Today is International Left-Handed Day, and as I am left-handed, I do enjoy the fact that we get our own special day!
I’ve had many interactions over the years with other left-handed stitchers, and many have loved having me as a left-handed embroidery teacher. I have heard horror story after horror story of them being told by right-handed teachers how they cannot teach them anything. Can you imagine if I, as a left-handed teacher, said that to all the right-handers in my class? I’d never get invited back.
Right-handers regularly say “all left-handers need to do is sit opposite the teacher, and then they can do it”. Well, NO, actually.
NO.
In the world of embroidery, swapping from right-handed to left-handed is NOT always as simple as flipping or working in mirror image. Yes, sometimes that works just fine. But not always. Sometimes, turning the work 90 degrees or 180 degrees is the best solution. It is all to do with thread twist, and the mechanics of some stitches. The trick is knowing which answer works for which question.
Once at a craft show, I had my book The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion on display. A grumpy woman walked past, stopped, looked at the book and said accusingly, “There’s no need for a book like that!” I smiled and let her go on her uninformed way, standing strong in the knowledge that there IS a need for “a book like that”. No, she might not need it, but from the feedback I’ve had from so many grateful left-handed stitchers, it DEFINITELY has been appreciated by many stitchers.
My favourite objection to the book though, would have to be the one where the person thought it was ridiculous that I should think that I could dictate to all left-handers that this was the correct way to stitch. Um, did I say that? Or, like all other embroidery book authors, did I just present *A* way to stitch, in this case *A* way that just might work better for left-handers than right-handed instructions?
Who would have known that a left-handed embroidery book could be so controversial?!
Other embroidery books MIGHT have a section for left handed embroiderers, but usually only basic stitches are presented. This book is a treasure trove of stitches that we left handed stitchers can now learn to do the correct way. It is the best embroidery book that I own. The steps are all pictured clearly and are easy to follow. THANK YOU Yvette Stanton for recognizing the need and creating this embroiderer’s bible. W.S. Massachusetts
I get it! No more confusing translations from right to left hand. Even the very complicated stitches are crystal clear! Where has this book been all my life? If you are a lefty, you owe it to yourself to get this book. M. Dilworth
The sheer quantity of written and in-person thanks that I have received tell me that many left-handed people really do love The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion. Ignoring the knockers, I am so pleased to know that I have opened the way to embroidery for many left-handers. It makes it very rewarding to know that because of something I have done, someone else can now do something that previously had defeated them. 🙂
Happy International Left-Handed Day!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
My Mom *loves* your left-handed book, it never gets to sit in the bookshelf, it is always beside her on the couch.
That’s the thing, Jeanine, it’s only a minority who think the book is stupid. 🙂 Those who have it generally love it.
Your book is absolutely marvelous and I refer to it all the time. I have developed more confidence in myself with regard to embroidery by using your book. I have also referred other left handed people to your book and I plan to encourage a teacher of a pilot project I am doing with EGA to incude it in her bibliography. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you Barbara. 🙂
I wrote a few times on my own and other blogs about left-handed embroidery resources and sometimes experienced the same negative attitude. Apparently some left handers have some secret skill that enables them to directly ‘translate’ right hand diagrams to left handed stitches. It’s something I have some difficulty with though. So while I do use traditional right-handed books (it does get a little easier with experience) I’m so glad I bought a copy of your left-handed book as well. It’s a very valuable addition to my Embroidery library 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Nicole. It’s interesting to hear that you’ve experienced that same negative attitude. We lefties must stick together. 🙂
I daresay that those who are so set in their mind your book isn’t needed are also part of the self-appointed needlework police who perpetuate other myths and made-up rules about needlework. I only write left handed, but my DS is mostly left handed, and seeing the troubles he has had learning to do some things (even cars seem to be set up for right handers), I bought your book. If I ever find someone who laments their inability to learn needlework due to being left-handed, I’ll gladly give it to them. I had always heard to use a mirror when translating right to left hand, but it seems a bit clumsy (more than a bit?) to juggle all that and your needlework. or knitting.