- 1-4 loops around thumb 

- Pick up the oldest/topmost thumb loop from front to back (usually), or from back to front

- Pick up the oldest/topmost thumb loop from back to front before picking up the loop(s) behind the thumb (Turning Stitch, version II), or after picking up the loop(s) behind the thumb (Double Curl -pisto).

 

- Pick up 0-5 loops behind the thumb
- Pick up one (or more) loops behind the thumb before picking up the thumb loop (Åsle Stitch)
- You usually pick up behind the thumb first the loop on the right, then the middle one, and possibly next one(s) on the left. Direction of the needle from right to left.
- In Åsle Stitch, however, you pick up behind the thumb first the loop on the left (or middle one + the one on the left; for a thicker version of Åsle). Direction of the needle from right to left. The loop far on the right is not picked up.
- Pick up the loop(s) behind the thumb from back to front, and turn the needle tip either to left (Russian Stitch Family), or to right (Finnish Turning Stitch).

The end phase of the stitch

 
Usually, at the very end of the stitch, you insert the needle both under the thumb loop(s) and under the needle yarn (working yarn) which runs from your thumb to your needle.

 

- Under the thumb loop(s) and under the needle yarn (most common way)
- Under the thumb loop(s), but over the needle yarn *)
- Over the thumb loop(s), but under the needle yarn **)

*)  so called "plaited edge"; Parikkala style stitches, Rådmansö Stitch, etc
**) Alsike Stitch, Stutby Stitch

 

 

Connection stitch - Connecting to the previous row 

Usually the new stitch is connected to the edge of the previous row into one edge loop (F1; F = Front), or into one 'new' egde loop + one 'old' edge loop (F2).

Connection stitch

 

 - From front to back - F1, F2, F3 (F = Front)

 - From back to front - B1, B2 (B = Back)

 - Further below from front - M1, M2 (M = Mid), and insert needle into the connection stitch either from right to left, or from left to right (that will change the looks)

 - Further below from front + From front to back - F1+M1, or vertically "Bottom1+F1" (Åsle Stitch)

 - On reverse side (e.g. reverse mid-1)

 

The connection stitch is made usually at the beginning of the stitch, but in some stitches the connection happens in the middle of the stitch.


Comparison of different connection stitches, and how the affect the surface

Finnish Stitch 2+2 (link)
Russian Stitch 2+2+2 (link)