Guide
Left-Handed Crochet: How to Learn and Follow Right-Handed Patterns
By Notion Creative Art · Updated
If you are left-handed, you can learn crochet just as well as anyone else. The craft is about the same movements of a hook and yarn, and those can be done with either hand. The main difficulty is that almost every tutorial and pattern is written and filmed for right-handed crocheters. This guide explains how to hold the hook and yarn, why most written patterns work without changes, and what to flip when a pattern or a chart is directional.
Do I need to crochet left-handed?
You have two choices, and both are valid. You can learn with the hook in your right hand and the yarn in your left, the way most tutorials show it, or you can mirror everything and hold the hook in your left hand. Some left-handed people crochet right-handed because the hand that holds the yarn does a lot of the controlling. Others find mirroring more natural. Try both for a few days with a simple chain and a few single crochets, and keep the one that feels more comfortable.
How to hold the hook and yarn left-handed
- Hold the hook in your left hand, with a pencil grip or a knife grip, whichever feels best.
- Hold the work and the yarn in your right hand. Pass the yarn over your fingers to control the tension, just as a right-handed crocheter does with the left hand.
- Work from left to right along a row, instead of right to left. After each row, turn the work as you would normally.
- The movements, such as yarn over, pull through and insert hook, are the same, mirrored.
Why most written patterns work as they are
Written crochet patterns describe stitches and their order, and not the direction you move your hand. "Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 (18)" gives the same stitches whichever hand holds the hook. So most amigurumi patterns, which are written in rounds with stitch counts, can be followed exactly as written. Our patterns, such as those in the crochet patterns for beginners list, are written this way. Your finished piece is the mirror image of a right-handed crocheter's, which is usually not noticeable, because most toys are symmetrical.
What you may need to flip
| Item | What changes for a left-handed crocheter |
|---|---|
| Charts for rows | Read the first row from left to right instead of right to left, and alternate from there. The chart is the mirror image. |
| Charts for rounds | Work clockwise instead of counterclockwise. |
| Garments with shaping | Pieces that have a left and a right side, such as a front panel or a sleeve cap, come out mirrored. Swap the instructions for the left and the right side. |
| Asymmetric details | A pocket, a bow, a side opening or a motif placed on one side will be on the opposite side. Decide where you want it and mirror if needed. |
| Instructions with "right" and "left" | Read them as written, and check which side the pattern means (for example, the wearer's right). |
If you are not sure how to read a pattern, our guide on how to read a crochet pattern explains the notation, and the page on how to read crochet symbols and charts shows how to read a chart.
Learning from right-handed tutorials
- Look for videos that say "left-handed" in the title. Many crocheters make them, and they show the movements mirrored for you.
- If a video is right-handed, you can play it on a device in front of a mirror, or flip the video if your player has a mirror option. This makes the hand movements match your own.
- Sit opposite a right-handed friend or a family member, and mirror what they do, if that is possible.
- Practice with the written steps in our guides, such as how to single crochet, and mirror each instruction.
- Start with a simple swatch before a project, so the movements become automatic.
Common questions and problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| The tutorial shows the wrong hand | Use a left-handed tutorial, a mirror or a flipped video. |
| The piece is a mirror image of the photo | For symmetrical toys, this does not matter. For pieces with one-sided details, swap the instructions for the left and the right. |
| Tension feels odd | Try holding the yarn over a different finger, and give yourself a few days of practice. |
| A chart looks backward | Read it as a mirror image: rows from left to right, and rounds clockwise. |
| Left-handed hooks are hard to find | You do not need a special hook. Standard hooks work in either hand. |
You can start right now with our guide on how to crochet for beginners, mirroring each step. When you are ready for a toy, choose a symmetrical one from our free crochet patterns, which makes the first project easy.
Quick answers
- Can left-handed people crochet?
- Yes. Crochet uses a hook and yarn, and both can be held in either hand. Some left-handed crocheters hold the hook in the left hand, and some learn right-handed.
- Do I need left-handed crochet patterns?
- Usually not. Written patterns list the stitches and their order, which are the same for both hands. You may only need to flip charts and instructions that depend on the left or the right side.
- Do I need a special left-handed hook?
- No. Crochet hooks are the same for both hands, so a standard hook works.
- Which direction do I work a round if I am left-handed?
- Clockwise, which is the mirror of the counterclockwise direction that most patterns describe for right-handed crocheters.
- How can I follow a right-handed video?
- Look for a left-handed one first. Otherwise, watch the video in a mirror, or use a mirror feature on your player, so the movements match your hands.
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