How to hold your yarn and needle in one hand – One-handed knitting tutorial

I’ve uploaded a new tutorial showing how to knit fully one handed. My previous videos show how to knit with some use of your amputee hand, but this wasn’t the smoothest of methods and it didn’t help those who had no use of their right side.

I learnt to crochet, and in doing so, mastered how to hold and control the yarn in my left hand. The next step was to apply this to knitting but this was harder in practice. It was tricky to hold the yarn with tension and the needle at the same time. After dropping the yarn and the needle a good few times, I finally cracked it and I can now knit fully one handed.

So I wanted to share this technique to help those who have taken up knitting one-handed and want an easier method (once you’ve got the hang of it) of holding the yarn, or to help those who could not use my other method to start knitting.

Please share this video with anyone who might benefit and if you’re trying it for the first time – don’t give up! It’s tricky but you’ll get it and it’s worth the perseverance. Thank you for watching.

Much love

Elisabeth x

If you’re interested in more one-handed knitting and crochet tutorials, take a look at my YouTube channel.

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6 responses

  1. Margaret Corbett Avatar
    Margaret Corbett

    Hi Elizabeth,
    Thank you for your tutorial.
    However, you are still using your right hand to control the other needle.
    Since having a stroke 10 years ago, I have No movement in my left arm/hand.
    I am right handed, so I am still searching for a total one hand method!

    Reply
    1. Marjorie Clouser Avatar
      Marjorie Clouser

      I had a stroke when I was 2 months old and I have cerebral palsy on my right side and my right side is basically useless. What I do when I knit is I put in my right hand to hold and put the left needle on my thigh to hold it up. When I first did it, was very frustrating but when I got use to it, it became easier. I had to make a few tweaks here and there but I eventually figured out what worked for me.

      Reply
  2. Elisabeth Ward Avatar
    Elisabeth Ward

    Hi Margaret, thank you for your feedback. If you skip to about 13 minutes in I show holding the needle between your legs – would that work for you? Because of the angle for the video I’ve instinctively used my amputee arm to support but with a bit of practice this wouldn’t be the case, the same with moving the stitches up the needle, that could also be mastered with just the one hand – I used my arm for ease here. If between the legs is not possible, a table clamp might be an alternative and I’ve seen videos on YT using these. Or perhaps wedging the non-working needle between your right leg and a sofa/chair arm if you sat with a hard surface like a slim hardback book underneath the leg to avoid it slipping down the side of the sofa? There are also knitting belts that could help you, unfortunately with these you can’t use the thicker needles.

    I hope you are able to still use the video with the leg method and despite needing to swap the method to your right hand! Good luck and let me know if you have questions.

    Thanks,

    Elisabeth x

    Reply
  3. Kymberly Avatar
    Kymberly

    Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have always wanted to knit. I lost the use of my right hand when I was six and I thought knitting was something I would never be able to accomplish. I can’t tell you just how good I feel every time I pull out my needles! And my daughters watch as I knit, I believe that as they watch me they know that their mother can do anything one-handed. Again, thank you 💖💗

    Reply
    1. Elisabeth Ward Avatar
      Elisabeth Ward

      Hi Kymberly, I’m so pleased I could help – that was the aim with these videos because I felt the same, I was so gutted when I thought I was excluded from it. Just keep knitting!!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Luke Avatar
    Luke

    Thanks very much Elisabeth, I found this fascinating. In my experience the key skill required when dealing with a disability (as with many aspects of modern life) is adaptability and you certainly seem to have that in spades.
    Keep up the good work!
    In case you’re curious I found this page from your piece in the Limbless Association magazine.

    Reply

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