Knit Left Handed
Revision as of 09:48, 15 February 2017 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)
Knitting is one of the few things that can be easily modified for lefties. There are very few changes that need to be made with patterns. For the left handed knitter, charts are read from left to right. You are knitting the right front of a cardigan with the left front instructions.
Contents
Steps
- Learn the four main terms of knitting. Cast on, knit, purl and cast off. They are all difficult to describe without pictures (check the article links added here), but all knitting books seem to show pictures only for righties. On the one hand, it's possible to just reverse the pattern, which can even be done holding images up to a small mirror. On the other hand, author of Stitch 'n Bitch, Debbie Stoller, advises that lefties can sometimes benefit from learning Continental stitch, which requires you to hold the yarn in your left hand.
- Cast on by making a slipknot and place it on a knitting needle. Hold this needle in your right hand. With the left hand, make a loop the shape of a pink breast cancer ribbon, with the loose end of the yarn lying on top. Hold this loop between the thumb and index finger of the left hand, twist it slightly left and place it on the needle. Tighten it so it holds to the needle without being snug. You now have two stitches cast on. Continue making loops and sliding them onto the needle until you have the number of stitches you want. Note: There are dozens of ways to cast on. Once you master this, experiment with others.
- Learn to knit by holding the needle with your cast-on stitches in the right hand,the stationary needle, and the other in your left hand, the working needle. Insert the working needle up into the first stitch on the stationary needle. Then hold the needles in an X shape with your right hand. With your left, wrap the yarn coming from the ball around the working needle, going from outside the X to the inside. Hold this yarn along the body of the working needle as you use the needle to pull it through the loop, which is still on the right-hand needle. Slide the original loop off the right-hand needle. Repeat with the next stitch on the stationary needle. When you finish a row, turn and work the next row, either using the knit stitch again (garter stitch) or switching to purl (stockinette stitch).
- Understand that Purl stitch is what is seen on the back of the knit stitch. Hold the needle with your cast-on stitches in the right hand,the stationary needle, and hold the other in your left hand,the working needle. Insert the working needle into the first stitch on the stationary needle, from the left side of the stitch. Hold the needles in an X shape with the right hand, and with the left, wrap the loose end of the yarn around the working needle, going from inside the X to the outside. Hold this yarn along the body of the working needle as you use the needle to push it through the loop, which is still on the right-hand needle. Slide the original loop off the right-hand needle. Repeat with the next stitch on the stationary needle.
- Cast off when you are finished with a section of knitting. This works the yarn off the needle, giving it a finished look. Knit the first two stitches, then insert the stationary needle into the left-most stitch on the working needle and slide this stitch over the other and off the needle. Knit another stitch from the stationary needle, then slide the left-most stitch over and off. Repeat until you have only one loop left on the working needle. Take this loop off the needle, cut the loose yarn, slip the end of the yarn through the loop and tighten into a knot.
- Following a pattern closely is extremely important. Many knitters make a gauge swatch (a small square) to ensure that the correct number of stitches with the needle size suggested by the pattern produces the correct square size. You may need to change needle sizes to 'get gauge'. For the most part, patterns can be followed as written. Sometimes increase and decrease techniques (for example, s s k vs. k2tog) will need to be reversed for the stitches to lie as intended on the finished piece. In an asymmetric patterns, following the written instructions will result in a piece that is the mirror image of that pictured. If the asymmetric pattern has a chart, this can be solved by reading the chart from left to right.
- Knitting left-handed is no harder to learn than knitting right-handed. They both just take practice.
Video
Template:Video:Knit Left Handed
Tips
- If you are new to knitting, start with a basic scarf. This will give you plenty of practice with the basic knit stitch, then you will be ready for more complex projects.
- If you are going to try right-handed knitting, try right-handed Continental knitting. Not only is it faster than the conventional English method of knitting, it's easier for lefties to pick up because you control the yarn with your left hand.
- Knitting is not difficult. It is fun. It takes a few minutes to learn, a few hours of practice, and to advance further.
- There is no such thing as a mistake. If the stitches are not coming out right, just remove it from the needles, make a little ball of it, cast on again, and try once more.
- Some "lefties" find it just as easy to knit right-handed. Maybe give it a try.
Warnings
- Don't try to knit for the first time using furry or "eyelash" yarn! Although it's pretty, it is a lot harder to see what you're doing.
- Don't buy special "left handed" needles or kits unless they're the same price as all the kits. They are no different from regular needles and, if priced higher, are likely to rip you off by making you pay extra.
Things You'll Need
- Knitting needles
- Yarn
- Pattern or knitting book
Related Articles
- Knit the Garter Stitch
- Knit a Scarf
- Choose Knitting Needles
- Read a Knitting Pattern
- Sew a Knitting Needle Roll Up
- Organize Your Knitting Supplies
- Embroider a Pocketbook
- Crochet a Snowman
Sources and Citations
- Debbie Stoller, Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook, p. 33, (2003), ISBN 978-0-7611-2818-2
