrong such as you exactly pointed out ! I will try this again! Thank you❤️

I love watching you knit. I hold my yarn around the opposite side on my finger then you do. The one where you have a hard time getting the yarn around the needles to make a stitch. I try your way and can’t do it. Thank you for sharing how you do things.

I'm a "flicker" as well. I never knew it was different; when I taught myself to knit, it came naturally. It is more efficient, I guess, than letting go of the needle every stitch.

That is almost creepy. You published these video just in time for my fair isle knitting. I just watched your old flicking video and with the new video all my existing problems are solved. now nothing can stop me from 2 handed knitting. Thank you very much, from a continental knitter :-)

thank you so much for this video. I've just managed to flick by changing the direction of the yarn on my finger... I have been trying to figure it out for a while but held the yarn around the front of my finger, so it never worked! thanks again from a novice knitter who learned to knit by watching your videos! from Rebecca in the UK

I just wanted to say that it is possible to flick knit with the yarn in front. Just like you, I learned how to crochet first before knitting but I hold my yarn in the front instead of the way you hold it with the yarn going towards the back. Took me about 3 days to learn and now I’m knitting faster than before. Thanks for both of your vids. They were a great help!

I've always been a flicker. That's how my Grandmama taught me in 1981. I have an unusual way of tensioning my yarn that does leave the working yarn on the front of my finger. I wrap it around my pinkie, over my ring finger, under my middle finger and back over my index finger. It works for me and I never have to let go of the needle until I finish the row or need to push stitches along the needle.

Thank you Staci. I really like the idea of this style of knitting. I've been knitting for over 45+ years and started with English, switched to Continental and now I'm going to try this method. It just seems more efficient and faster (after practice, of course).

I posted your original video on Knitting Paradise site. I really want to learn how to flick. Turns out many veteran knitters have been doing it this way for 40 years, one for 50! Wow, new to me and so glad you came out with the Q & A. I'm going to post this as a follow up for us "rookier" knitters. Good for you for coming up with this many years before You Tube. Very inspiring and helpful (as are all your videos) :)

This is exactly how I have always knitted! I honestly didn't know there was any other way to knit till I started watching KZfaq videos of other knitters. Thanks for all of the tips!

You are such a life saver! I'm a continental knitter, but I've been working on stranded colorwork and trying to keep a color in each hand and couldn't figure out why my elbows were making everything so awkward in my right hand. Your videos are always so good!

A few months back, I saw the way you knit in several of your videos and was intrigued. I taught myself to knit, years ago, using one of those 'big box store' "Learn to Knit" kits (which I later learned was English style) and was rather slow and it was frustrating me. So, after trying many times (quite unsuccessfully I might add...), to incorporate Continental knitting into my skills so that I could learn to knit faster. When I saw you knitting that quickly, even while holding the working yarn in your right hand, I made a conscious effort to give it a try. I had a gauge swatch to knit and made the decision to try the whole swatch the way you were doing it. After about 20 rows, in half my normal time, I have definitely adopted flicking as my preferred way to knit! Thank you!

Thank you so much, Stacey! I taught myself to knit using the English method, but didn't like how slow I was. Then I taught myself Continental (and Combination) style. Now I'm working true Fair Isle and working with both strands in my left hand just wasn't working for me (losing tension on one of the yarns, slower speed), so I've been attempting (painfully slowly) to knit using yarn in both hands -- it's been so long since I knitted English I couldn't get my head wrapped around how to do it anymore! I remembered I had seen your "Flicking" video some time ago, and thought after a frustrating hour of knitting tonight that I needed to revisit that video. That one makes sense, and I get it... but the tensioning of the yarn was a perpetual issue. THIS VIDEO clarified that for me! So thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I'm pretty fast when I knit continental or combination, but now I think I'll really fly through Fair Isle work using both hands.

When I took up knitting again, about 4 years ago, I knew I wanted to knit faster and more efficiently. You were my teacher, so I was determined to learn to flick! I tried continental but couldn't maintain a consistent stitch. It took me about a year to really get the method in my brain. Now it's automatic and fast! I hold my yarn differently and I have it on the front of my finger.....it works and I thank you soooooo much. You have to find the best way for you and be patient!

