There are many people in the world who are lefthanded, and many of them want to know if they can knit left handed. The answer is yes! There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when you are knitting left handed, but it is definitely possible to do.
To knit left handed, hold the yarn in your left hand and the knitting needles in your right hand
Insert the needle into the stitch on the far left side of the work
Wrap the yarn around the needle clockwise
Draw the needle through the stitch and pull the loop of yarn through to create a new stitch on the right-hand needle
Repeat steps 2-4 until you have reached the end of the row or the desired number of stitches
Left Handed Knitting Patterns
In knitting, there are two types of people in the world: those who knit right-handed, and those who knit left-handed. And while most commonly patterns are for right-handers, that doesn’t mean lefties are out of luck. In fact, there are plenty of great left-handed knitting patterns out there. You just have to know where to look.
Here are a few of our favorite sources for left-handed knitting patterns:
1. Lion Brand Yarns – This popular yarn company has an entire section of their website devoted to left-handed knitting patterns. You’ll find everything from afghans and sweaters to scarves and hats.
2. Lefty’s The Left Handed Knitter – As the name suggests, this website is all about left-handed knitting. They offer a wide variety of free Patterns and helpful articles on topics like choosing the best yarn for your project or how to convert a pattern from right-handed to left-handed.
3. Interweave Knits – While not every pattern in Interweave Knits magazine is suitable for lefties, they include several great options in each issue.
In addition, they have an extensive online archive of past issues that you can search for more ideas.
There is no simple answer for whether knitting is harder for lefties. On one hand, because most knitting patterns and instructions are written for right-handed knitters, lefties may have a harder time finding resources that work for them. Many popular knitting techniques are also geared towards right-handers, which can make them more challenging for lefties to execute.
However, some people argue that because lefties are less common in the knitting world, they may have an easier time standing out and getting noticed (in a good way!) by instructors and other knitters. Ultimately, it really comes down to the individual knitter and what works best for them.
Can Left Handers Knit?
Yes, left-handers can knit! In fact, many people who are lefthanded find knitting to be a very soothing and relaxing activity. While it may seem like knitting would be more difficult for lefties than righties, there are actually several resources available to help them get started.
One thing to keep in mind is that they make most knitting patterns for right-handed knitters. This means that some simple adjustments may need to be made in order for a lefty to follow along. For instance, when working on a purl stitch, the left-handed knitter will hold the yarn in their right hand instead of their left.
There are also several “lefty-friendly” knitting books and websites available that can provide helpful tips and advice. With a little patience and practice, any knitter–no matter which hand they use – can produce beautiful finished products!
How Do Left-Handed Knitters Knit?
There’s no one answer to this question since left-handed knitters can knit in a variety of ways, just like right-handed knitters. Some lefties hold their yarn in their left hand and needles in their right (just like a righty would), while others do the reverse. And some folks are what’s called “ambidextrous” knitters, meaning they can hold their yarn and needles. However, is comfortable for them, switching back and forth between hands as needed.
How you hold your yarn and needles when you’re knitting is something that you’ll figure out through trial and error. There’s no “right” way to do it, so go with whatever feels most natural to you. Many newbie knitters tense up when they’re first learning how to knit, which can make it difficult to hold everything in the correct position.
So if you’re finding it tough to get the hang of things, try to relax your grip on both the yarn and needles. If you’re still having trouble getting the hang of knitting as a lefty, there are plenty of online resources that can help. YouTube is a great place to start, as there are tons of videos specifically tailored for left-handed knitters.
Just search for “left-handed knitting” or “knitting for lefties” and you’ll find many helpful tutorials.
What is Left-Handed Knitting Called?
Left-handed knitting is often called “mirror knitting” because the stitches work in the opposite direction from right-handed knitting. This can be confusing for new knitters, but there are a few easy ways to remember which way to go. If you hold your left hand up like you’re going to shake someone’s hand, your thumb will point towards you and your fingers will point away from you.
To mirror this, you’ll want to work your stitches from right to left instead of left to right. If you’re a visual learner, it might help to think of it this way: if you were looking at your knitting from the top down, the right side of your work would face you and the wrong side would face away from you. When you mirror knit, the wrong side is facing towards you and the right side is facing away from you.
There are a few reasons someone might choose to knit left-handed. Maybe they learned how to knit as a child, but their teacher was right-handed and they never switched over. Or maybe they find it more comfortable or natural to hold their yarn in their left hand and work the needles with their right hand.
Whatever the reason, there’s no need to feel you’re stuck knitting one way or another – both handedness have their pros and cons!
Conclusion
Yes, you can knit left handed! It may take a bit of practice to get used to knitting with your left hand, but it’s definitely possible. There are even some resources available online to help you get started.
So if you’re feeling adventurous, go on and try it!
Jane
Hi,
I’m Jane and I’m the editor of janesknittingkits.com! I am a long-time craft and clothing design fan who has been writing about these interests for years.
I have spent many hours studying knitting, weaving, sewing, embroidery, and quilting as well as learning about various brands and models of sewing gear and machines. In addition to this research, my work involves publishing information related to these topics in ways that will be informative for both amateur crafters like me and more experienced sewers!