On International Left-Handers Day, we’d like to pay tribute to all lefties. Because in a world designed for right-handed people, it can sometimes be pretty tough to be left-handed. Do you remember what your hand used to look like after a dictation at school? Completely blue from the ink of that fine-tipped fountain pen. And how that arts-and-crafts class turned into an hour of frustration because the scissors just didn’t fit right in your hand, making it impossible to cut in a straight line? Okay, these aren’t exactly world-shattering problems, but we just wanted to point out that some everyday tasks aren’t always so simple for left-handers.
Crafting for Left-Handers
Even if you’re left-handed, you might still do crafts with your right hand. That’s because, back in the day, schools didn’t allow left-handed students to do crafts. Strict craft teachers were quick to intervene whenever they saw someone doing crafts with their left hand. “Start all over again,” they’d say. So it’s quite possible that you do everything with your left hand—except crochet.
Fortunately, these days you can choose how you prefer to do your crafts. If you don’t have a dominant hand, it might be worth teaching yourself to craft as a right-hander, so you don’t have to mirror your patterns. But of course, that’s easier said than done…
Learning to Crochet as a Left-Handed Person
Crocheting with your left hand takes practice and presents a bit of a challenge. But hey, you can do it! As a left-hander, you’ve been a pro at solving everyday problems since you were a kid—like “how do I write without getting ink stains all over my work?” and “how am I ever going to win a video game with controllers designed for right-handers?”
Especially for all lefties, we at Yarnplaza offer an online course called “Crocheting for Left-Handers.” We’ll teach you how to make a single crochet with your left hand, how to make a magic ring as a left-hander, and how to crochet the different types of double crochets with your left hand.
Tips & Facts:
• Place your ball of yarn on the right side of your body. Use your right hand to keep the yarn taut.
• If you’re left-handed, you’ll crochet in mirror image. Almost all patterns are written for right-handed crocheters. If you want the same result, read the pattern in mirror image as well. Tip: If you’re crocheting from a crochet diagram or chart, print it out in mirror image.
• Crochet Hooks are symmetrical, so it doesn't matter whether you're left- or right-handed. Choose a Crochet Hook that feels comfortable in your hand and get crocheting! Below are our favorites.
Happy Left-Handers' Day, lefties!
