Diane, it sounds like you are trying to teach her how to knit as a right hander would. I was taught by a right hander by sitting in front of her as she knitted. A mirror image so to speak. For a left hander, stitches would be on the right side, worked to the left. I'm teaching my right handed grand daughter to knit and it's hard for a leftie to revert to knitting as a rightie:-) How nice that you are teaching her. It took lots of patients for my rightie to teach this leftie many years ago.

All the lefties I know, knit just like I do! Ialso learned English, but can knit continental. I also just learned to knit the Wong way, using just the left thumb to "throw" the yarn. Google Andrea Wong for info. It is very easy on my arthritis.

Tami

I'm left handed and when I start a row I have the stitches on the left needle and the right needle empty. Is that backwards? I learned to knit from reading instructions, and I work patterns exactly as they are written. I've never thought of it being left- or right-handed; it's 2-handed!

Now crocheting is a different story...I have to reverse pattern shaping.

Donna

PS - I'm REALLY left handed - I can't even figure out how to begin to do something right handed, like using a right handed golf club.

Oh, I just remembered something else...my mom & my grandmother taught me embroidery & tatting by sitting facing me. That way what they were doing with their right hand was what I needed to do with my left.

Donna

Having the stitches on the left needles and working to the right is the standard way of knitting. I called my local yarn shop and they agreed that they view knitting as an ambidextrous activity and don't teach any different, rightie or leftie. I did just show my protege how to cast on with the long-tail method backward though, as she has more dexterity with the left hand. She's coming along!