I have a knitters pride set I just love. I've only had two issues, one of my chords has a too small hole for the key and once I was in a hurry and over tightened one of my needles and it sort of striped it - going past where it would normally be tight. I'd buy them again if I ever needed another set. As always, I love your Wednesday episodes! Thanks for all the hard work.

I know this is 4 years old but I finally found someone who knits like me! I learned american knitting almost 20 years ago and then learned how to crochet with stitch diagrams--so never knew to hold the working yarn in the left hand--and crocheted with the working yarn and the hook in my right hand. Then I started knitting like I crochet and ended up doing this!

I am an Engish or American style knitter and have always been amazed at how fast you knit using your flicking method. Thank you for going into more detail about your style of knitting. I need to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you, Staci. I am an English knitter who used to throw but recently changed my technique after seeing you and Hazel Tindall. I hadn't appreciated that the yarn could go to the back of the index finger first and had an interesting cat's cradle going on trying to work out how to do it! Love your videos. So practical and reassuring. Please keep creating them for us!

It's amazing how seemingly small things can make such a difference in how easy, comfortable and efficient knitting can be. Thanks for helping make knitting even more enjoyable!

I taught myself to knit before the age of 10 from a book of my grandmother's. It showed holding the right hand needle similar to a pencil, resting between the thumb and the index finger. The action of the needle is controlled by the thumb and index then throwing (or flicking) the yarn with the middle finger. Over my 50+ years of knitting this way, I noticed I knitted faster than most throwers and realized it was because I did not drop my right hand needle. I recently learned my method of knitting is known as Cottage Knitting and is very similar to flicking.

I'm a flicker - who knew? I'm self taught, just motivated to find efficiency in movements. I didn't want to waste time dropping and picking up the needles each stitch, so I figured out how to hang on. I wrap the yarn over my index finger front to back, not your way, but I don't find I have any issues with the arm movements like you described. Also, I weave the working yarn through my fingers and over the pinky to keep tension. I love your videos. Thanks for all of your information.

My grandmother taught me how to knit where I grew up in England, and I never knew there was any other way to knit except what apparently is called the flicking style. When I immigrated to the USA and joined a knitting group, I was astonished that I was the only person knitting this way and everyone else was knitting what they called the continental style. I can knit quite fast, never letting go of either needle, and flicking the yarn around the needle by catching it between my index finger first joint and the tip of my nail on my right hand, as I am right handed, and flicking the yarn around the needle in both knit and purl stitching, making very small movements with my fingers. I really enjoyed this video and have looked at other knitting styles, but I am happy to keep on flicking.

I finally figured out why your flicking method works. I slowed down the video and noticed that you are moving the right needle into an almost vertical position. This puts the tip of the needle in a position closer to your right hand. As you move your finger over the tip of the needle the tip of needle catches the yarn. Then the right needle is moved back into a more horizontal position as the tip is inserted to start the next stitch. This is mentioned in a previous comment but I finally see it myself.

Thank you for explaining this! I taught myself how to do basic stitches to make a scarf and pot holders in high school and would pick it up here and there but never got around to learning anything more complicated. About 2 weeks ago I decided I was going to learn how to make socks on dpn’s and I then learned there was continental knitting and I was an English style knitter. The English style is so much more comfortable for my hands but I still wanted to try a flicking way to help keep my pointer finger from cramping and we hold the yearn very similar 😅 but you tension it slightly differently and I’m going to try your way since I’m making my stitches too tight. Love your channel and I’m so glad I found you!

I've been knitting for just over a year now, always been a thrower but lately I've been wanting to work on improving my speed. Tried learning to flick today, really got the hang of flicking knit stitches, struggling with the purls but I'll get there! Your videos have been incredibly helpful.

Thank you Staci, I have been struggling with the tension for months and kept going back to the throwing but I was determined to do the flicking so I watch you video again and realized my yarn was wrapped wrong on my pointer. I've been practicing and NOW I am finally flicking and pivoting. Thank you for your help and your videos sharing your knowledge.

I love how this video explains the different ways of knitting. everyone who has seen me hold the working yarn in my left hand and know I'm right handed always question me. I never had a real answer other than I thought it took more time to let go of the right needle and wrap the working yarn again....but now I know that the way I knit has a name!!!! lol thank you! love your videos!

You are my “go to gal”. You are a wonderful teacher!

