Left Handed knitters

[Jackie M.]

Are there any left handed knitters out there? Do you cast on English or Continental and is the working needle in your right hand? I have a left handed granddaughter and when she is ready to learn, I will have to try to teach her left handed...or right handed?

[Jan in CA]

Knitting is a two handed craft. I'd just teach her right handed. There's less trying to figure out patterns, decrease and increases, etc. Whether you knit continental or english is personal preference and is not important. Lots of right hand knitters knit continental and vise versa.

[bsh8rc]

I am right handed and I attempted to try to teach my left handed roommate how to knit in college. It didn't go over so great...lol. Good luck though!

[CountryNaturals]

I'm a leftie. I knit continental because my mother did -- no other reason. My left hand does all the work. My right hand just holds a needle.
When you're ready to teach your granddaughter, you can have her watch you in a mirror. That way you can relax and do it your way, but she'll see it lefthanded.

[insp30305]

Have fielded this question a lot over the years. Am left handed and have taught numerous right handed people to knit. My right hand maneuvers the thread, left holds the needle. It's how I was taught and my pupils have all done well learning from me. Good luck.

[Jackie M.]

I'm a leftie. I knit continental because my mother did -- no other reason. My left hand does all the work. My right hand just holds a needle.
When you're ready to teach your granddaughter, you can have her watch you in a mirror. That way you can relax and do it your way, but she'll see it lefthanded.

A mirror...great idea! Thank you..

[N0obKnitter]

I too knit Continental, partly because my mother knits that way and partly because my brain just doesn't "get" English style. I'm right handed and so is she...

[Jackie M.]

You're still knitting right to left when knitting left handed? If I use the mirror method, it would look like I was knitting left to right.

[Jan in CA]

The mirror would actually help for knitting left handed where you stick the left needle into the stitches on the right needle. Seriously though I'd stick teaching her right handed. There won't be any confusion with patterns and you can still help her.

No flaming anyone.. this is just my opinion.

[CountryNaturals]

You're still knitting right to left when knitting left handed? If I use the mirror method, it would look like I was knitting left to right.

Nope. This is for teaching her lefthanded, which means left to right. You won't need the mirror if you're gonna teach her righthanded.
How old is she? If she's an "old" kid, like 8 or 9, you could try her both ways and let her choose. If she's only 5 or 6, you'll have to make the decision, but either way, the gift of knitting is wonderful, left or right.
(I was only 5 and my mother was "progressive" so there was never a question of making me switch hands.)