I have a bohus sweater sitting in my queue.  It is sitting there because when I do fair isle I like to use both hands and a bohus pattern requires me to purl with the working yarn in my left hand.  My natural style of knitting is english "throw" style. So purling with my left hand is a bit weird for me.  I looked on  the internet last night to watch various peoples' knitting style and found  the Norwegian Purl
I like it.  It really works and I am getting tension that looks good with what I do with my right hand.
So what is the point of all this?  The point is you never stop learning or adapting.  I admit, I am old enough now that I don't change as much as a use to, but change is good for you once in awhile.
Speaking of knitting styles.
Beginners classes at yarnia are taught in the western style of knitting. Students can choose whether to be an English thrower (working yarn is in right hand) or continental (working yarn is in left hand) knitter.  You don't choose your style on whether you are left or right handed.  You choose the style that fits your hands.  Once you practice, whichever way you knit will become faster and smoother.  I teach western style because the stitches are mounted the same way all the time and because most patterns in the US assume your are knitting this way.
For students in classes above beginner level, I work with you if your style is different so that you can get the results from a pattern that you want.

So what is the difference between western, eastern or combination knitters?  Basically, they differ in how they wrap the yarn when making a stitch.  The result is that the stitch is can be mounted on the needle differently for these knitters. Different isn't wrong.  It is just different. I teach western style of knitting  because the stitches are mounted the same way all the time and because most patterns in the US assume you  are knitting this way.    For example,  most patterns will ask for a K2tog and assume that by doing this, you will do a right slanting decrease.   If a knitter has a different style, he/she must know how to get a right slant decrease for their style.  I am going to list a couple of sites below that you might find interesting to explore this.  For those of you out there who are frustrated because it seems like your knitting results are always different than others or if every time you ask for help it actually messes up more of you knitting than it helps, you might find the exploration very illuminating.
Annie Modesitt 
Combination conversion table from Grumperina
Wikipedia on combination knitting

Labels: combination knittiner, eastern knitting, norwegian purl