Coping as a left-hander
#21
I'm a lefty and like most of us lefties, I've had trouble living in a righty world, too. Personally I think rotary cutters are a gift from the gods! Cause, unlike scissors, rotary cutters are ambidextrous, you just switch the blade to the other side! And take pride in knowing that many of the top national quilters are lefties. Yippee!!!
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,061
Enjoyed the post about learning to crochet. My mom was very patient but couldn't teach me to crochet left handed and after many days of trying, she told me if I wanted to learn to crochet I needed to get that hook in my right hand. I now crochet right handed. It was really awkward at first. I decided I wanted to learn to knit and took lessons. The teacher tried mirrors, sitting directly in front of me, and finally told me to take the book and try it however I could make it work. I do lots of knitting but hold the right needle between my legs, manuver the yarn in my right hand and hold the project in my left. Looks goofy but works for me. I use a rotary cutter that you just turn it upside down for leftie cutting. Don't even need to change the blade to the other side. Where there's a will, there's a way!
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 1,467
Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
Originally Posted by littlehud
I can cut either way with mine. It can be hard being left handed. I am too.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 1,467
Originally Posted by Joanie2
Originally Posted by Leftie
I am fairly new to patchwork and quilting but very keen to learn. I have my cutting board and rotary cutter but am having difficulties getting to grips with it as a left hander - as usual, everything is produced for right handed people. Any hints please to help me use my new equipment? Many thanks.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYS Finger Lakes Region
Posts: 1,178
As a lefty, I started buying all lefty cutters, scissors, etc., but have found if I have the ones that can be used either way, I can snip small areas with my rt. hand as well. As I mentioned on another topic, the revolving cutting mat is wonderful as directions are always for righties and you can just turn the mat if you've lined it up wrong to cut as a lefty. Don't give up; I'm sure you have adapted many other tasks in your lifetime and it will get easier with time. I made folding wallets for Christmas presents---the Vera Bradley king---my lefty friends were so happy to receive a wallet that worked for them. Everything is usually geared for the right-handed.
#27
[ I do lots of knitting but hold the right needle between my legs, manuver the yarn in my right hand and hold the project in my left. Looks goofy but works for me.
My grandmother taught me crocheting & knitting by sitting knee to knee. I can crochet easily but I couldn't get the hang of knitting because my right hand just is too clumsy to hold up the knitting needle correctly so I tried the way you do with the needle between my legs. Unfortunately my yard got tighter and tighter until I choked it and it just wouldn't work for me. I gave up and went on to other crafts instead.
My grandmother taught me crocheting & knitting by sitting knee to knee. I can crochet easily but I couldn't get the hang of knitting because my right hand just is too clumsy to hold up the knitting needle correctly so I tried the way you do with the needle between my legs. Unfortunately my yard got tighter and tighter until I choked it and it just wouldn't work for me. I gave up and went on to other crafts instead.
#28
Originally Posted by Leftie
I am fairly new to patchwork and quilting but very keen to learn. I have my cutting board and rotary cutter but am having difficulties getting to grips with it as a left hander - as usual, everything is produced for right handed people. Any hints please to help me use my new equipment? Many thanks.
#30
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Oxford, England
Posts: 11
Thank you very much. I am amazed at all the helpful and sympathetic replies I have received. I have now changed the blade to the other side of the cutter and am practising hard. I am still having to turn the board all the way around but I am getting pretty good results. Thanks again.
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