Sewing is a means of attaching objects by stitching them together and giving room to your body’s comfort and adaptation. It is a process that is easy for the left-handed with the help of regular sewing machines; you’ve got all you need to tackle sewing challenges.
To help your curiosity as to if left-handed can sew, continue reading as we bring you the necessary details to assist in the sewing process with tips and ways to sew.
Can Left-Handed People Sew?
The aspect of sewing is one thing that is easy and adaptable for a left-handed. You’re able to work with your fabric and needle and work with your body’s comfort with your right hand to hold your ruler and your left hand for cutting which seems quite challenging; given this, all you need is continuous practice and maintained focus.
Right-handed or Left-handed, we all have the right to do many things, including sewing; all you need to do is get adapted to the sewing world.
Do You Sew Left to Right?
Of course, it is an essential guide that, as left-handed, your sewing direction is from left to right. You have the fabric held with the right hand and the needle on the left.
How Do You Sew Left-Handed?
Lefties tend to be the best at creativity. As a left-handed, you’re expected to sew from left to right following the general sewing steps:
Sewing Materials: Fabric, Needle, Thread, Wax, Iron, and Scissors.
Step 1: Thread your needle
Cut the thread to about 20’’ and trim one end diagonally to fit well into the needle. Hold the needle between your thumb and insert the thread end through the needle opening. Pull through the thread and secure the threads by knotting the thread ends.
Step 2: Wax the thread
To strengthen the thread, reduce tangling, soften it, and make it easy to use. Across the wax, pull the thread and allow the wax cut into blocks. Continue doing this in the reversed direction for an even distribution.
Once the thread becomes stiff, fold it into a muslin (scrap) length and press with a low-heat iron to make the wax melt and meld with the thread.
Step 3: Wear a thimble
A thimble is worn on the finger to insert and pull the needle. It helps to protect your finger from getting injured when using the needle.
Step 4: Get Started – Sewing
It is ideal to have something to hold onto while you’re sewing. You can use a pillow or a lap desk that helps you to sit and work comfortably without stress or strain. As left-handed, ensure you hold your fabric to the right hand and insert the needle using the left.
The following are the basic ways of sewing with the left hand:
– Slip stitch
Fold the top edge of your fabric and pin it to the other part. Then, insert the needle from the top layer wrong side, ready to fold; with the needle pointing through the right, take a small stitch in the fabric close to the fold and insert the needle into half fold end below the just tucked stitch.
Slide the needle to the end fold with about ¼ inch. Then, bring the needle out through the fold and pull through. Take another small stitch in the fabric and continue to the end of the fabric, then knot.
– Back Stitch
Draw a straight line on both edge surfaces and pin them together away from the line. Then, start your sewing from the left underside by inserting the needle through the fabric and a stitch away from the edge.
Keep pulling till the thread knots locks in place and reverse. Then, move forward by dipping the needle perpendicular to the other side of the tail with the needle parallel to the fabric. Continue sewing till you get to the end of the fabric, and ensure that your hand stays parallel to the work and your needle to the fabric.
– Catch/Cross Stitch
Create an X-like design on one edge of the fabric from left to right. Take a small stitch about ¼ inch down from the hem edge and another in the fabric at the hem edge. Insert the needle to point left while you keep stitching from left to right to create an X-like stitch. Continue till you get to the end of the fabric.
– Felling/Hemming Stitch
Fold the fabric edge. Below the fold, insert the needle, and pull through the end. With the same motion and no tension, continue till the end of the fabric.
– Buttonhole/Blanket Stitch
From the back side of the fabric, insert the needle an inch away from the edge. Then, bring the needle around behind the needle, and slide underneath the needlepoint.
Push the needle through the fabric to form a knit stitch at the edge. If it is a buttonhole, the stitches should be kept together.
– Running Stitch
From one end, insert the needle and pull through to form a dashed line (—). Continue and ensure the stitches are even in length or with tiny stitches in front and longer at the back of the fabric.
Step 5: Finishing
Generally, the fabric should be used on the opposite side, and the finishing should be done by knotting the thread. Sew backstitches (about 3 inches) on your fabric not too tight.
Then knot the thread to hold it to the fabric firmly; putting your finger into the thread loop and draw the circle to make about an inch, then insert the needle into the loop, wrap twice and pull through – as you do this, the knot slides to the thread base.
Can You Convert A Right-Handed Sewing Machine Into A Left-Handed One?
No, it is impossible to convert a right-handed sewing machine into a left-handed one. Take a look at this:
- A right-hand sewing machine can’t be flipped for backward usage
- A difficult situation arises when the fabric or item is moved towards the left by squeezing the fabric in the neck of the sewing machine.
The above are the struggles of a left-handed in the sewing world, but you can tackle this through continuous practice, and regular use of the machine will help you get a perfect way of using the machine.
On the regular machines, most left-handed can perfectly sew on them but find using the rotary cut challenge. To fit into the right-hand sewing world and overcome the stress of forceful adaptation, several left-handed machines are manufactured by different companies. Here are a few sewing machine tips for you:
Sewing Machine Tips For Left-Handed People
Using a sewing machine as a left-handed can be of benefit when you follow the tips:
1. Change The Direction Of The Blade On Your Rotary Cutter
Rotary cutters are sometimes automatically set up for right-handed people, but if it is possible to change the blade’s direction to the opposite side, then do to have a perfect and straight line cutting.
For a straight line cutting, the blade is directed between the handle and the ruler for a right-handed while the handle is between the blade and the ruler for a left-handed if the rotary cutter is one with the blade on the left side.
However, a left-handed can adapt to a rotary cutter meant for a right-handed.
2. Learn More Online
As it is much easier to learn from people with the same POV as you, you can watch videos made by left-handed people online – Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram- and follow the methods they used to become more adapted to a sewing machine.
3. Get Left-Handed Scissors
There are several left-handed designed scissors out there, but they are expensive and rare to find. You either adapt to things or try to replace them, but you should get a left-handed scissor to cut your fabric to make it easier.
The left-handed scissors has its blade reversed such that the upper blade is on the left to allow a visible line cutting. The squeezing action of the hand pushes the blades together to cut perfectly instead of pushing them apart, like when using blunt scissors.
4. Take A Rest
If sewing becomes frustrating and annoying, it is best to rest, relax and try again, but slowly and gradually, you’re sure to understand perfectly. Sewing is meant to be fun and exciting, but once it gets boring, it is best to leave, and there isn’t a big deal since it’s just for a while – Quit and relax!
5. Ease Your Way
For the best sewing experience, it is ideal that you ease your way into sewing. This is just you picking up the small, easy-to-do, and manageable tasks such as cutting loose threads, fixing buttons, or even knitting.
Want something more visual? The video below is going to be of great help;
Conclusion
Remember that being left-handed, you have the same sewing ability as one who uses their right-hand no matter the sewing type. You can use several means to help you become perfect, such as available resources, learning from experienced people, and continuous practicing.
Be sure to get comfortable and enjoy the learning process. The more you get to build your sewing skills, the more abilities you unfold.
Sewing is one thing you do to relax you!