Left-handed knitting uses the same needles and yarn, but you hold them in the opposite hands
If you are left-handed, you can knit using the exact same needles and yarn as right-handed knitters. The difference is which hand holds the working needle and which hand moves the yarn. Left-handed knitting is not a separate technique — it is a mirror image of right-handed knitting. You will follow the same stitch patterns and produce the same finished fabric; you are straightforward reversing the hand positions.
Most knitting instruction assumes a right-handed person. Video tutorials, in-person classes, and printed diagrams show the right hand doing the active work. As a left-handed knitter, you have three practical paths: learn by mirroring what you see, use left-handed instruction materials, or adapt right-handed instructions to your hands. Each approach works; the choice depends on how you learn best.
Key Takeaways
- Left-handed knitting holds the working needle in your left hand and the yarn-holding needle in your right hand, the opposite of right-handed knitting.
- You can knit left-handed using standard needles and yarn with no special equipment — the needles themselves have no handedness.
- Most knitting videos and classes teach right-handed technique, so you will need to either mirror the movements or find left-handed-specific resources.
- Written stitch patterns work the same way for both hands; the difference is which hand performs each step.
- Some left-handed knitters choose to learn right-handed technique to access more instruction materials and knitting groups.
The two ways to hold needles: English and Continental
Knitting has two main needle-holding styles, and both work for left-handed knitters. English style (also called throwing) holds the yarn in your right hand and uses your right hand to move the yarn around the needle. Continental style (also called picking) holds the yarn in your left hand and uses your left hand to position the yarn. Right-handed knitters typically use English style, but left-handed knitters often find Continental style more natural because the yarn is already in their dominant hand.
If you are left-handed and learning from a right-handed instructor, Continental style may feel less like mirroring and more like a natural fit. Your left hand holds the yarn and does the fine motor work; your right hand straightforward moves the needle. Many left-handed knitters report that Continental style feels faster and less tiring because they are not fighting their natural hand dominance. You can also learn English style as a left-handed knitter — it straightforward means your left hand throws the yarn instead of your right — but you will be watching a right-handed person and reversing every movement.
How to mirror right-handed instruction videos and diagrams
The simplest way to learn left-handed knitting is to watch a right-handed video or diagram and do the opposite. If the video shows the right hand moving forward, your left hand moves forward. If the diagram shows yarn wrapped around the right needle, you wrap it around your left needle. This works because knitting is symmetrical — the stitch itself does not care which hand makes it.
To practice mirroring, start with the basic cast-on and the knit stitch. Watch a right-handed tutorial, pause it, and perform the same movement with your hands reversed. Your left hand will hold the working needle (the one with stitches on it), and your right hand will hold the empty needle you are knitting onto. After a few rows, the mirrored movements become automatic. The hardest part is the first 10 minutes; after that, your hands learn the pattern.
Mirroring works best for visual learners and for people who are comfortable with trial and error. You will occasionally get stuck on a stitch that looks confusing when reversed, but you can pause, think through the logic (yarn goes over the needle, needle goes through the loop), and figure it out. Many left-handed knitters use this method and never need anything else.
Finding left-handed knitting instruction materials
Several knitting books and websites offer left-handed diagrams and videos. Ravelry.com, the largest knitting community site, has a left-handed section with patterns and tutorials. YouTube channels dedicated to left-handed knitting include "Left Handed Knitting" and "Nimble Needles," which show techniques from a left-handed perspective. Some printed books, such as "The Knitter's Book of Knowledge" by Debbie Bliss, include both right-handed and left-handed stitch diagrams.
Left-handed instruction materials are less common than right-handed ones, so your options are smaller. However, the basics are the same across all sources. Once you understand the cast-on, knit stitch, and purl stitch from a left-handed angle, you can read standard (right-handed) patterns and translate them yourself. The pattern itself — "knit 5, purl 2, decrease 1" — does not change; you just perform each stitch with your hands reversed.
Learning right-handed knitting as a left-handed person
Some left-handed knitters choose to learn right-handed technique. This sounds counterintuitive, but it has real advantages: you gain access to every knitting class, video, and book without translation, and you can knit with anyone in a group without confusion. Many left-handed knitters report that learning right-handed knitting took only a few extra hours of practice, and after that, they could follow any instruction without adaptation.
The trade-off is that right-handed knitting may feel awkward at first. Your non-dominant hand will be doing the fine motor work, which takes longer to build muscle memory. However, knitting is not a sport; speed is not the goal. If you are willing to spend an extra week or two learning, right-handed knitting opens every resource available. Some left-handed knitters learn both ways — left-handed for personal projects and right-handed for classes or group knitting.
Adapting patterns and reading charts as a left-handed knitter
Knitting patterns are written in a neutral way that works for both hands. A pattern that says "knit 3, purl 1" means the same thing whether you are right-handed or left-handed — you perform those stitches in order. The only place handedness matters is in stitch charts, which show a visual diagram of the pattern.
Stitch charts are drawn from the right-handed perspective: you read them from right to left on the first row, then left to right on the second row, and so on. As a left-handed knitter, you can read the chart the same way (which takes a moment of mental translation) or you can flip the chart horizontally so it reads naturally to you. Many knitting apps and websites let you flip charts for left-handed viewing. If you are working from a printed chart, you can photograph it, flip the image on your phone, and reference that instead.
What to expect when you start: common left-handed knitting challenges
The first challenge is finding needles that feel right. Circular needles and straight needles have no handedness — they work the same way for both hands. However, some needle styles (like bamboo needles with a slight curve) may feel more natural in one hand than the other. You may need to try a few different needle types before you find what works for you. This is normal and happens to right-handed knitters too.
The second challenge is reading instructions that assume right-handedness. A tutorial might say "hold the needle in your right hand" or "the yarn goes in your right hand." You will learn to automatically reverse these instructions, but the first few times feel clunky. After a few projects, you stop translating and just do it.
The third challenge is group knitting. If you join a knitting circle or class, you may be the only left-handed knitter. This is not a problem — you can sit at the end of a table so your elbows do not bump anyone — but you will not have someone next to you doing the same movements. Most knitting groups are welcoming and will help you adapt, and many have seen left-handed knitters before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special left-handed knitting needles?
No. Knitting needles have no handedness. The same straight needles, circular needles, and double-pointed needles work for both left-handed and right-handed knitters. You hold them differently, but the needles themselves are identical. Do not buy "left-handed needles" — they do not exist and are a marketing gimmick.
Can I use the same patterns as right-handed knitters?
Yes. Written patterns work the same way for both hands. The only adjustment is in stitch charts, which you can read as-is (with mental reversal) or flip horizontally on your phone or computer. The finished garment will look identical whether you knit it left-handed or right-handed.
Is left-handed knitting slower than right-handed knitting?
Not after you learn. Your speed depends on your practice and comfort, not your handedness. Some left-handed knitters knit faster than some right-handed knitters. The first few weeks may feel slower because your hands are learning, but that is true for any beginner.
Should I learn Continental or English style as a left-handed knitter?
Continental style often feels more natural for left-handed knitters because the yarn is already in your dominant hand. However, both styles work. Try Continental first; if it does not feel right, switch to English. There is no wrong choice.
What if I want to learn right-handed knitting instead?
You can. Many left-handed knitters learn right-handed technique to access more instruction and join knitting groups. It takes extra practice at first, but most people adapt within a few weeks. You can also learn both ways — left-handed for solo projects and right-handed for classes.