Continental Knitting: A Historical Journey from Europe to Your Needles

If you’ve seen my recent post, Discovering Continental Combination Knitting, you already know I love exploring knitting styles that bridge traditions. In that post, I shared a fantastic demonstration video and excerpts from Mary Thomas’s classic Knitting Book (1938). Today, we’re diving deeper—into the history of Continental knitting itself, tracing its path from European roots, through wartime shifts, and into its modern resurgence.

What is Continental Knitting?

Continental knitting, sometimes called German knitting or left-hand knitting, is a style where the yarn is held in the left hand and “picked” with the right needle. It’s known for speed and efficiency, especially in knit-heavy patterns.

Different Continental Styles: Western, Eastern, and Combination

Early European Roots

Continental knitting likely evolved from older European handcraft traditions, especially in Germany, the Nordic countries, and Eastern Europe. It became a dominant method across much of mainland Europe by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, praised for its economy of movement.

“This is the better way to work in Flat Knitting…” — Mary Thomas’s Knitting Book (1938)

A Wartime Decline in English-Speaking Countries

• During World War II, Continental knitting fell out of favor in the U.K., U.S., and other English-speaking countries.
• Its association with Germany led many knitters to adopt or stick with the “English” method of throwing the yarn with the right hand.
• Wartime propaganda and cultural shifts reinforced the divide between the two styles.

Sources:

• Thomas, Mary. Mary Thomas’s Knitting Book. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1938.
• Les Laines Biscotte. “Continental Knitting and English Knitting: Two Techniques, One Passion”

Elizabeth Zimmermann and the Resurgence

In the mid-20th century, Elizabeth Zimmermann—a German-born knitter who moved to the U.S.—championed Continental knitting through her books, TV programs, and workshops. She presented the method as not only efficient but also creatively liberating, encouraging knitters to experiment with technique.

Sources:

• Wikipedia. “Elizabeth Zimmermann”
• Feel Good Knitting. “Knitting My German Heritage”

Global Practice Today

Continental knitting remains the default style in many countries, including Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Bolivia, and Peru, as well as much of continental Europe and parts of Asia.
Modern knitters often switch between Continental and English depending on project needs, blending the best of both worlds.

Why Learn It?

• Efficiency – Less hand motion means faster stitches.
• Ergonomics – Can reduce strain for some knitters.
• Versatility – Easier to integrate into colorwork with yarn held in each hand.

Continental knitting’s history is a story of cultural migration, adaptation, and revival. Whether you knit East, West, or a mix of both, exploring different methods connects us to the knitters of the past—and expands what’s possible in your own hands.

Further Reading:

• Discovering Continental Combination Knitting
• Mary Thomas’s Knitting Book (1938)
• Continental Knitting and English Knitting: Two Techniques, One Passion