I never learned to knit as a child. I'm left handed and at school it was considered impossible for a left handed child to knit! I never complained - I was put at the back of the classroom during knitting lessons with books to read instead and I love reading. My Mom and Gran both tried teaching me but in a mirror so that I could learn to go the opposite way to right handed people; since I wasn't actually that keen (having seen the matinee jackets my friends were knitting) I never learnt.
When I was 15, my boyfriend (now my husband) got a motor bike. He wanted a scarf to wear when riding but couldn't find anything suitable so he bought some yarn (for 2 scarves) and needles and asked me to knit him one. I was too embarrassed to admit I couldn't knit and my Mom and Gran were both busy with projects so I went to his Nan and explained my predicament. She said that if after spending a day with her I still couldn't knit then she would knit 1 scarf - not what I wanted but if I didn't learn to knit I would have to admit to him that I couldn't!
Reluctantly I went over for the day and was surprised to find no mirror. Nan didn't know I was left handed. She taught me to knit like she did. I struggled to hold the needles and throw the yarn, so the right hand needle was tucked under my arm, by the end of the day not only was I knitting, I was a knitter and in no time at all 2 extra soft garter stitch scarves were produced.
And the rest as they say - is history!
To visit other blogs taking part - google "knitcroblo1"
Thank you for sharing your story! I had to smile when I read about your Nan's teaching technique; I am an arts and crafts teacher, and I recently taught one of my students, who is left handed, to knit in the same way. And he is now knitting slippers for his final assignment. (16 year old boy).
ReplyDeleteI'm left-handed too, and I cannot knit left-handed to save my life. I think it's odd though that they assumed lefties can't knit. I'm glad his Nan taught you!
ReplyDeleteI so wish they would have taught knitting in school when I was in school. Thanks for sharing your story. I can't believe that didn't even try to teach you in school instead of just shoving you in the back of the room.
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