You explain things simply and easily to this beginner. Grateful for this video. Thank you.

It's like drumming; you have to be able to step on the kick pedal and hit the snare in rhythm at different times and if you focus too much on one you'll forget to do the other. I get so into whatever stitch I'm doing I forget to give myself slack and I end up with suuuuuper tight stitches.

I can see why this is so difficult to explain and teach, but you do it very well! I've been struggling with minor "rowing out" issues in my garter stitch (!) so I knew I needed to correct my "tension" but still didn't really understand what that meant.

I think a lot of tutorials overlook what's happening on the right needle after the stitch is finished, and that was the key for me. As soon as I started paying closer attention to what was happening to the stitch after I moved it off (and almost subconsciously making minor adjustments with my fingers to tighten it up), almost all of my tension problems went away and my stitching is more consistent than ever.

THANK YOU!!!

I am self-taught from various YouTube sources. I started out with English style, but as soon as I did my first ribbing, I switched to continental. At first it was awkward managing the thread going through my entire hand, with friction being either too much or too little (and yarn slipping all the time), but eventually I landed on wrapping the yarn twice around my index finger, and that works great for me, unless I knit for a long time and it squishes my finger too much. I've found that lately I can manage weaving the yarn around all fingers once (like you've shown), but I still feel the most relaxed and secure using the double wrap around index finger. It makes it easier to feed the yarn from close to the tip of the finger, which I personally find the easiest to work with, since my purling style is a bit weird, compared to most YouTubers.

I really appreciate you saying that there is no wrong way as long as you can do it consistently.

Thanks for saving my sanity. Watching you tension your yarn differently then everybody else finally let me tension my colorwork problem.

Barbara is an absolutely fantastic teacher. I knit but I am far from accomplished.  Took Barbara's Mosaic class on line and it looks GREAT!
Thank you so very much.

thank you for that! I tried holding my thread the way you do yours and found that I can really control the tension in my knitting and feel comfortable with it, too. thank you Miss Barbara!

I started knitting as a crocheter. I am normally a lose crocheter but am a tight knitter. This helped a lot with find a better tension

I'm a left handed English style.  I saw that you struggled with  the tension with the English style. What I do is start your tension with your little finger or ring finger.. then wrap. You may find it easier. Or maybe not.
My goal is to learn left handed .. and that is a bit of a learning curve for me.
Love your videos. I've learned a lot from you and look forward to your future videos

barbara 😭 youve saved my life! this and your video on common mistakes has helped me SO MUCH to figure out where im going wrong and to improve my technique THANK YOU

I’ve been crocheting for 8 years now. I am really trying to teach myself how to knit. Thank you so much. You answered so many questions. ❤️

Second day of knitting …. Was look for this exact tutorial. You did an awesome job explaining.  Thank you so much.

Huh. I had no idea that there was a name for which hand you hold the yarn in. Nifty!
I found your videos a few hours ago and I'm so relieved! I started knitting about 20 years ago, and got the very basics. Then life happened and i didnt get back to it. A couple years ago I finally understood how to crochet. Now getting back to knitting is so fun!
I appreciate you saying there isnt one and only correct way to knit. You're so open minded and accepting, it's encouraging and motivating to watch your videos. Watching your tutorials makes me feel like I can do it. I appreciate you!

Thank you so much!  Describing the clutch in a car was great, plus seeing what the yarn should look like was very helpful.

It did help! Thanks! I also struggle with pushing the stitch from left needle. Will look for more tips on the channel.

That was interesting to see the different ways people can hold their yarn. I have been knitting for a little over a year now, and still cannot wrap the yarn in my fingers in any way without ending up with  either a loose mess or so tight I can't slip my needle into the next stitch. I knit English style as a thrower. I pinch the yarn with my thumb and pointing finger while gently curling the rest of my fingers around the yarn as I wrap and pull through the loop to keep my tension. The yarn stays in my curled hand as I slide the stitch I just made on my right needle and repinch to make the next stitch. I know it sounds weird, but it seems to work, and I have nice consistent stitches. I still want to learn how to flick because I think that might be easier on my hands, but we will see if I get there.

Oh wow! I came to this video looking for a way to hold my yarn cause I thought mine was wrong somehow but apparently my family has been using the Portuguese way and that’s why I don’t see anyone online doing it like that! Thank you for that video!

Omg
You are awesome !!!!
Been struggling
Been frustrated
You are such a great teacher !!! Cannot thank you enough.  FINALLY
I get it
I have watched so many videos!! It is a feeling!!!! You explain perfectly,  make sense.
Can't thank you enough really!!! I was gonna give up. Kept saying .....what's the secret lol
Now, I know. I'm ME
I feel my knitting
I'm really knitting
FINALLY
Took a long time
Didn't give up

Wow - this was so enlightening!  And seriously, that comparison to driving a manual car and knowing where that grab point is when you're letting off the clutch and pressing the accelerator pedal is SUCH a great comparison!!  You're an excellent teacher. :)

Finally! Somebody explained tension in a way I can use to resolve my tension challenges! I recently learned how to knit (Continental style), and I barely "get" the knit stitch, but the tension (or lack of it) screws me up! Thank you for the encouragement to give it some time, practice, and patience. I love your analogy of learning how to drive a manual vehicle - you are so right on, "it's a feel". Thank you, Barbara!