I knitted traditional English style, throwing my yarn for probably 50+ years. After seeing your video, I tried flicking. It just clicked all at once! My speed and tension has improved immeasurably. Thank you for teaching an old dog a new trick!

I am a beginning knitter. I have found your videos are the most helpful and easiest to follow. Thank you for the guidance :)

As an English/American taught knitter, I taught myself to flick from this video a few months ago, and I love it! It really speeds up the knitting for me and I'm able to finish patterns more quickly. Like Staci said, the main problem for me was keeping good tension, to keep the yarn up on the top of the finger. From when I committed to learning, to when I mastered it, it definitely took a couple months of constant practice. DON'T GIVE UP!! 😊

Good advice on practice. I learned to knit the English way as a child and recently decided to learn the Continental/Norwegian way. I am encouraged to hear that you too had to practice to get it because it is very frustrating but it's worth it in the end.

I saw one of your videos earlier this week and I tried to flick but had trouble controlling my tension. This video was really helpful because you explained how to hold the working yarn. I wrapped the yarn twice around my pinky finger and my ring finger. It worked! Now I just have to practice on my speed. Thanks.

I am a self-taught flicker, but with less movement than you show, with yarn going front to back, over my bent index finger. My arms are kept close to my body or supported on a table, so I can knit for hours without tiring. This style felt the most natural to me and allowed me to develop some speed.

I always wanted to be able to flick, even before seeings your videos. I'm pleased to say I finally cracked it! I still need practice, but I'm nearly finished one of a pair of socks using the technique and it's looking good so far. I have always tended towards being a tight knitter, so I learnt quite quickly that bamboo needles and flicking do not mix for me, fortunately the DPNs I bought were metal, so I've not had that problem. It look a while to get how to hold the yarn so it flowed through my fingers and didn't tighten my knitting horribly. Purling isn't as much fun, but because i'm mostly plain knitting for the socks, this hasn't been an issue. Again, practice will be needed.

I just came across your video - I have been knitting this way for 72 years ! I had no idea it was a ' thing ' ! I did know that I have always knitted faster than everyone else but I had no idea why .

I'm sure you get comments like this _all_ the time, but you're really an inspiration. I haven't been knitting for very long, and I still mess up pretty frequently ("eh? why are there more stitches this time around?" "where did that one come from?" "when did I drop that??" "oh man, I don't remember where in the pattern I left off..."), but your videos really help me. Someone below said something like "You're my knitting mom", and I think that's a spot-on sentiment. Thank you for all that you do! You've really helped out the knitting community in so many ways.

This is such a helpful video! I’m a continental knitter, but I want to learn to flick! I feel like I have all the info I need to try this after watching this video. I love hearing that you committed to knitting a whole Afghan like this when you first taught yourself this method. Thank you! ❤

So, yesterday I decided that I was going to teach myself to flick. Which was even more difficult since I'm a continental knitter and never could get the hang of English style. And I finally figured it out and have been working on my tension, which took a lot of getting used to. Also, I tried your way of holding the yarn back to front, and I couldn't manage it! My yarn is front to back, with it wrapped once around my pinky, then over the middle finger and index finger which gives me enough control. Thanks so much for your awesome videos, and like the others, I cannot believe you're old enough to be knitting for over 40 years! Mind blown. :)

I find I have to alternate between English and Continental methods to avoid tendinitis. Since I’m normally a right handed knitter, it took practice to train myself to knit Continental. The rewards were immense, for knit-purl projects and Fair Isle color work. When I knit English style, I notice the yarn wraps around my index finger in the same direction as your yarn. So, I’m confident that with practice, I’ll be able to start flicking - and stop letting go of the right needle! Thanks, Staci ❤️

I personally have the yarn in front of my finger, because when I tried to do it like how you demonstrated, I ended up having to move a lot more and the yarn in front of my finger (which is leading to the yarn ball) gets caught by my needle. I'm not sure why this is the case. Love your videos! They have taught me so much about knitting!

I am SO GLAD I Found your Site!! My Go Too.. 😁.. I am fairly new to knitting. I learned crochet from my Nanny at about 9 years old . I taught my Mom & cousin. I learned to knit on KZfaq.. I found your videos..SO HELPFUL!! I am Continental & english knitting.. Im wanting to learn Flicking.. You have a Fast pace rythem.. Oh it looks so easy..😁.. I know ita not.. You are Honest saying it TAKES TIME.. I want to do a blanket. My issue IS..I keep having a TOO TIGHT CAST ON.. I end up taking hours worth of knitting apart.. Now I'm home the carona virus all around..and I am going to LEARN THIS..

