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I am going to start my 9 year old granddaughter on a sewing machine this weekend. Is there anything I need to do to be sure I dont mess her up since she is left handed and I am not. Like does she use her left foor for the pedal? Or do the 1/4 inch seam opposite.
I just want to respect that she uses her left hand.
As a left-hander myself, I use my right foot on the pedal. To be honest, I don't think using either foot matters. It's whatever is comfortable. When my arthritis/gout flares up in my right foot, I can use my left foot without any problem.
As for the 1/4" seam allowance, that will always remain on the right side of the needle as left handed 1/4" feet with or without guide don't exist ( I believe). You also want the bulk of your work to be on the left side of the needle as the throat/harp can only hold so much; so the bulk is out in the open and not in the throat space.
One of my dd's is left handed and she sews really well. I don't think the foot and hand have anything to do with it. One thing was the cutting, using the rotary cutter. It seems backwards but I never said use your right hand. She got used to it. She did a lot of projects for school with a box cutter. Yes I let them use a box cutter. lol. I bought her some left handed sissors but they were really tight. I might look into the Kai lefty's for her.
It will be fine:)
I don't have any trouble being left handed using the machine. It's a bit like driving a car in that you have to get used to the way the machine is built and where the various buttons and such are. I use my right foot for the foot pedal,make as for the gas pedal.
I agree with the comments from Lorie about using the rotary cutter. I tried to just use it right handed but I ended up converting it to a lefty. It still takes a lot of adjusting for me to use the ruler and cutter together - think awkward Jenny cutting and that's what I look like, lol, especially when I'm trying to do things the "proper way" and have most of the fabric being cut under my ruler - it works best if I can cut from either side of my table. I do a lot of shifting back and forth. ;)
Terri
I am also a left hander. I guess we get kind of used to switching things around in our head (it's a right handed world. lol) I am sure she will do great and enjoy spending time with you. FYI. if I remember correctly Jenny Doan is a lefty too. :D
I am left-handed too, although like many lefties, I have forced myself to do some things right handed. And for some weird reason I play all sports right handed. Don't know why. First time I picked up a golf club there was no doubt in my mind I was playing right handed. Ditto softball. Ditto volleyball.
I use my right foot on my machine pedal. Left foot feels weird. I suggest you watch her start walking. Which foot does she usually step out on? That is her dominant one and you could encourage her to try that side for the foot pedal. Just a little tip from an old RN.
Good information and tips everyone. Thank you.
Midge, you reminded me. I have a righthanded brother who plays all sports with his left hand.
I think the best thing is to show her what I do and watch to see what she does automatically. She did cutting with scissors tonight. She just used mine with her left hand although she uses lefty scissors at school. I am not ready for her to use a rotary cutter.
I am excited to see her use the machine. She is going to make herself and her mother a placemat
I'm also a leftie. No problems using a machine, only with a rotary cutter. She just needs to learn to cut from the left side of the ruler. and to position the bulk of the fabric on the right side when cutting. I do suggest that you buy a rotary cutter that is designed for both lefties and right-handed use--ie: the new OLFA Splash.
I'll echo - being a lefty myself. I don't think there's anything to be concerned about. Like Lorie said, cutting may be an issue, but I'd be leary of letting her near the rotary cutter for a bit. Otherwise, everything on the sewing machine should come completely normal to her.
I am a lefty. Someone already mentioned that rotary cutting will be in reverse. (I put the ruler on the left, and cut on the right to even out the edge. But after that, the ruler is on the right, and I cut on the left.) But the actual use of the sewing machine will be the same. I, too, use my right foot on the pedal.
Something else that will be different is pinning. I use the large, flat flower pins. I pin horizontally, but the flower is on the left, and I remove the pins with my left hand.
Depending upon the size of what I am piecing, I may have items to the left of the sewing machine (the container for cut threads, pin holder, small scissors, etc. Once I get to the point that I am sewing blocks and rows together, these items will be moved to the right so they are not pushed around by the material.
I don't remember being given a choice for right or left handed sewing. I too am left handed. The machines I learned on did not have colt pedals, the had things you pushed with your leg. I doubt I would let a nine year old use a rotary cutter, but when she is ready most Olfa's can be left or right handed. I used left handed one made by Martelli that is ergonomic and would not swap it for anything.
Have fun and watch out for your fingers! My grandgirl nearly sewed mine in her excitement!
