30 Nov Portuguese knitting
What are knitting frames and knitting looms?
Knitting frames and knitting rings are tools that enable knitting without traditional knitting needles. They are usually made of plastic or wood and are fitted with evenly spaced hooks or pins around which the wool is guided.
Portuguese knitting
Portuguese knitting – ever heard of it? No? We explain what this method is all about and why it is so suitable for people with finger pain, arthritis or other physical limitations.
What is Portuguese knitting all about?
What is Portuguese knitting?
In German-speaking countries, it is customary to hold the yarn in the left hand when knitting and to tighten it between the fingers. This method is also known as continental knitting. However, many people are unaware that there are several other techniques in addition to this one.
Portuguese knitting, also known as Turkish or Peruvian knitting, is a centuries-old technique that originated in ancient Persia and spread from there to Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Turkey, the Balkans, Portugal and Spain. Due to the colonization of South America by Spanish and Portuguese conquerors, Portuguese knitting is still widely used today in countries such as Brazil and Peru. But what is so special about it?
The thread tension!
In Portuguese knitting, the tension of the yarn is not created by winding it between the fingers. Instead, the wool is pulled through a hook, pin, clip or simply a safety pin attached to the upper body; it is also common to guide the yarn around the neck. This creates a very controlled tension that is easy to regulate.
It is also characterized by the fact that only few and small hand movements are necessary; mainly the left thumb is used to form the stitches.
Why you should try this technique
When hands hurt or finger movement is restricted, knitting can quickly become frustrating. The Portuguese knitting method can then be a helpful alternative: as the fingers no longer have to tighten the yarn and only minimal hand movements are generally required, joints and fingers are spared. At the same time, the tension of the yarn around the neck or a clip reduces tension in the hands. Less effort in the fingers and hands reduces the potential for pain that can be caused by repetitive strain
.
Advantages of the Portuguese knitting method
1. even knit pattern
Tightening the yarn over the neck or a clip combined with the simple
movements of Portuguese knitting can help to knit more even stitches and avoid irregularities in the stitch pattern.
2. easy tension control
When the wool is stretched around a clip or the neck, checking the
tension is child’s play. By gently pulling or releasing the thread with the
right hand, more or less tension is created.
3. left meshes? Easy!
As the yarn is always in front of the work in Portuguese knitting, purl stitches are much easier to knit than knit stitches. The yarn is simply “pushed” over the needle once with the left thumb. Many followers of this method therefore work their projects from the reverse side or knit in garter stitch rather than purl with purl stitches only.
4. great alternative for people with physical limitations
Less joint strain and a secure yarn guide make Portuguese
knitting an excellent option for anyone suffering from osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome
and limitations in hand and finger mobility. However, this method also offers people with
visual impairments the opportunity to knit again,
as the yarn is securely fixed and easier to feel without visual assistance.
5. pattern knitting without the annoying tangling of wool
Pattern knitting with several colors can be really tiring when the
different threads get tangled between your fingers. Not so with Portuguese
knitting! Each color is stretched around its own pin, does not have to be wrapped around the fingers
and nothing can get twisted.
6. working more efficiently
With a little practice, Portuguese knitting can be very fast. Straight knits
with purl stitches only (or knit stitches, which are then knitted from the inside)
can be worked very efficiently.
Conclusion
Portuguese knitting is not only an interesting historical knitting technique, but also an excellent alternative for people with pain or physical limitations. The controlled yarn feed and ergonomic hand movements make it a great option for all knitting enthusiasts. Even if the first few steps may seem a little unfamiliar, you will quickly get used to the new technique. Just give it a try – maybe Portuguese knitting will become your new favorite knitting method!
You can find a short introduction on YouTube here
Our tip:
Portuguese knitting may seem very unfamiliar at first, but it’s definitely worth a try! On this Youtube channel by Andrea Wong you will find everything you need to know to get started!
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