I'm fliiiiiiiickiiiinnnnggg!!!! I've been knitting for only three weeks and my style has TOTALLY transformed because of this technique! Thank you! The stitches and gauge are even, a little tight but workable AND it's not taking me 15 minutes to wrangle through one knit stitch! I feel accomplished! :D

I can't believe its been 5 years! I taught myself to knit from youtube and I am so thankful for you!

OMG, I don't know how many times I've watched this video in the last couple of weeks, but I finally could! I was convinced that to knit in the round I had to stop letting go of the right needle, because as an English knitter I helped myself by holding it with my arm (I use long needles), but I wanted to be able to use circular needles more efficiently and I'm so happy I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Fyi for UK viewers, Knitter's Pride is known as KnitPro in the UK.

Thank you so much for this video! I've been knitting pretty much exactly the same but holding that darn yarn wrong. I just took 10 minutes to play with a random swatch and pulled that yarn around my finger correctly. It definitely feels little weird and the tension is off but I can already tell that once I get it down it will go much better, like you said practice makes perfect. Yay! Knitting efficiency at it's finest! :)

I've been knitting for many years and this is how I knit. It is so fast and my tension is always spot on! I'm glad to know that I am not the only flicker out there!

I've never thought about the way I knit before but I just realised that I hold my yarn exactly the same way as you do.....holding the yarn in my closed fist & anchoring with my pinkie!

UGHHH!! You’re correct! It is the tension! I’m not sure I have the patience (or want it badly enough yet) to continue practicing flicking for the duration of this shawl!! I am a relatively new knitter though, so I’m going to give myself some grace. I’ll finish this project and then when I start my next project, I’ll give flicking another try!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful and beautiful work!!

Dear Staci, I started trying to teach myself flicking before your first flicking video. I was so happy to find that video, I've never looked back. I had been trying continental style but just couldn't get the hang of it. The thing I like best about flicking is ( unlike continental style) all the movements are nearly the same. You don't have to change the movements between knitting and purling, even moving the yarn from front to back and back to front is the same movement. It makes everything so much more efficient, and much faster! Keep up the good work Staci, I always look forward to the next video!

I changed to flicking from throwing after starting to watch your videos four years ago and it's the way I knit now. I couldn't knit any other way, it's totally comfortable for me 😄

I watched this video years ago when I really wanted to learn how to knit faster. I can flick now Thank the Lord but I hold my yarn around my index finger the way staci shares not to hold it hahahaha. I love these videos I always come back and rewatch them all thank you Staci!

OMG I have knitted like that since I was 5 years old that's 60 yrs ago and never knew it had a name, I find I never have a tension issue using this way of knitting, I love the needles you use. TFS.......Mary

I've finally learned each method and I dont feel I knit like others. Working yarn coming off my pointer finger. my needles rotate a lot during a stitch, and they move like a sewing machine bobbin I use a movement akin to reeling in a fish. I feel it helps with rythym, which I think is bketter than speed. Thankyou for all of these videos !!!

I am a left handed knitter that taught myself how to knit. I know I am a slower knitter that throws the yarn from my right hand and my mom in law cringed when she watched me knit but it works. I wrap the yarn around my index finger 2-3 times to get my tension but it comes off from the top, and now that I see how you do this, I will attempt to do it wrapping the other way to see if I can flick. Thanks for a great video!

That’s what I was missing, Staci!!! The direction of the yarn wrapped around the index finger makes a VAST difference! Thank you for clarifying that part.

I've been a teacher ( Pre K) for a long, long time. I'm newly retired now but I feel like I know a good teacher when I see one in action- you are truly great. I am going to keep trying bc I have all the issues that you spoke about! haha. Thanks!

thank you so much for this tutorial. I'm knitting so much faster than normal now. I'm still perfecting the tension but I love this flicking style so much more than the throwing.

