Who's Giving Me The Finger?
I hate "shoulds". I frequently "should" on myself, as in "I should finish that project before starting another." 'I should wind all the skeins - not just one." The fact is, there aren't that many things that we should should ourselves about. I should eat better. I should call my mom. But I have a basic knitting query to put out here, mindful that there aren't any hard and fast knitting-shoulds. Here's the question:
Should your right index finger push on the point of your left knitting needle to advance the yarn, or is this just a 25-year old bad habit? Is that a common thing to do; SHOULD I try and stop? Is it ok to do it every few stitches, and if so, how many is a few?
I didn't even realize I was doing it until Mr. Pointer got injured in a kitchen incident and I couldn't use it. I know its not that important an issue, and I SHOULD have a better question. But we can just get to the point, and then we SHOULD move on.
I'll be anxiously awaiting responses to your question because I do the same thing and have wondered about it, too. When I was trying to knit socks on #1 Addis, I even poked a painful hole in my finger.
Posted by:Beth | August 16, 2006 at 10:58 AM
i do that all of the time. helps me knit faster. why should it be a bad habit? i do it with both index fingers.
hey do what ever works -- unless it's disgusting then just keep it to yourself. ;)
Posted by:maryse | August 16, 2006 at 11:13 AM
I am a firm believer that there is no right or wrong way to knit. If it works for you, keep doing it!! I do it every once and a while, but try really hard not to. I'm diabetic and have to prick my fingers at least 4 times a day for blood test . . . so they are much too sore to use on knitting needle ends. (Of course, if I drew blood with the new Knit Picks needles, that would be one less stick I'd have to do!!)
Posted by:Karen | August 16, 2006 at 11:28 AM
I do it all the time, and it makes my finger really sore...if there is a better way, i'd love to hear about it.
Posted by:Agnes | August 16, 2006 at 01:15 PM
hmmm my fingers don't get sore. maybe i have callouses.
Posted by:maryse | August 16, 2006 at 02:01 PM
ok, i just watched myself knit. i only do it with my left index finger. and when i purl, i push with my thumb.
ok i'll stop commenting.
Posted by:maryse | August 16, 2006 at 02:18 PM
Whatever works for you is the right way for you to knit! :)
Posted by:Amy | August 16, 2006 at 08:15 PM
I think we knit how we knit. Whatever works and feels comfortable is perfectly ok!
Posted by:Jennifer | August 16, 2006 at 10:20 PM
I'm a finger pusher but its my left index finger (english) pushing the working needle downwards. I haven't poked a hole (yet) so I'm keeping on, but am worried how it will affect my attempts at stranded knitting.
Posted by:Aija | August 17, 2006 at 03:35 AM
If it works keep doing it!
If it did not work you would not have been asking this question!!!!!
Maybe a good thick bandaid will get you back in the game
Posted by:Betsy | August 17, 2006 at 10:03 AM
I'm always using my fingers to nudge the needles and the yarn and whatnot. I've wondered if that was a bad habit that people might mock me for, but since I never knit in front of anyone who knows what they're looking at (no local SnB or LYS here).....
Posted by:Scribbles & Bits | August 17, 2006 at 04:38 PM
Im with you ..the word Should ought to be removed from our vocabularies.
Posted by:kathy b | August 18, 2006 at 10:53 PM