I’m a lefty, and we lefties know we live in a right-handed world. Growing up, at least at home, that was not the case. In addition to me, my mother and three of my siblings were left-handed. Only my father and oldest sister were right-handed. So, our household leaned a little towards favoring left-handedness in how things were set up.
When it comes to jewelry, I try to keep my left-handedness in mind. When making a necklace like this green garnet and pearl necklace, it is a factor. If a necklace has a distinct front and back, then it matters which side I put the clasp on when making it. Unless I am making a piece for myself (or someone who I know is left-handed), I make it for right-handed people.
Recently, at a jewelry show, a lady wanted to try on one of my necklaces. She had her hands behind her neck, trying to get it on and said – this is awkward, I can’t work the clasp. I then realized – oops – I let a left-handed necklace get through. It doesn’t happen often and I modified the necklace.
The very first bead weaving stitch I learned was brick stitch and left-handedness was a factor. I tried to learn it by reading an article in a book or magazine. I remember seeing paragraph after paragraph that talked about doing this with your right hand and that with your left hand – pages of it. I tried more than once to get through it, and gave up in frustration. A while later I found a class in the technique and was able to easily learn from the instructor who was right-handed. Since then, I’ve become better at translating written instructions mentally and don’t have a problem with them. Thank goodness, since there’s always something new I want to learn.