I'm so Excited!! My Daughter bought me the knitters Pride wooden cubics long tapered.. before that I bought a few singles. Both Cubics, wood and patina.. my mistakes..Because they where the shorties.. I also bought a couple singles 9 & 10 of your Tunisian crochet wooden kneedles.. Well I see them for a good price and I bought the set.. Fortunately the size goes to an 8 & the 2 I bought are bigger.. I have a few more single Dreamz.. at a store Beautiful colors.. I am now SAVING For the KNITTERS PRIDE PLATINA CUBICS SET.. I Like the shortie I have .. but to have the Long tips would he AWESOME.. I Love your Videos.. I'm searching for Newer ones.. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU TEACH..THA K YOU SO MUCH!! PRAYERS🤟🙏💗

I kinda laughed at the last part when you said you were determined to knit that way. I am one of those knitters that holds the working yarn in my left hand. I learned to crochet like that. So when I saw people letting go of the working yarn to knit I remember saying to myself "I'm not doing that! I'm knitting this way!". I thought I made it up too, then later realized there were a bunch of people that knitted the same way I do! There is even an elderly German woman in a charity knitting/crochet group I'm in that loves when I'm knitting because she says "You knit just like I do!". It makes her so happy.

+feefiefofanna - I don't know why I'm having trouble getting KZfaq to let me reply to your comment, I hope you see this answer! I'm assuming you are a Continental knitter? My videos work whether you're a Continental or English/American knitter - if you're unsure, this video will help: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jpt4dNR4nbbWkpc.html

This is so helpful. I've made flicking sort of work for knit stitches but not at all for purl. Now that I've seen the behind the finger trip I'm off to the races!

I always thought I was strange in my knitting style. I always seen people do the English style of knitting and I tried knitting that way and it was supper uncomfortable for me. With your video I just found out I knit I wasn't strange. My style is continental! I have been knitting for three or four years now and I am an addict! I just woke up one day and said I want to learn. Took me two to three years to step outside my comfort zone and still I find myself panicking. lol. But I keep my head up and keep going. Thank you for your videos! I find them very helpful and informative!

That same "blanket" determination is what got to become a continental knitter and am now attempting to master the Portuguese way. I am sooooo glad I did.

Hi! I am a new knitter. You are great, thank you for all your resources and vids. I want to either flick or do continental because I also do not want to let go of the needle. I am glad you discussed your blanket/afgan commitment. I have tried continental for two days and am ready to throw in the towel because I am still struggling. But it seems that it all takes a lot longerto master a style and I am working on a simple throw (98 stitch row, 4 colors, each color 45 rows, alt knit/purl for each row) so I will commit to that project and practice both styles, perhaps each style for one knit and one purl row or perhaps one style for each color!

I love your demonstrations so much. They make so much sense . Now summoning up the confidence to try and flick . Thank you .

I tension my yarn the same way. I was happy to finally see someone else do it the same way I do. I tension the same way for crochet. Not sure how or why it works but it does.

I actually had to pick up my knitting project to see how my yarn wraps on my finger. It's so ingrained I dont think about it. Like you, from the back to the front. I tension it with a wrap around my little finger.

Wow. In less than 30 seconds, I went from weird inconsistent tension to really seamless tension. I've been trying your style for a month now, but could never get the same results. It was all in the wrap, like you said - I was wrapping the yarn over my finger the other way. Can't believe a tiny adjustment like that made such a crazy difference!

I'm getting ready to post a link on Ravelry to your first flicking video to explain to someone how I knit and realized I had never watched this one (that I can remember lol) I never noticed before that you tension your yarn the exact same way as I do, with pinky and ring finger, then draped over the fingertip. I'm thinking that since yours were the first knitting videos I ever watched, when I found your knit a dishcloth video a few years ago, that I must have copied your way of holding the yarn without even realizing it! Thanks for introducing me to knitting (and Ravelry!) and for your videos and great patterns too!

I made a conscious decision to learn continental or as I learned it German method. I had to learn it on my own, I rode public transportation and would see these little ladies knitting like this. I tried many times to ask questions but normally they didn’t speak English . So I watched and learned and I’ve never looked back. However, now I’m making checkerboard slippers and I think it would be great to use continental in my left hand and flicking on my a right hand! Wish me luck!

Hi Staci! Your videos are just a wealth of information for a new knitter like myself, I love all your insights! One thing that I've noticed in the way you knit that might help with flicking is that you move your left hand to get the right needle into the stitch and off of it again. I was keeping my left hand pretty much stationary so relying on my right hand to insert the needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn then off again. I feel like knowing the complete motion of both hands working together might help. I'm still practising to get it right though hopefully it'll click for me soon.

