I’m rather hoping with your help I can find out a little something I’ve pondered on off and on for years. Nothing major, just a little curiosity.
I think I’ve mentioned the Knit and Stitch Group I started a couple of years ago in our little village. It started off at my place, outgrew the parking spaces, moved to the larger home of another member and out grew that and we’ve ended up in our new, quite swish, straw bale Village Hall. If you look at the picture on the link you can see the round Meeting Room where we now get together every month. Last night we had the best attendance yet!
We didn’t want to limit to a ‘Stitch and Bitch’ type knitting group, we embrace stitches of all sorts, knitting and crochet, needlepoint and cross stitch, patchwork and applique. We are pretty cosy in our round room, and very nearly lift the roof off with our nattering – in fact last night the Yoga teacher had to put her head round the door to shush us so they could get into their ‘cool down’ zone…. woops!
We had a crochet class last night as quite a few members were keen to learn, or brush up their skills and this is where my question comes in. I have taught knitting over the years, and although I am left handed I knit in just the same way as right handed people so it’s never been a problem. But crochet is a different matter. I just don’t do it like anyone else I know. I was taught by my left-handed grandmother, I don’t know who taught her. So it was left to Claire the Crochet Queen to impart her knowledge to the group. However, I have found that if someone struggles with the conventional method, my way seems to work. My solitary pupil was going great guns the unconventional way by the end of the evening. The thing is, it doesn’t actually look any different to the ‘real thing’ and seems so much more logical.
So, I’d love to know if anyone else does it my way..is anyone else weird like me?!
This is the ‘proper’ way…
…the left hand holds the work and the left index finger feeds the yarn round the hook.
For the life of me I can’t do that , I get in such a tangle. Inexplicably my grandmother’s ‘left-handed’ way does everything with the right hand, holding the yarn as in knitting…
I can’t be the only one, can I?
I love to find out!
And we had a new member last night, the lovely Gabriella Buckingham, who blogs here, sells here, and learns to crochet in a straw bale building!
Aah, I’ve spotted a small dog, hinting that it must be time for , whisper it, w.a.l.k.i.e.s. and by the look of the gathering clouds, I’d better do it quickly…
Looking forward to your comments!
x
P.S. I’ve just found out I’ve been nominated for the Dorset Cereals Little Blog Award! It would be SO lovely if you could vote for me, there’s a voting button at the top of the right hand side bar. Thank you so much x
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The top photo is brilliant!
That’s a good question … I can crochet but I have absolutely no idea how I hold the hook and thread – but take more notice next time I do it!
Celia
x
That is exactly how I do it- self taught- the very basics only- but can’t see how else one could comfortably crochet!And I’m right handed…great Hall.
How funny Penny, I can’t imagine crocheting your way! It looks almost like you are knitting, I think your way looks like you need more intelligence!! xox Funny how we all develop what’s comfy for us. I recently taught a colleague to knit and it was so funny how uncomfortably she held the needles, I guess I forgot how natural it now seems to me!
Love the idea of a round room of raving crafters x
Lovely picture of your daughter and Higgins.
I can knit and crochet either handed; at least I used to be able to do so, but not as you do it.
Thanks for the links to Gabriella, more time spent doing nothing for me then…
I do it the ‘normal’ way. I can’t quite grasp how your doing it in that photo as the hook isn’t being held. How do you pass it in and out? Do you continually pick it up and let it go?
Kier x
Bellabeandme: It’s exactly like knitting. I couldn’t photo myself so had to use my ‘student’! Hook in, yarn round hook and pull thru, sooo simple!
I’m left handed and have been sat here for 5 mins trying to work out how I do crochet! Still none the wiser (my hook and yarn are elsewhere)
Love the photo with Higgins peeping.
Carol xx
Oh, my. I think this is one thing in which the goatmother is actually ‘proper’ for once. Who knew? Myself, I always say whatever gets the job done is the ‘proper’ way!
At last! I’ve never felt able to crochet in public because of my strange technique. My right-handed mum tried teaching me to knit and crochet when I was about 7, frustration all round ! I went off on my own and found my own way. I also knit in the usual right-handed way but until now I have never seen anyone wield a hook in the same way as me. Maybe it’s time to go public. I feel much better knowing I’m not the only one. Thanks for sharing this. Michelle
Wow you crochet just like I knit! It looks so cool. I am right handed and seem to be able to crochet quicker than knit because i can hook the yarn from my left hand where as in knitting I am a thrower and drop the right needle. Love the little doggy hole in the fence, such a great idea 🙂
You’re definitely the only one! Although right-handed I also crochet in a similar way to you but I also knit in a rather unorthodox way as well (but it works). I do a few things in a more left hand than right hand way so maybe I should have been a “leftie” but have no recollection of being reprogrammed when young.
Hope Higgins enjoyed his walk.
Chris
xx
You are definitely not the only one. When I taught myself to crochet in my teens that is exactly how I used to do it – just like knitting. After several years of not picking up a crochet hook I had to re-learn and now I do it the more conventional way as that was how it appeared it books. But I tend to alternate now using either method. I guess it doesn’t matter as long as it works.
i’ve been crochet’ing since the ’70’s and i’ve never seen that. That being said, I am a firm believer that there is no such thing as The Wrong Way. If you achieve the desired results, and it’s comfortable for you, then rock on!!
Hello Penny!
Love the top photo, it is so cute!
After teaching three courses of crochet classes in the last year I can tell you that I have seen one person out of 21 crochet holding it like knitting! Most commonly people hold it “normally!” or like a knife and fork until they get sick of me telling them to hold it like a pen! I was quietly interested in the lady who appeared to be knitting her crochet, but she had been crocheting for ages so I didn’t say anything! :oD Same result, who cares!!! Have an ace weekend XXXXX
Well – I can’t do it either way, so I’ll have to come along to your group and you can show me – I expect I would be ‘weird’ like you! Lol.
Your group sounds just the perfect knitting group Penny. Wish I lived just that bit nearer so I could pop along. Maybe one day.
Not sure if there is a right or wrong as if you get the results who cares. I had a group of adults to teach once from a disabled centre. One lady had been in a coma after a brain tumour and had to learn everything left handed. She held the hook in that hand and did everything that way, all her work looked the same as mine in the right hand. My heart sunk when one lady was wheeled in who had no use of her hands. Three hours teaching someone who couldn’t hold a hook was beyond me. She was really happy to drink tea and just be part of it all though.
X
Hi Penny! I love the first funny photo! Your crocheting looks really interesting – would be nice to see better how you do it! I have seen left handed to crochet with left hand but never like that.
Have a great week!
xxx Teje
Ps. Good luck – I have voted you!
Higgins is adorable, I have read all the way back to the first post he appears in. Bless him. I am a life long Sausage dog fan. I had two Standard Wire haireds when I was growing up and a red Standard of my own when I first left home. I miss my sausage! I want one!!!!!
Hi Penny, I crochet like you. I taught myself out of a book (or two), and just could not master the traditional way. My left-handed grandmother tried to teach me when I was about 11, but I couldn’t get the tension right.
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I hold the needle and yarn your way, Penny, but my stitches don’t produce work like that…off to youtube for some tutorials, though if they’re for t’other way yarning I’m not sure they’ll fix me!