Machine for Lefties?

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09-10-2013, 04:25 AM

#11

mom-6

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Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Texas

Posts: 6,395

I too am mostly ambidextrous. I do many things with either hand interchangeably. As an elementary school child several of my friends had broken arms (usually from "bailing out" of the swings) so I figured I needed to be prepared in case it happened to me! So when I broke my hand many years later when my youngest was in first grade, I was ready. Lol! Actually I do find it easier to do some things lefty and others right handed. Didn't even realize that I was doing it until someone commented on it.

09-10-2013, 11:07 AM

#12

notmorecraft

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Join Date: Aug 2013

Location: east kilbride Scotland

Posts: 1,330

I am naturally left handed, but I sew, knit play guitar and loads of other things right handed as I was the only leftie in the family. My aunt bought me left handed pinking shears which I can't use as I always used right handed scissors. The one thing I can't do right handed is put my make up on! If I try I look like a pantomime dame

09-10-2013, 12:11 PM

#13

SueSew

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Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Nawth o' Boston

Posts: 1,879

I sympathize with your mom because my grandmother got the same thing back in England. Her writing was almost illegible with her right hand. But she taught me how to sew and mend and use the old treadle machine and I am left handed, so I guess she muddled through despite the schools trying to beat it out of her.

Makes me wonder what modern education ideas we have now which will be out in the trash next generation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeter Eva

This thread is very interesting. My mom , me & 2 of my sisters are lefties. My mom was beaten in school for using her left hand , so she got next no education, but she & dad raised 8 children. She cooked & baked everything we needed & also sewed all our clothes. Very often when other people saw our clothes they would ask her to do thier sewing. I'm sure the sewing machine is made left handed.I sure can't complain about mine. That is one thing that has been made for us lefties. I have left handed scizzors, but only the handles are left handed the blades are still right handed.At least I don't get blisters when I have a lot of cutting to do.

09-10-2013, 04:56 PM

#14

AlienQuilter

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Join Date: May 2010

Location: Orbiting

Posts: 1,448

Don't forget about typing! I use both hands equally for that!

My Mom refused to let us use our left hands for writing when we were little. DH and I let our kids naturally decide which hand to use. They both settled on being right handed. But, I wonder how much is determined/decided by watching our parents/siblings.

09-11-2013, 04:10 AM

#15

Dollyo

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Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: Durand, MI

Posts: 751

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeter Eva

I too am left handed. I learned to sew when I was 15. Used right handed scissors (terrible thumb dent) for years. I now have 2 pair of left handed scissors, one I love and one I'm not so fond of. The first pair are left handed, right bladed. The other are left handed, left bladed (couldn't get them to cut on the line until I realized you have to change how you look down on the blades). DH is left handed, our 2 sons are right handed. Go figure. I think that most lefties are really ambidextrous, do to living in a right handed world.

09-11-2013, 04:51 AM

#16

Jingle

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Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Outside St. Louis

Posts: 38,181

My two straight stitch only machines have to be threaded from L to R. Have to use left hand for changing feet and needles. I am totally right handed only use my left when two hands are needed. I have finally mastered using my left hand for the above.
My Husband is right handed except for cutting, uses his left for that.

09-11-2013, 05:53 AM

#17

Mariposa

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Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Eastern Washington

Posts: 29,519

I am a leftie, and do lots with either hand: cut with a rotary cutter, iron, use scissors, use a knife, use tools, etc. Though I do mostly write with my left hand, I do put my make up on with my right.

09-11-2013, 06:14 AM

#18

Gretchen

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Cleveland OH

Posts: 212

This thread has me chuckling! Yes, I too am a leftie and for the life of me would not know what to to if you handed me a pair of left handed scissors! I use to make our IT people at work crazy because I converted my mouse from right to left handed.... LOL!! Joke was on them - but decided to change it back as the rest of the desk area just wasn't compatible!

09-11-2013, 06:28 AM

#19

Daisy Dew

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Join Date: May 2012

Location: Tall Corn State

Posts: 1,231

that's interesting that you ask that question. Being left handed myself I remember my business ed teacher back in 1964 telling us in typing class (now get this) with a manual underwood typewriter, that typewriters and sewing machines are really left handed machines! Did that ever make my day! And I was the fastest most accurate typist in the school - even won a contest!

09-11-2013, 06:36 AM

#20

bearisgray

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Join Date: May 2008

Location: MN

Posts: 24,387

I had been wondering why the sewing machine 'needle end' was on the left.

At one time, being left-hand dominant was not a good thing. I wonder how many people were damaged by that idea?

I deal cards left-handed. I didn't even realize that was 'different' until someone pointed it out to me.