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I do Portuguese knitting a lot, and find it rests my hands, etc, especially when purling. I use the pin offered by Andrea Wong (overpriced though it may be!) The pin has not harmed my shirts at all. You should not pull on it, however. Just keep the tension even without pulling on the pin.
 
Looks interesting. I'm gonna have to try that.
 
hazelbut said:
Wow - that looks fairly simple to do. Will have to use a diaper pin I guess as I do not have the protugeuse thingy in my knitting arsenal.
I just learned Portuguese knitting from the videos because of my erratic tension problem between knitting and purling (even using needles 3 sizes apart didn't completely eliminate the washboard effect!) Didn't like the yarn around my neck because it didn't move smoothly. Not about to spend money on a pin that I may never use again if I don't like this style of knitting. Didn't want to try safety pins because I worried about yarn getting snagged in the circular bend at the 'bottom'. So, I used a fine stitch holder. Then discovered two of them work great! One at each shoulder. I wear sweaters all winter anyway, so the stitch holders don't creat a problem. And, boy has it solved my washboard tension problem!
 
I was delighted when a Portuguese knitter came to the knitting group we have at the local library. It seems a very fast method of knitting and for people with arthritic fingers it seems to me that the more change there is the better. So continental knitting uses the first finger on the left hand, English type knitting uses the first finger on the right Portuguese uses the thumb. What could be better? a change is as good as a rest.
 
After many years of not knitting, I picked up the needles. I found, to my chagrin, that I was wrapping the needle incorrectly on the purl stitches which caused twisted stitches. When I continued to inadvertently revert back to the incorrect way, I decided to try a different style to break the bad habit.

Reading on KP about Continental and then Portuguese/Turkish knitting, I went on a quest and did a lot of experimenting. I finally decided to continue the Portuguese style since I move my shoulders and elbows very little (if at all). And I find it a lot faster since there is so little movement involved.

My only problem was getting the tension correct between the knit rows and purl rows. (Knitting in the round was fine.) Finally discovered that I needed to knit more tightly than purling and now things are great. I did get one of Andrea Wong's pins but putting the yarn around my neck was better for me. (I always wash the garment before gifting, anyway.)

Good luck--whichever way you decide and have fun!
 
I just made a pin from a metal paper clip, bow and safety pin to see if I could knit the Portuguese way. It made me want to go farther with this adventure into another style of knitting. I have already ordered Andrea Wongs pin so will play around with my paper clip one :) I'm still trying to figure out the best way to hold the yarn in my right hand for tension.
 
Hmmmm...how to keep the strand from dropping down on my paper towel holder...a use for the coiled safety pin times two...having one on each post and the thread/yarn comes through the circle...will write back in a day to see if it works. <<G>>
 
I too had heard of it and finally tried it after a visit to another site Knit for Brains. Eric even stopped in here for a short visit later that evening too. He has some great tips on his site.

http://knitforbrains.net/

It certainly makes purling alot easier on my hands and make for a more consistant stitch. I love it.

PS. I dont use a pin I just wrap the yarn from a different direction to catch the yarn more than pull it.
 
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