Buy a left handed sewing machine???
When you show her how to do things, don't sit or stand next to her - sit or stand facing her.
Wasn't the sewing machine designed by a left handed person?
I have taught many to sew. Everyone was taught to use the machine the same way left or right handed. What I did notice because I would tell them to be comfortable and do what works for them. Is sometimes they would switch what was leading and which was following. My right hand tends to lead as my left follows, but they worked just opposite. Cutting is a different story unless they are ambidextrous. No real *right or wrong* way to use a sewing machine as far as left and right goes. Do what is comfortable.
Lots of lefties in here. I am one too. I never thought about how I use the sewing machine. It is designed one way and you can't turn it around to use it the other way, so you just adapt.
I do like to use the stick type rotary cutters, as I can cut with either hand.
I was trying to show someone how to bind a wall hanging and had to keep thinking backward as I do hand sew with the needle in my left hand.
I would think threading the machine would be the only time it would be a concern. I wonder what our lefties here on the Forum do when it comes to threading? Do they use their right hand or left? I'm so right-handed that it's really hard for me to use my left hand for much of anything.
I can't look at my machines right now, they are all packed away for remodeling, but don't we thread the needle from the left side?
Mine all thread from the front.
I'm a lefty but grew up in a right-handed world. As far as sewing, it never was an issue for me but being a lefty, I write right-handed, do sports right handed and use the scissors and rotary cutter right handed, but everything else is done left handed. I know, weird and what is really interesting is that when I colored in coloring books then and now (with the great nieces & nephews), I use my left hand, but I have always used my right hand to write.
I was taught to knit right handed in brownies when I was 9 or 10. When I decided to start again at 20 I tried for a week to re-learn the steps using the left-handed directions in a book and couldn't do it. I finally tried the right-handed instructions and it came back to me in just a few minutes, lol. I can't crochet right handed though and some patterns really don't work as I'm working the opposite direction, lol.
I use my right hand for the mouse on the computer too.
One frustrating right vs left hand item are small, inexpensive paring knives!
How's the placemat for Mom coming?
Terri
Another south-paw here :D .... never had a problem learning to sew on a sewing machine or hand sewing for that matter...she will adapt but like others have mentioned..use a rotary cutter that can be used left or right handed...other than that, everything else should be fine. Having grown up in a right-handed world, I did learn to do many things right-handed but almost everything, I can do with either hand. It's amazing how many south-paws hang out here!
Seriously - we have to have a club. ;) Yet another lefty here and honestly, I can say the sewing machine was never a problem for me. Not sewing and not threading the machine. Using the rotary cutter was and sometimes still is - but I think that is just nerves. Whenever I am about to cut into some really pretty fabric, I always get a little nervous about messing it up.
I wouldn't worry too much. Just show her what to do, and let her do it whatever way is comfortable. How nice that she will have this wonderful craft passed down to her from you.
She got all the first cutting of the size squares I had her cut. Tomorrow night I will have her use the design wall to put her squares how she wants them and we will do a bit more cutting if needed. Then we will start on the machine on Friday since we are home for the holiday - thank you for asking.Quote:
Originally Posted by sewlucky
To everyone - you are all amazing - all of this helps me be a bit more at ease. I just did not want to mess her up with right and left handed use.
I will post some pics on Friday
As a lefty, I would agree with all the above comments. I use right foot on the pedal, probably because I drive and that feels 'normal'. As far as cutting, let her get the tool in her hand and figure out what is right for her (no pun intended). I have a left handed Gingher rotary cutter, but also use a Fiskar - which feels ok too.
front to back on later machines. early machines I believe went left to right, been a long time since I had one of those.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vonnie
Mine thread front to back...Quote:
Originally Posted by Vonnie
Lefty here too. Don't worry about it. Leftys are used to adapting to a right-handed world. It is more important that you are teaching her.
I use my left hand!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing
I'm tempted to get one for the classroom, just in case I have a left handed student.
I'm left handed and don't have a left handed sewing machine. In fact, I didn't even know there was such a thing.
I just had to chime in that I'm a lefty too! WOW!! there's alot of us here!
I'm a lefty and do everything right handed except cutting and hand stitching.
Buy her a pair of LH scissors, and a rotary cutter that can be used either way, and she'll be fine.
Oh, and watch a you tube video or two on left hand rotary cutting strips etc., because she will be cutting from right to left, not left to right