Is There Only One “Right” Way to Knit?
- Shellie Smith
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
In knitting, as in education, there is rarely only one correct path. Across cultures, centuries, and landscapes, knitters have developed a wide variety of techniques—each shaped by environment, materials, physical needs, and tradition. While you may teach a particular method in your classroom, as handwork educators it is vital that we also deepen our understanding of the many knitting traditions that have come before us.
Not because we must adopt them all, but because knowing more makes us more awake teachers.
A Style with Deep and Global Roots
The technique commonly known in the West as Portuguese knitting—sometimes called Andean, Incan, Bosnian, Turkish, or “around-the-neck” knitting—did not actually originate in Portugal. Its roots reach back to the Middle East, where Arabic knitters developed the practice of tensioning the yarn around the back of the neck or through a pin attached to clothing.
Through trade, migration, and empire-building, this method traveled to the Iberian Peninsula and later to South America. In the Andean regions of Peru and Bolivia, it became woven into deeply rooted textile traditions using local fibers such as llama and alpaca wool. These communities adapted the technique for complex, practical, and culturally rich garments, integrating it into daily life and identity.
Today, this method is still practiced in parts of Latin America, as well as in Greece, Turkey, and other regions—each adapting it according to local needs and customs.
What we often call “Portuguese knitting,” then, is really part of a much larger story: a living lineage of textile knowledge carried across continents and cultures.
What Makes This Technique Unique?
Unlike English or Continental knitting, where the yarn is tensioned through the fingers, this style uses an external tension point: the yarn is wrapped around the back of the neck or threaded through a small pin worn on the shoulder or collar.
This creates:
Very consistent tension
Minimal hand and wrist movement, as the stitch is formed with a small flick of the left thumb
A natural flow that many knitters find surprisingly efficient and comfortable
It is especially known for how easy and controlled the purl stitch becomes and how well it lends itself to colorwork, since multiple yarns can be managed through different pins to prevent tangling.
But perhaps more important than the physical mechanics is what this method reveals: that some things we often take for granted —how to hold yarn, how to form a stitch—are culturally shaped, not universal.
Why Handwork Teachers Explore Other Methods
This is not about replacing what you already teach. It is about deepening your professional understanding of the craft itself.
When we encounter unfamiliar techniques, we are reminded what it feels like to be a learner again:
To struggle with new hand movements
To feel awkward before gaining fluidity
To build understanding through practice
To experience the patience and perseverance we ask of our students
By learning new styles, we don’t just gain technical knowledge—we cultivate empathy, humility, and renewed clarity in our teaching.
Whether or not you choose to adopt Portuguese knitting into your personal practice, engaging with it strengthens your relationship to the wider world of handwork traditions and helps you see your own methods with fresh eyes.
Join Us for This Hands-On Experience
Be a part of our upcoming Online International Waldorf Teaching Conference February 14–16, 2026 ~ Theme: 5th Grade – Beauty · Rhythm · Balance.
We will explore this rich knitting tradition in a practical workshop led by Andrea Wong. Andrea will guide us through learning this method with 2 stranded color work as we create a unique hat knit in the round!
This session is offered as:
A personal learning journey for handwork teachers
A deep dive into global knitting heritage
An opportunity to reconnect with your own hands as a student
Whether this becomes part of your ongoing knitting practice or simply broadens your perspective, the experience itself offers something invaluable: a living reminder that we remain students of the craft for life.
Click below to learn more about our upcoming February conference.
Have you been curious about the handwork teacher development program?
Are you wondering what a day in the life of teacher training is really like?
Experience it for yourself when you join us for one of our two open house days!
We are opening our virtual doors and invite you to join our students for a real day of teacher training. Step inside and experience a piece of our 3rd semester program. Our students in 3rd semester are studying 5th and 6th grade handwork and child development.
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