I imagine it doesn't make a lot of difference, but she is knitting into the back of the stitchs. Nice video.

OMG I couldn't even watch the whole thing. That is by far the WORST "knitting 101" instructional video I have ever seen!

Her method of casting on was very awkward. You shouldn't have to hold the one needle between your knees! And she claimed it was "fail safe" or "fail proof" but I can certainly see beginners getting mixed up as to which way to twist the loop...

And although there is a valid knitting stitch -- k tbl that is "knit through the back loop," that's not the basic knit stitch that should be the first one to learn.

There are also two different "methods" of knitting -- Continental (the yarn is held in the left hand) and English (the yarn is held in the right hand). I couldn't tell what method Deborah Norville was attemtping...

Anyone who wants to learn to knit, or who needs assistance now and then with different stitches, etc., would be much better off going to the Knitting Help web site (link below). Amy, the woman whose site this is, used to post often on the Knitting & Crocheting forum here at Garden Web. (She may still post - I just haven't seen anything from her in a while, but I might be reading the "wrong" threads.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Knitting Help

I do agree that she's knitting into the back of the loop. I do, however, cast on exactally the same way that she does. It's called a longtail cast on and it's the only one I will now use. It's easy and is a neat and consistant cast on.

Karen

I didn't watch it for long, but I thought it was good. Moni or my sister (or both) told me when I started knitting...there is no wrong way to knit. If you like it and it's relaxing, there is no wrong way, just different ways.

Vickey-MN

Ok, I looked at it. I must say, I also cast on with a short end, and the yarn from the skein. But I have NEVER put the needle between my legs. :)

Like Vickey said, who cares, as long as you get the end result, and it works for you.

However, she does quite a few things "wrong". She puts the needle in the back of the loop, while dong the knit stitch, but she does wrap the yarn around the needle the "correct" way.

Then, while purling she wraps the yarn around the needle the wrong way, which in turn should turn the stitches, which then in turn should make it all come out right again, when you follow the purl row with a knit row.

Again, like Vickey said, as long as the end result works, and the knitting works for you.

But, if you really want to learn to knit, come and spend a couple of days, and I will teach you. :)

Check the link below. I saved it, cause it truly is a good link for learning to knit.

Oh, hunting more, I found this one I saved also. It shows the cast on, and the purl stitch, and the knit stitch, all using the continental method (which is how I knit).

http://www.helloknitty.com/videoinstr.htm

Moni

Here is a link that might be useful: a different knitting learning option

I learned to knit way back in the 60's by following the instructions in a how-to-book. The only lessons i ever took were to learn to knit a pattern using different colors. I just couldn't get my mind wrapped around what they meant by using bobbins. The instructor showed me, and off I went. My favorite knitting is Arian (sp?) with a lot of cables and other complicated stitches. As for casting on, I taught myself to used the long-tail method, but have since changed to knit-cast on. Dottie

If you find yourself with an edge on your ribbing that just doesn't stretch right, try casting on a needle one or two sizes larger.

Moni

Thank you MaryAnn, it's called combination knitting and Annie Modesitt knits this way. You can watch her knit like this on YouTube. ;o)

You can also tell that Deborah Norville has been casting on like that long enough to be comfortable doing it that way lol.

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie Modesitt's web site.

I watched Deborah on Inside Edition last night and she said her Mom taught her to knit when she was 8 years old and she has been knitting ever since.

My Grandma taught me to knit socks 74 years ago. Since then I have learned 3 other ways to cast on but none of them involve holding a needle between my knees. I sure would like to see how she does it.

jomo, there is a video at the link I posted above that shows her knitting.

My Grandmother taught me to knit when I was about 7. Grandma was left-handed, so I knit left-handed. I took a knitting class a while ago, the instructor insisted everything I did was "wrong". I tried her way, but I can't get the hang of it, so I'm still happily knitting "wrong". I can't crochet at all.

Jomo, it is just a different way to hold the needles when using a two strand (one shorter, other attached to the ball of yarn) method of casting on.

It didn't throw me at all to see her cast on that way. My sister knits holding on of her straight knittings needle to her stomach.

Everyone is different.

Moni... glad to see you post. Missed you lately.

That was different. I cast on with the long tail method--much easier for me. My daughter uses another method that looked so awkward to me but it works for her. I knit continental or English--just depends on how bad my hands start to hurt. I too think there is no wrong way--the way that works for you is "your" right way. I would love to be able to get together with someone who has been knitting for a long time--I taught myself and have never been around anyone else who knits except my kids--both my daughters taught themselves too. We sometimes have knit and crochet days where that is about all we do.

The way Deborah Norville was casting on was (to me) a very awkward way of doing a long-tail cast on. The web site to which I provided a link, KnittingHelp.com, shows how to do a long-tail cast on that (to me) is so much easier... There are videos for several different cast-on methods.