The conventional manner to classify knitting styles is usually to divide them into two categories: continental or English. Though, that is not the entire truth, but let us begin with the more common ones first. Continental knitting is a knitting style where the working yarn is placed in the opposite hand from the needles. This is considered as one of the oldest known styles and it has a very elegant and sophisticated look. Its foundation may be traced back to the early renaissance and is often used as a basis for further development.
English knitting style is characterized by the use of the English loop stitch which is characterized by a loose yarn that is drawn up into a looped area. The first thing that will come into your mind when you hear this term is brocade, which is used for dresses and skirts. However, aside from that, there are other things that are used in this kind of knitting like cable needle, flat-lock, and cable crochet. These all are different ways of doing the same thing, but they are all part of the same art, which is known as lace.
Now, to move on to the other more popular types of knitting styles. Russian is characterized by the double-sided stitching (round-off) method. This method is also known as the Gaspok technique because while making a stitch, the tension is managed by a stop just under the needle. Then, as soon as the stitch is made, the hook is pulled out from the fabric to reveal the next stitch. Then again, it is necessary to make sure that the yarn is picked up from the needle before completing the previous stitch.
This is another very common knitting style where the work piece is placed on the needle and then the yarn and needle are drawn through the hole at one end. It is very important that the yarn and the needles are placed in a straight line, or else the entire knitting style would not be possible. It is also important to note that while knitting round-off stitches, the knitting needles must be inserted into the hole on the opposite side of the fabric. This way, it would be easy to tell which side should be picked up for the next stitch.
Another highly popular technique is the blanket stitch. It is a simple chain stitch that produces a thick fabric of yarn. This kind of knitting style produces a uniform and soft fabric. It also creates a thick fabric that is easy to preserve.
A lot of people prefer the cross knit because of its crisp and elegant look. It is the same as what is called a run stitch, because the same thread is drawn across the needle over again. The knitting needle will be inserted into the hole and the fabric produced via the cross-knit stitch. There are a number of variations in this particular knitting style, such as the half-open cross-knit and the half-open macrame.
There is also the hooked knitting style. As the name suggests, the knitting needle is hooked on both sides, producing a fabric. It is used to produce a thick fabric, but with different limitations than the other two styles. It is important to remember that the yarn that is drawn across the hook can be knitted or crocheted, just as long as it fits the hook size. In order to work as a hook-less cross-knit, the design would need to be smaller. The closed looping method produces a tighter fabric than the open looped method.
It is also important to note that there are a lot of knitting styles. Therefore, it would be more beneficial if you have an idea or two about the various kinds so that you could choose the best style for you. You might want to practice a few patterns before you decided which one you will pursue as your knitting style. This way, you will be able to determine which pattern would be easier for you to complete. There are a lot of websites that offer free knitting patterns, so look around. You may even be able to download free knitting patterns from the internet that would guide you in choosing the best knitting style for you.