Left handed knitting

[Jodie]

I'm excited to try the KAL. I've crocheted for all my life but just started knitting for about three years. I've had no problems crocheting left handed, but some things are backwards knitting. Am I going to run into this with this pattern? I have a goal to learn continental right handed, but won't learn in time for this project. Thanks

[Shandeh]

I'm excited to try the KAL. I've crocheted for all my life but just started knitting for about three years. I've had no problems crocheting left handed, but some things are backwards knitting. Am I going to run into this with this pattern? I have a goal to learn continental right handed, but won't learn in time for this project. Thanks

If you don't mind having a mirror-image blanket, you will be just fine following the instructions exactly as they are written. The only adjustment you will need will be when it's time to join all the sections together.

[CraftyGrandma]

I am also left-handed. I generally follow the instructions as written and have no problems. However, if you want your work to look like the original design, there are two times when you will have to make adjustments.

The first is when you are following a charted design. You either need to add an extra row at the beginning so you are starting the design from the same side as the designer or you will have to remember that any references to "left" and "right" will need to be reversed.

The second is when you are making a clearly visible decrease such as SSK, K3tog, or sometimes K2tog (How obvious this one is depends on the pattern and yarn). These decreases are easily seen in the finished project and are often repeated to make a diagonal line. You can see this in a raglan sleeve sweater where the decreases make a straight line from the underarm to the neck edge. If you work the pattern as written, the decreases will all be slanted in the wrong direction. If the pattern calls for a visible decrease, you MUST switch the decreases. For example, SSK and K2tog both decrease by one stitch. Before you start knitting, read your directions and change any SSK to K2tog and any K2tog to SSK. (If you are really talented, you can try to remember without writting it down, but I usually forget and later have to rip it out and redo it.)

With these small changes, you should be able to knit any pattern left-handed and still have it look like the original design.

[Jodie]

CraftyGrandma,
Thanks for your help! I tried to post another note, but don't know what happened to it. If this had been a year ago, I wouldn't have understood your post. I am self-taught,but have learned a lot over this year. I'm going to keep this and reference it later.
Thanks,
Jodie

[PTate]

I'm excited to try the KAL. I've crocheted for all my life but just started knitting for about three years. I've had no problems crocheting left handed, but some things are backwards knitting. Am I going to run into this with this pattern? I have a goal to learn continental right handed, but won't learn in time for this project. Thanks

I am also left handed. As suggeted you can add a row to give you the right side. However since your yarn is on the right hand already you should be able to do right handed knitting using the throw method.
When I began making sweaters and doing alot of cable work, it was helpful to me. Still knit continetal left handed if not alot of pattern work, use the right handed throw for garments and lot of pattern work. Have been know to do both - right side of project with right hand throw and wrong side with left hand continental. Like you have a goal to learn continenatal right handed but yarn feel strange on left hand and does not flow evenly, maybe I will get it with alot more practice, LOL. Cannot seem to make myself sit down and try, always need to be working on a project, not just sitting and practicing.
Good luck

[mahmanurse]

I am a self taught left handed knitter. When I went to a knitting store is when I discovered I was knitting backwards. The professional in the shop taught me how to do the continental stitch, which she said either handed could use.

[Shandeh]

I am a self taught left handed knitter. When I went to a knitting store is when I discovered I was knitting backwards. The professional in the shop taught me how to do the continental stitch, which she said either handed could use.

Yes, true left-handed knitting is backwards or "mirror-image" from right handed knitting.
But, the finished product looks exactly the same, most of the time.

The only time you would need to change would be if you were using intarsia to knit words or numbers into your knitting. But, most mirror-image knits work just fine as they are.