BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Increasing Knitting speed

Does anyone here have any tips on how to increase knitting speed? I've crocheted for about 30 years, and I can crochet quite fast. I've only been knitting for about a year now, and I've noticed I have gotten faster-- but when I watch some of the knitting shows, it seems like everyone goes so fast. I also hear of people who can knit a pair of socks in a weekend!

Anyone here have any tips on how to increase my actual dexterity speed of knitting and purling?

Have you tried using circular needles ? I bought the Boye set and I use them whenever I can. I found that with straight needles they sometimes get "in the way" because they are longer. I too learned how to crochet first so I thought maybe it was the length of the needles and for me it was.

I have! I bought the Needlemaster set, and the Denise set are on their way! I think the circular needles have helped me speed up-- plus my hands don't get as tired. Great suggestion, though. I simply bought the circular needles because I thought that Needlemaster set was pretty cool!

Maybe I'm stuck in the illusion I'm not fast-- and I'm just expecting to be able to whip out large projects as fast as I can with the crochet hook. . .

I'm much slower with short needles. It's funny, my mom taught me to knit, but we knit differently. Both her needles move through the motions when she knits (Continental)...but I have to knit with the left needle poking into my leg while only the right needle makes all the motions. Since circulars are usually short, I can't hold the end into my leg, so I have to knit with both needles making the motions...and that's hard for me to do.

Well you don't want to be too fast, I think I am just average speed but waay faster than when I started.

I knit Continental which is apparently faster than the English way. I spent some time a while back trying to become faster -- the only thing I accomplished was more dropped stitches! I focus on enjoying the process now. Having said that, I am THE slowest knitter in my guild. I'm the only one still working on the same project after 3 months......