There are different ways to knit, but not many people would have considered that knitting with one hand would be possible. Debbie Weiss is proving them wrong and showing others how it’s done.
A Method Called “Adaptive Knitting”
Debbie works at The New Jewish Home in New York where she teaches knitting, crocheting, as well as beading. Her goal is to help teach those with physical disabilities to do the hobbies that they’ve always loved. The method that Debbie Weiss teaches is called “adaptive knitting.” This method allows for people to knit using only one hand.
She came up with the hack and put it in action when teaching Dominga Marquez, a nursing home resident who only has the ability to use one arm.
How It’s Done
The technique can be practiced by anyone, no matter if they can use one hand or both. Since Dominga Marquez is in a wheelchair, Debbie used it to her advantage. She used two hair ties to hold the knitting needle in place on the armrest of the wheelchair. With the needle secured, all that Dominga needs is one hand to do the knitting on her own.
While it’s something to get used to, it’s a way for people with physical disabilities to take up hobbies like knitting again. Dominga can now knit her favorite items and spend her free time doing something that she enjoys while also practicing her skill in order to fully master it.