True Blue Fiber Friends

In this technique, the yarn is held in the right hand. English knitters are affectionately known as "throwers," because they use their hand to throw the yarn around the tip of the needle. Similarly, we call continental knitters "pickers" because they use the tip of the needle to pick up the yarn.

English knitting requires less coordination than continental and is therefore especially popular with beginning knitters. For many knitters it is easier to get knit and purl stitches of even tension using the English method. It is also the preferred method used in illustrations of knitting books in the United States.

Here are some video clips on forming knit and purl stitches using the English method:

Knit stitch
Purl stitch