Yeah, I mean, I have been knitting on and off since I was 15 in a left-handed continental style, but then the other day when I saw a video on how to purl left-handed I was flabbergasted. I think I am going to make some swatches and try to knit with my right hand because I think when I try to do something like a pair of mittens on circulars (that are coming in the mail, woo!) that it will be easier to just read the instructions without having to reverse them…
I really believe that you can do it - if you want. It will take some practice… like learning to knit did.
Remember, I had to SUDDENLY use only one hand (and not my dominate hand at all) when I had my injury and this went on for over a year. I couldn’t even use the other hand as a support or ‘help’…
So, trust me… if I could do it… YOU CAN. I was very right handed dominate. It was hard to even brush my hair or my teeth using, for me, ‘the wrong hand.’ But, my learning curve had to start immediately.
So, I know you can do it. However, good luck in whatever you want to do… and your future knitting.
It would seem that given your experience and knowing how difficult it was for you to use your non-dominant hand for so long (and I’m assuming you went back to right-handed ways of doing things as soon as you were able?) you’d be encouraging her in left-handedness since she has no “impediment” other than being left-dominant…
I don’t know. I don’t think there’s a “right” and “wrong” way to knit. There is a marked difference between left and right handed knitting and one may very well be more comfortable for her, give her dominant hand. I don’t think she should be discouraged from exploring a style that is possibly more suited. Is it more work when reading patterns? Possibly. But I say this as a combination knitter - I have to readjust patterns constantly. It doesn’t deter me from my preferred mode of knitting, though.
I dunno. Just seems like everyone gasped and shouted “Oh, no! NOT LEFT-HANDED!” When, really, it could be easier and more enjoyable for some. There are times I really enjoy it. Yes, knitting takes both hands, but there IS an issue of dominance. I primarily knit right-handed, but I CAN knit left and it IS very different. I can see how it can be more comfortable for someone who is used to left-handed dominant life.
shrug Just my 2¢.
I’m very left handed, my right hand just kind of does it’s own thing, helping out where ever it can. Crocheted for years, but wanted to learn to knit and studied everything I could find. Since the idea of using my right hand to ‘throw’ the yarn seemed silly, I latched onto Conti knitting. Purling is a breeze now, but I had to practice. Just decided to do it, not worry if it was right or wrong for awhile. Took a ‘sampler’ of different stitches into my LYS and asked her to check them out, as I’d heard that some Conti lefthanders twisted the yarn the wrong way. You just have to make up your mind that your hands will do as you tell them to, if you practice.
Good luck, I know that you’ll find knitting really rewarding once you get the hang of it.
I know this won’t help you, but since your subject was generic, thus luring me in, I’ll say this.
I’m a leftie and the only “different” way I knit is the English way. (I mean we’re in America, right? LOL. I think continental is common, to be serious.)
Is this actually odd, do most lefties knit backwards/opposite? See when I played the guitar I did it normally, too. And I throw rightie.
My left hand is just for writing. It has the precision, whereas my right has the strength. Weird, huh?
Milly… you’ve done a good job… learning the strengths and weaknesses of both hands and have learned to use them together.
I agree with you- fine motor skills are best done w/ the dominate hand… but, knitting doesn’t really take the fine motor skills of ‘hand-writing’ does it?
Keep it up Milly… it is probably best to be able to switch things around- I can use my left-hand for certain things… it is the hand that always hauls packages/bags/etc. It’s probably my ‘strength’ hand too… similiar to how you have one.
How many times can I scream “YES!!!” I’m left handed and I completely sympathize with the poster. It’s SO annoying to me to hear right-handed knitters say there’s no difference or “just do it righty.” Right – you guys try doing it lefty, how about? 
I knit from the right needle onto the left. I can knit righty if I want to, and will do it sometimes when I’m doing very short rows of stitches, but it screws up my tension. I manipulate the left needles in and out of the stitches but I throw with my right hand when purling or a mix of stitched, and pick when I’m doing just knitting. The yarn is always in my right hand, never in my left. Weird, I know. I looked at the left-handed DVD and it doesn’t work for me. I also wrap my purl stitches from back to front instead of front to back. When I read directions for righties, I just switch right needles to left in my head and vice versa. It’s a pain, but it’s a right-handed world, for sure. But I don’t think lefties need to learn the right-handed way of doing things when we can knit left-handed perfectly well once we get the hang of it.