This is how I have always knitted as I was taught at 5 by my Grandmother.....Love this style!!!!!

I am SO excited! Thank you for being the first person to make this make sense. I no long let go of my needle. ((happy dance)) I also just bought your toe up two at a time magic loop sock pattern. I hope to dive into that today. =o] What really helped is you hold your yarn the same way I do and it made sense to me.

Hi Very Pink I’ve knitted American, Continental, and Throwing, all styles hurt my hands and fingers. So I made my self learn to Flick and I am 🎉Happy 🎊. Both hands are more relaxed. I am able to knit longer and make more uniform stockinet stitching, lastly, I’m not dropping stitches as before. What a relief 😅. I’m a much better Knitter for it. Thank you for your style of knitting 🧶

This is how I learned to knit as a child by watching how my Mom knit. I find it lets me knit fast with very consistent stitches and my knit and purl stitches are the same size. Now I’m teaching a friend how to knit this way and I’m realizing how difficult it is to teach. Hang in there if your learning this. It makes knitting fun, fast and easy with beautiful results.

Omg this is SO helpful!!!!! I was holding my yarn wrong and doing the elbow thing! I can't wait to keep practicing and get better at this! Awesome videos! Thank you!!!

That's interesting about holding your yarn the other way on your index finger. I hold it the "harder" way but had never thought about how my elbow does actually get sore after long knitting sessions. I'll have to try putting it the other way. Thanks so much!

I learnt to knit with the working yarn in my right hand and holding the tension between my first finger and thumb. It created excellent tension but I could see how much faster you were able to knit and so I started to wrap my waiting yarn in a similar way to you. Then I did actually come across your five yo flicking video and it wasn't until you said you keep hold of the needle that I was able to pick up speed and it all made sense. Interestingly I still wrap the yarn the other way around my first finger. I've tried it the way that works for you but my entire hand span is much smaller and I found my finger just couldn't keep it up high enough to wrap the needle. (I have very small hands, only 6 inches from top of the middle finger to the base of my palm. It certainly is a lot faster knitting this way. I committed to doing a beanie in that position as you suggested here now and by the end of it I felt the same. I was happy with how it worked and loved the speed. Thank you as always!

I knit similarly but different to the way that you do. My Grampa taught me to knit as a child. I flick with the yarn wrapped the'wrong' way as described in your video -with absolutely no elbow movement. I hold tension in my yarn holding it exactly the way you do with ring and pinky cuddling it softly up to my palm. Instead of holding my needle with the tips of my fingers I rest it in the crook between thumb and flicking finger- much like I hold my pencil. The needle pivots much the same way as yours as I flick .When I do colorwork I flick with both index and 2nd finger, each with a different color. I think much of what works or does not work depends on which movements and holds suit the individual or what our hands are used to doing. I am pretty sure that if i held my pencil or fork differently all my life the way I hold my needles would be tricky. Thank you so much for sharing your technique with others . I find it somewhat painful to watch the slow progress of knitters who drop the needle to pick up the yarn and wish I could help. I crocheted for years because I could not flick and knitting was so slow- and then, voila, I could. But I cannot explain how!! As to the person who commented that we only look like we are knitting fast, can she explain away the fact that I can turn 600m of yarn into a shawl in 2 days?? And, yes, I do eat, sleep and work ( gotta have money to buy yarn).

Just to give a different perspective, I hold the yarn over my index fing from front to back, the opposite from what Staci suggests, and I am still able to flick just fine, and have been knitting that way for a couple years now. I think the problem some people have with their elbows may be because they aren't pivoting the right needle enough to catch the yarn. When I knit, I pivot the needle so that it is vertical and perpendicular to the floor, or at least very nearly. I don't have any problems with that causing my speed to decrease, and can go just as fast as she does. It just takes practice and dedication to to keep from forming bad habits like that.

Thank you for the opportunity to win this awesome set

Oh my goodness, this is exactly how I knit too! My pinky finger also makes a fist and I don't know how or why it came to be like that. I've always wanted to try being a continental knitter to knit faster, but realized that on my own, I've somehow arrived at this technique. It's nice to see someone else who knits like I do!