How to Knit Left Handed

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Knitting tutorials and patterns often describe how to knit assuming the reader is right-handed. Luckily, these instructions are easy to modify for lefties. Start by learning how to hold your knitting needles and cast on left-handed. Then, practice knitting across rows. After you have mastered these skills, you can try modifying other techniques and patterns for left-handed knitting.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Casting On

PDF download Download Article
  1. Make a slip knot and slide it onto the left-hand needle. Wrap the yarn around your index finger twice and then pull the first loop through the second loop. Tug the tail of the yarn to tighten the base of the slip knot. [1]
    • This slip knot will count as your first cast on stitch.
  2. Hold 1 knitting needle in each hand. Position your thumb and index finger about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the tips of the needles. Then, bring the working yarn over the end of the right-hand needle. [2]
    • At this point, you should have the slip knot on the left-hand needle and the loop you just made on the right-hand needle.
    Advertisement
  3. Push the needle through the loop going from front to back. Hold the working yarn taut as you do this to keep the loop around the needles. [3]
    • Both needles should be going through the loop at this point.
  4. Next, bring the working yarn up and over the left-hand needle again. Pull it through the loop on the needle and allow the loop to slip off of the right-hand needle and onto the left-hand needle. [4]
    • You should now have 2 stitches on the left-hand needle: the slip knot (which counts as 1 cast on stitch) and the cast on stitch you just made.
  5. Make the number of stitches required for your pattern. If you are just practicing, then make a row of 20 or more cast on stitches. You can knit across the row and create a practice swatch, or keep knitting and make it into a scarf.

    Tip : Be careful not to cast on the stitches too tightly. The stitches should be snug on the needle, but still easy to move back and forth. [5]

    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Knitting the Knit Stitch

PDF download Download Article
  1. Hold the needle with the stitches on it in your right hand and the empty needle in your left hand. [6] Then, push the tip of the left-hand needle into the first cast on stitch in the row on the right-hand needle. [7]
    • Only push the tip through the stitch by about 1 ⁄ 2  in (1.3 cm). This is plenty of needle to work with.
  2. Bring the yarn up and over the end of the needle after inserting it into the cast on stitch. Wrap the yarn going from the front to the back of your work. [8]
    • Make sure to hold the working yarn taut as you do this.
  3. Use the left-hand needle to pull this new loop though the cast on stitch. Allow the cast on stitch to slip off the end of the right-hand needle as you do so. [9]
    • Now you should have 1 new stitch on the left-hand needle.
  4. Go through the same sequence for each cast on stitch in the row. When you get to the end of the row, you will have transferred all of the stitches from the right-hand needle to the left-hand needle. [10]
    • If you want to continue working in the knit stitch across all your rows, transfer the needle with the stitches on it back to your right hand. Then, repeat the knit stitch sequence for all of the stitches in the next row.

    Tip : Knitting across all rows is called the garter stitch . The knit stitch is also a part of many more advanced stitches that you can try left-handed, such as the brioche stitch , waffle stitch, and the rice stitch.

    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Modifying Other Knitting Skills

PDF download Download Article
  1. Purl by inserting the left-hand needle into the front of the stitch. The purl stitch is just like the knit stitch, except you insert the needle going from back to front instead of from front to back. Transfer the needle with the stitches on it to your right hand and hold the empty needle in your left hand. Then, insert the needle through the first stitch going from back to front, loop the yarn over the end of the needle, and pull through. [11]
    • Make sure that the yarn is in the front of your work before you begin purling.
    • Practice purling by working across 1 or more rows.

    Tip : You can knit the ribbed stitch by alternating between knit and purl stitches, such as by knitting 1 then purling 1 all the way across a row. Then, reverse the sequence for the next row.

  2. Cast off when you are finished with your project. Once you are done knitting, you will need to cast off or bind off your last row. To do this left-handed, hold the needle with the stitches in it in your right hand. Then, knit the first 2 stitches so they are on the left-hand needle. Use the right-hand needle to lift the first knit stitch over the second knit stitch. Then, knit 1 and lift the new first stitch over the stitch you just knit.
    • Continue to do this to the end of the row.
  3. Most patterns are written in a way that it does not matter which hand is your dominant hand. However, if you do encounter instructions meant for right-handed knitters, simply reverse them. Focus on knitting pattern’s stitch sequence instructions and change any mention of right or left needles to its opposite.
    • Try watching left-handed video tutorials and following left-handed patterns until you get the hang of reversing a right-handed pattern’s instructions.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I knit Fair Isle left handed?
    Community Answer
    It's really easier to see this on a video. Check it out on Youtube.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8
  • Question
    How do I close a stitch?
    Community Answer
    You can close a stitch using a slip stitch. If you're unsure of how to do this, I suggest reading wikiHow's article on slip stitching.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How do I make a left-leaning decrease when knitting left-handed?
    Community Answer
    Skip crocheting one stitch in each row.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 4
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you are new to knitting, start with a basic scarf. This will give you plenty of practice with the basic knit stitch, then you will be ready for more complex projects.
        Thanks
        Helpful 27 Not Helpful 8
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Don't try to knit for the first time using furry or "eyelash" yarn! Although it's pretty, it is a lot harder to see what you're doing.
        Thanks
        Helpful 17 Not Helpful 2
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Knitting needles
      • Yarn
      • Pattern or knitting book (optional)

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Finish Knitting
      How to
      Knit a Scarf on a Loom
      How to
      Knit a Blanket on a Loom
      How to
      Cast Off (Bind Off) Knitting
      The Easiest Way to Finger Knit: A Full Beginner's Guide
      How to
      Knit on a Loom
      How to
      Knit Socks on Circular Needles
      How to
      Finger Knit a Blanket
      How to
      Knit a Circle
      How to
      Change Yarn
      How to
      Cast On
      A Guide to Counting Knitting Rows: How to Measure Knit Stitches
      How to
      Knit an I Cord
      How to
      Arm Knit a Blanket
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      2. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      3. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      4. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhiKp9Y7cgM&feature=youtu.be&t=175
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhiKp9Y7cgM&feature=youtu.be&t=220
      7. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      8. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      9. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      1. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html
      2. ↑ https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit_diagrams.html

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 206,430 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Kimberly Maxson

        Oct 30, 2017

        "This article was helpful because I could write down how to knit and purl left handed. I watch videos and practice ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement