I am new to this - and my mother in law recently had a stroke that affected her left side and she use to knit and wants to now. But I can not seem to find anything that will help her knit with one hand. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Sherry
If she can hold a longer than usual needle (great use for those 14" ones lying around!) under her affected arm, she can throw the yarn with the other hand. The technique goes by a whole lot of names–peasant knitting, etc. etc. etc.–so there HAVE to be videos. It’ll work. I don’t do it that way myself, but I’ve tried it and know it will work.
Is that the same as Irish Cottaeg Knitting?
I don’t remember where but I believe it was on the net that someone invented an object the will help a person who can only use one hand to knit. Try doing a google. I wish I could remember where exactly but it was one of those surfing days.
I think it’s the same as Irish cottage knitting.
Same idea, anyhow.
A refinement of the idea is the knitting sheath or knitting belt that used to be common throughout Britain in the centuries BC (before circs). This is a leather pad stuffed with horsehair. It has holes into which you stick one long needle while working with the other.
Someone mentioned finding one at Schoolhouse Press a while back. You might also try Woodland Woolworks or RamWools, which have a lot of traditional knitting items. Or there is this:
http://www.journeyman-leather.co.uk/knittingbelt.html
I’ve also seen a needle holder for one-handed knitters at a website specializing in “ability” tools for people with disabilities. Again, the idea is to immobilize one needle so the knitter works with the other. You could probably rig something with a clamp or vise…
Finally, try posting on knittersreview.com A superb knitter on their forums mentioned that one of her hands doesn’t work well and she used a brace to hold the needle in place. Hope you get a response. One way or another, we’ll get your mother-in-law knitting again.
If you’re a member of Yahoo’s knitlist, this subject has been discussed on there, as well. Perhaps some useful info.
cam
I did a google search and came up with this site:
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=15745&trail=0&discontinued=0
But the item I saw was placed between the legs while sitting down. I held both the needles and your one hand did the necessary work of knitting. I wish I could remember where because it is a lot better than the clamp item at the above web site.
More possible sources of help:
http://www.ilcaustralia.org.au/home/search4.asp?State=SA&MC=71&MinC=25&Item=1733&page=2
I think this is the thing that mathwizard saw.
A whole thread from this Forum:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-50138.html
Is she working with an occupational therapist? The OT should be able to help her find ways of holding the left needle to allow her to still knit. Depending on the severity of the stroke they may be able to enlarge one end of the needle to allow her to grip it better. Ask them to make knitting one of her discharge goals :knitting:
…and then there’s this.
http://www.strokeboard.net/index.php?showtopic=6572
VAKnitter’s suggestion to work with an occupational therapist is excellent. These people have seen every sort of disability and know workarounds for many of them.