Teaching a Left Handed Child to Knit

[Pleiades45]

My 5 year old has decided he wants me to show him how to knit. Great, I called Santa and Knitting 'sticks' and wool are on the way...

I've just had this horrible thought. He's left handed, do I need to swap the needles over? I've no idea how a left handed person holds their needles. Shame on me...

Anyone got any advice about teaching a child to knit?

not a child but during my last year at uni for some reason me and my housemates went through a bit of a knitting phase. 3 of us were knitters and 1 had never learnt despite attempts when she was younger. She was a 'leftie' and between us we managed to teach her. As far as I remember we taught her the right handed way and she managed to pick it up ok.

Sit facing each other rather than side by side.
So that your right hand is in front of his left hand mirror like.

I'm a leftie and knit the regular way. Was taught by my mum and nan when I was about five and I don't think I was any more awkward that my right handed siblings. I still knit regularly now the 'right' way round.

I knit, I'm left handed but not sure if I knit right or left. I move the wool with my right hand. Dont remember having too much trouble learning years ago.

I'm left handed and was taught to knit by my Granny many moons ago. I knit the "normal" way - wool in right hand - and don't have any problems but this is how I've always known how you knit. My Gran wouldn't have given a second thought to my being left handed!

No matter what you do, you will never be as awesome as my Gran.
She was right handed and her only daughter was left handed.
SO, she taught her self to knit left handed so she could teach her daughter how to knit. My Gran was beyond awesome.

I'm left handed and several people tried, and failed, to teach me to knit "back-to-front"

Earlier this year a family firiend stood behind me and showd me how to knit like a right-hander. I've done a blanket and I'm just finishing my first cardi. So just teach him the right-hand way, I'm sure it will be fine

Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to teach him to knit right handed. I actually did consider trying to knit left handed myself but I think enough left handers are flourishing using the right handed method. It might even improve his control of his right hand.

Pleiades45 - thats a great idea. (I was just very impressed by my Gran )

I find the easiest way to teach a child to knit is for you both to knit the same thing. With a same-handed person, you sit side-by-side. With an opposite handed person, you can sit opposite one another.

What Missnevermind said :)

I'm left handed and knit. My grandmother taught me when I was very young using the mirror method

Oh hell, bloody phone. Basically I now knit right handed after I forgot and my mum re-taught me. Don't think its made any difference.

Really? From experience I'd say: don't. Or find a left-handed knitter and delegate, delegate, delegate.

I'm still scarred from trying to teach my child to use the Knitting Nancy, nfw would I venture into proper knitting territory. But she has specifically asked for a sewing kit for Christmas, so it's going to happen all over again. Wibble. My neighbours will prob have social services and the Noise Nuisance team on speed dial. [head in hands]

PollyMorfic, I'm so afraid that I'll have a similar experience.

My own mother was an experienced knitter, seamstress, etc. There was no form of needlework she couldn't do. I remember her teaching me and it was really just a 'part of life', it just happened, no messing. Infact, theGirlwithnoname, she was awesome too.

I fear I will struggle to retain my patience but hope that his enthusiasm mixed with my desire to keep some form of needlework going will pull us through this. I've bought some multi coloured wool, and I'm hoping he will be able to use it to make a scarf. Hope this isn't too ambitious but he loves scarves and I think this will motivate him further.

Wish me luck...