I’ve looked into how I’ve been knitting and I seem to be able to do both stitches just fine, but yes, I agree with this poster that it’s really not that easy to just knit right-handed. I re-learned to knit with books that were for left-handers, and after looking at my swatches, I figured out that I’m not twisting stitches at all, but when I watch the “left out” knitter videos, I am not purling the same way she is.
Also, I was in my LYS this morning and I talked to someone there who said that they don’t think there would be any problems with me reading the pattern.
The more I think about it, the more confused I get. I am knitting fine so far, but I haven’t done any kind of complicated sweaters or anything, so I haven’t tested whether I would be able to carry out a huge project in the correct manner, but it seems to me like I should be able to do a pattern just fine?
Also, he suggested I try German knitting, which I’ve never even heard of, has anyone else?
Hi, I’m the knitter that Quiara mentioned (hugs Q!). I knit left-handed. It’s not rocket science and all the righties on this list need to be very quiet and learn. Knitting is a passion, an art. As long as the stitches don’t fall apart, it’s knitting. Patterns do not have to be reversed for left handed knitters! Only shaping and then it even depends on your knitting style. Some lefty knitters don’t have to change a thing, did you know that? Please, for the love of all things warm and snuggly, visit my site (it’s free and I don’t do spam or anything) and see the 4 distinct types of left handed knitting. http://leftoutknitter.com/left-handed_knitting_style.php
Please do not abandon your knitting projects unless you just want to challenge yourself to use a completely different style. If the video you watched on YouTube said it was left handed purling, perhaps that person does a different style of lefty knitting. then again, if you are using the Vogue knitting book for instructions, I am sorry to say they have you wrap the stitch wrong. It will lead to twisted stitches, which is fine if you like that nice textured look, but if you want open stitches, you’ll have to change it. I am the only publication in print about left handed knitting. The book isn’t out yet, sorry, I should lock myself up and force myself to finish and be done with it. The DVD is basics, it does not include combined lefty knitting, but does detail the 2 methods of open knitting with many decreases, increases etc. If you have more questions, please email me and I am glad to help. THere is also a good yahoo group that I am very active in for lefties knitters ONLY gnittink is the name of the group. Good luck and I hope to hear from you!
Hi Left Out,
Thanks for your informative blog. What I learned from it is that I do knit like a right hander, using the Continental method makes this possible for me. It would confuse my already fuddled brain to take the stitches from the right hand needle, I take them from the left.
When your book comes out, I’ll definitely buy it, my DDIL and my DGD are both lefties, and at some point will want to learn to knit.
I will email you right now! Thanks! 
YES!!! Diane is my “September Friend” She and her family come down to Pensacola every fall and spend a month here on the beach. I met her through our homeschool group and we’ve become good knitting friends ever since. She is VERY amazing and I’m :cheering: her on as she ventures into the left-handed knitting world. I"m so glad that someone else mentioned her! The longer Diane and I know each other the more we find we have in common. I know that she uses Continental knitting as her primary knitting style. She’s very fast and simply amazing to watch.
Look! And there she is! 
Hi Diane!!!
I also knit with my left hand. I have tried multiple times to use my right and just can’t keep the tension right or anything else. I didn’t notice anyone mention but I found this site http://www.cobweb.net/~knitting/lefties.html
Before I found this site I basically just made scarfs all the time. Now I can read any direction’s. I just printed out the cheat sheet and keep it with any project I’m working on and refer back to it whenever I get to increases or decreases.
Christine
I knit left handed and always have. I can’t knit righthanded and don’t really want to. I know it can be a struggle to figure out the directions on things sometimes, but I really haven’t found anyone who has put out anything geared specifically for those who knit lefthanded (as in empty needle in left hand, knitting on right needle.) I just plod along and work the directions out for myself. Let us know if you ever find anything for us rightbrainers!
So true about Diane, she is fantastic!
This is a great link! I love it! Now I won’t have to scratch out all of my pattern directions!:woot:
I knit lefty also and just wanted to add this link as a resource for us southpaw knitters:
The DVD she has on her site is mostly beginner stuff, some advanced stuff but it’s great for those like myself who need to see it being done left-handed. She’s also doing a more advanced DVD. Hope this helps.
many left-handed people throw righthanded. like my friend :yay: (not anyone annyoing!)
http://learn-to-knit.com/
http://www.leftoutknitter.com/
I am a left handed knitter as well and these may be repeats but these were posted on a question that I had as well. I completely understand your frusteration, Reversing knitting instructions is not as easy as people think. I hope that you are getting all of the help you need. atleast I know that there is another left hander out there that is having the same troubles that I am. :yay: