January 2017 - The Left Handed Knitter

Left handed M1R increase (make 1 right)

The left handed M1R increase (make 1 right) is very similar in execution to the M1L increase. The two differences with the M1R increase are that the initial movement of the stitch is performed with the tip of the right hand needle instead of the tip of the left hand needle and the leg in which your left hand needle is inserted into to make the stitch. As you can imagine these simple changes accounts for the different slant of the increase.

Step 1 of the Left Handed M1R increase

(Click on any image to enlarge)

make 1 right-finding the bar that will be used as the increase

The first step is to locate the bar that runs horizontally between the two stitches that will have the increase. It is easy to find this bar if you pull the two needles slightly apart.

Step 2

Next, using the tip of your RIGHT needle, insert the needle from front to back into the horizontal bar.

Step 3

Then, from here on out the rest is just like making a normal knit stitch. The above photo shows, “In through the back door”.

Step 4

Next you will yarn over or “around the back”.

Step 5

Finally, “out through the window and off jumps Jack!”

The Left Handed M1R Increase completed

In the above photo you can see the left handed M1R increase with the slant leaning to the right. Also in the photo you can see a right leaning decrease (k2tog) left over from a previous post.

To recap: The left leaning increase is made using the tip of the left needle and inserting the needle from front to back, then making the stitch by inserting the needle from right to left in the back leg (the leg closest to you).

The right leaning increase is made using the tip of the right needle and also inserting the needle from front to back, but then making the stitch by inserting the needle into the leading leg as with any knit stitch.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief tutorial. Please leave a comment below. If you have any questions, you can also leave those in the comments and I will get back to you shortly.

As always, if you have ideas for future posts feel free to leave me a comment below or send an email.

Happy Knitting!

-Karen Lynn

Left Handed m1L increase (make 1 increase)

Unlike decreases, there are multiple ways to make increases in knitting. Just like the decreases, the increases have directionality and become part of the look of the final piece. Since there is directionality there are two separate increases. Today we will look at the left handed m1L increase otherwise known as make 1 left increase. In the next post we will look at the left handed m1L increase’s counterpart, the m1R.

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

When creating an increase, in this case, the left handed m1, you will be putting an increase inbetween two stitches and you will be using the bar that runs horizontally between the two stitches.

Reading Knitting Charts – Left Handed Knitting

I want to take a break today from increases and decreases to show you how to read a knitting chart. Reading knitting charts is so much easier than written directions. I prefer a chart 100 times more than written directions for two reasons. First, I am a visual learner so I find it quite easy to look at my work and then look at the pattern and see if they match. If my work doesn’t look like the pattern then I know I have made an error. Also, I find it cumbersome to try and follow along when there are lengthy written directions. I easily become lost and become frustrated because I spend more time trying to figure out where I am in the pattern than I do knitting. Second, as a lefty I can read the chart left to right and I do not have to change anything! Continue reading “Reading Knitting Charts – Left Handed Knitting”

The Left Handed Central Double Decrease (ccd)

The Left handed central double decrease, abbreviated cdd, is a decrease of two stitches. It is most often used at the points of leaves. It is a wonderful stitch to know as it makes the points of the leaves look professional. The reason it looks so beautiful is that the left and right stitch hide behind the middle stitch showing a continuity of the middle stitch from the rows below. I found this stitch tricky because all the tutorials I found were for right handed knitter, not left handed knitters. Have no fear, I spent way too much time figuring this out for myself and I gladly share it here with you today.

I warn you this is a multistep stitch, but well worth the time and effort.

If you know knitting terms here are the steps. If you are unsure about the steps, please follow along below with a picture tutorial and short video at the end.

Slip first stitch as if to purl, slip second stitch as if to purl, put both stitches back on the right hand needle and slip together through the back loops. Knit the third stitch. Pass the first and second stitch together over the knit stitch. Continue reading “The Left Handed Central Double Decrease (ccd)”