I can't believe how quickly you knitted this -- I must try continental knitting!

RSI is such a pig! I suffer too and yes sitting at a computer must be the real culprit as knitting could surely never be harmful.

Rhust Ox ointment is good.

Kudos on the continental knitting. I've been able to do the knit stitch in cont., but for the life of me I can't make my fingers work right to purl in cont. Any suggestions?

http://ergocise.com/stretch.html
This web site helps me keep me from RSI when I knit only or mouse too much. See if a little stretching will help you out, too.

I knit continental, but when I teach people how to knit, then I fumble w/the yarn in my right hand.

I need to practice right handed knitting more.

I LOVE knowing how to knit with either hand. I much prefer Continental style, but there are times (other than just color work) when using my right hand is just easier. (Okay, so not that many, but every now and again.) Versatility is a GOOD thing.

I'm taking a Continental Knitting class from Nancie Wiseman sometime this year (was supposed to have been last Sunday but she had to postpone due to recovery from surgery). I look forward to learning another technique just in case my right hand/wrist/arm starts bothering me. I'd also like to knit faster, as I hear Continental can help with that.

I, too, am worried about knitting the pesky purl Continental style -- it looks tricky.

I learned to knit continental, but I should try the other way, just for some flavour.

For purling continental, I pick up the yarn on the right needle, hold it down with my right index finger, then pick up the stitch from the backside. Then twist back to pick up the yarn again and pull through.

Or you can pull your left index finger up and forward a bit, to move the yarn in line with the stitch and then just dive on through the back side of the stitch.

Purling (correctly) in Continental takes some getting used to. I was doing it wrong for a very long time and *hated* purling Once I corrected my form, I think that purls fly faster than the knit stitch.

Yes, Colleen, I definitely feel like purling is better continental. It's the knitting where I would always feel like I couldn't keep an even gauge.

Mary, I usually wrap the yarn once around my left index finger and then bend that finger down so that the yarn is in the right place to wrap the right needle. Just make sure when you're purling continental that the yarn is being wrapped around the right hand needle counter-clockwise, just like you'd wrap when you knit (either english or continental). Sometimes it seems easier for continental knitters to wrap the purls the other way and once you start doing this you end up with twisted stitches. So always wrap counter-clockwise (or take up combined knitting!).

After years of computer related RSI, I found a lot of relief by mousing with my left hand (I'm otherwise right-handed). It only takes a day or so to get up to speed with it, and then, if you have a number pad on your keyboard, you find other stresses relieved becuse you aren't reaching so far to grab the mouse. I also have a trackball which I find helps me even more.

For the most part, just doing the mouse with your left hand is fine, because you do so much else with the right hand.

But then I started knitting a lot. I knit continental. And now I'm having some RSI in my left hand. And the trackball is back under my right hand for a while.

I'd say pretty fast! Glad that left hand was conviniently waiting there for you to remember it!

I was going to say that I will worship at your feet if it will help me learn Continental style. Then I looked at the Combined knitting site and I think I can do that! Thanks for expanding our horizons.

Make sure you're elevating your wrists with gel pads on the keyboard and mouse.

For those looking for a different continental purl, try the Norwegian purl- http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/purl.php
scroll down for the Norwegian method.

I'm trying to even out my tension in continental and wrap yarn in many different ways around my fingers. It feels a bit like learning how to knit again...

Hope the break helps your right hand! That sweater is very cute.

Help. I cant figure out how to post "finished" socks for the sockapoluzza for "Caroline"!
Anyway she has already finished! I did e-mail her sock sister Ashley!
Thanks,
Carol

Great idea! It was so funny to go back and see one of the boys so young. He had that little smirk even then though :)

hello hello, I enjoy your blog so much...I was checking out your archives and have fallen in love with your giranimals sweaters and can't find the pattern. Do you know where I can get the pattern? Please let me know, and thanks for all your inspiration. Kalunjin@hotmail.com, aka , Elisha

Love the sweater. Wish I had a little one to make it for! I was taught to knit continential. When I developed nerve damage in my elbows the only way I could continue to knit was because I was not a 'thrower'. I find that my movements to form my stitches is mostly muscular and the only adjustment I have had to make is to slow down and take more breaks. I can not crochet more than a few stitches before I have to walk away. The movement to form the stitches puts too much stress on my elbows and wrists. Good luck with the project and you RMS.

Lawdy....you're just way too fast!

Ah yes, I do purl the Norwegian way. Which makes sense as my Norwegian grandmother taught me how! The video you posted, Freecia, is exactly right.

That sweater is adorable Alison!

I wonder, why don't you just knit continental all the time?