Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Left Handed Crafting in a Right Handed World

So I'm gathering from the comments on my last post that there are other left handers out there who craft who have problems with learning some crafts.

What kind of lefty are you? Do you do everything with your left hand? Are you somewhat ambidexterous and do things with both hands? Are there some things you can only do left handed and some things you can only do right handed? Let me reassure you that no matter what kind of lefty you are, you are not alone!

It's hard to learn things when you're left handed. I was a kid right before they stopped all that switching a kid from a lefty into a righty nonsense. When my first grade teacher asked my parents if they wanted her to teach me how to be a right hander, my mother told them right where they could stick that idea. Granted, learning to write was a torture, learning to use a pair of scissors was so awful I ended up learning right handed...I can go on and on. I'm sure you have stories of your own though. The end result is me; someone who can write and eat and do most crafty projects with her left hand, use scissors and knit right handed and is ambidextrous putting on make up. I have to set things up differently than right handers, but I get the job done. I have to go through a different learning process, but I usually figure it out (with a few more curse words).

I thin everyone, regardless of whether you are left or right handed can do any craft. We just have to find the way that works best for us. As long as you get the result you want who cares if you need to stand on your head or hop on one leg to do it (as long as you're ok with that). So left handers, if learning left handed isn't working, try right handed. And if that doesn't work, figure out a mixture of both. Craft without fear!!!!!!!!

14 comments:

Aunt Spicy said...

So I am not left handed, but according to all my coworkers who are...I write like a lefty and think like a lefty, I take it as a complement!

Mrs. Jelly Belly said...

I am not left handed, either, but my husband and my son are. More importantly, my mother is - and some of the things she taught me were taught to me left handed. I can thank her for (awkwardly) shooting pool left handed. Isn't that a nice skill for a mother to pass on to her children? LOL

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Great post! Thanks for coming over to my blog. Yours is very cute! I cut my finger off when I was 7 and just learning cursive, so I am naturally right handed but can write with my left hand too.

I wish I was left handed though because left handed people are more creative!

Have a great night!

Jen

Susie said...

I am not left-handed but my older daughter is and so is our new president. So, you are in good company:-)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving such sweet comments. I hope to see you back there soon:-)

Cassie said...

I'm a lefty but can do most things (except writing) right handed. Took me forever to learn to tie my shoes both my parents are righties. I bat, throw a ball, eat like a rightie not a lefty. But when I write I don't bend my wrist all wonky like most other lefties. I also knit left handed go figure.

Erika said...

Stopping by from SITS to say, hi!! I've perused all your posts and must say I gasped when I saw that picture of the lime and purple scarf from your first few knitting projects. That is beautiful!!! You make me want to try my left hand at knitting again (first time I think I got, maybe, three rows before I quit!). I think I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye on you!!

Oh, and Susie, I think something like half of all our presidents have been left handed!! Isn't that interesting?

Monica said...

I am a left hander in a right hander's world also!! I remember the left handed desks in high school. I could never use them comfortably because by high school I was so used to the right handed desk! Anyways, I am a little ambidextrous. I could write equally well with both hands till around grade 4. So lefty won!! WooHoo! My hubby is also a lefty!

Carrie Penny said...

I am not acutally left handed, but when I was in the 5th grade I got a really bad dog bite to my right hand and they didn't think I was ever going to be able to use my right hand properly. I had to learn how to write left handed and do everything reverse. I can write like a 3 year old with my left hand and I tend to eat occasionally or if I have a full hand I use my left.

It is a real pain in the butt to use your left hand. I really wish there were more things designed for a lefty. Down to pencil grips all things are really designed for a right hand.

Christy said...

My daughter is a lefty and she's just starting to learn to write. It's so hard to teach her because I can't just put my hand on top of hers to guide her. I'm glad, though, that no one will ever try to force her to be right-handed.

Anonymous said...

I'm not left handed, but you guys just amaze me. I love to watch lefties in action!

Lori said...

Thanks for stopping by...
Come back any time...
I'm not a lefty, but my sister is...

jubilee said...

I hear that left handed people are smarter. It seems to hold true - at least for the left handers I know.

The other thing is that when you can do things with either hand, you have built neuro pathways in the brain that others do not have. That can only be a good thing, right?!

mommy4life said...

I came over from SITS. I am not left handed but frequently change crafting directions to suit my personal tastes anyway...

Crazee Juls said...

I always WANTED to be left-handed! As a kid, I would sometimes try to pull it off...my 2nd grade teacher was certain that I had the worst handwriting ever...and there was no hope..until my mom bursted her bubble, and told her I was really right handed. True story. So, I'm proud of your mom for embracing your left-handedness...because my mom sure didn't embrace my "wanna-be" left handedness. :-)