Most of the world's fastest weavers prefer a style of weaving that is sometimes referred to as lever weave, pivot stitch, or Irish hut weave. This is a great method for weavers who make a living weaving, although anyone can learn it. This style holds and tightens the thread in the left hand, allowing for less movement to place the thread around the tip of the right needle and pass the new stitch. The right needle simply “picks up the thread to catch it”.
This technique is known for its speed and efficiency, without using a knitting pin or putting the wool behind one's neck. Efficient movement and transitions are key to improving speed when knitting. To do this, one should observe each of these movements individually and find out if there is anything that can be done to make it smoother. This could include holding the needle or thread differently, changing the way one tightens the thread, or angling the needles to make them easier to handle.
Continental Knitting is my favorite style for its speed and efficiency. I was curious to know how quickly I knit, so I did a little time test and found that with the stitch and purl averaged and all the time it takes to turn the rows and everything, I knitted plain jersey at around 65 stitches per minute. The lever weave, also known as the Irish cottage style, is known for being one of the fastest weaves in the world. It has been said that some women can knit at more than 80 stitches per minute with this technique.
It is also easier on one's hands than Continental Knitting as one does not have to give up on needle holding. Additionally, with this method one does not have to turn their work around when making a scarf sideways. Elizabeth Zimmermann was one of my favorite weavers of all time who had learned to knit when she was six years old and began copying more experienced knitters who minimized their movements by keeping the right needle still and making the left needle do most of the work. Quick knitting is great if you're creating a pullover sweater or a 1×1 rib knit that you don't really have to think about while knitting. When I first learned to knit, I was what some call an “English weaver”, some call an “American weaver”, and others call him a “pitcher”.
I don't go into much detail about basic stitch formation, I just try to show you in general how you hold your yarn and how to knit the stitch and purl stitches for each method. In conclusion, lever weave, pivot stitch, or Irish hut weave is considered by many to be the fastest knitting technique available. It allows for efficient movement and transitions between movements which can help improve speed when knitting. Additionally, it does not require one to give up on needle holding or turn their work around when making a scarf sideways.
