True Blue Fiber Friends

In the U.S., when we talk about continental knitting we are usually talking about Western continental knitting which means the yarn is wrapped counter-clockwise around the working needle. In Eastern continental knitting, the yarn is wrapped clockwise around the working needle.

Here are some video clips demonstrating Western knitting:
Western knit stitch
Western purl stitch

Western knitters can be divided into two types: "pickers" and "flickers." A "picker" looks like a crocheter as she picks a yarn loop through the stitch and a "flicker" has her left index finger bobbing up and down like the tension arm on a sewing machine. This video demonstrates a "picked" knit stitch and a "flicked" purl stitch. However, either stitch can be picked or flicked according to the individual style of the person knitting. "Flicking" works to best advantage when the yarn is tensioned across the back of the hand.

And here are some video clips demonstrating Eastern knitting:
Eastern knit stitch
Eastern purl stitch

When you combine either the Western knit and Eastern purl, or the Eastern knit and Western purl, you are doing combination knitting.