Equality and knitting

thy = they
aid = side ?

I've heard much the same explanation as Elegran - women tend to hold a baby in their left arm and with buttonholes on the left supposedly uncovered less of their bosom whilst breast-feeding.

A man could keep his right hand and wrist warm by sticking his hand inside his coat or waistcoat (like Napoleon) and as most men were right handed and held a sword in that hand thus kept their sword arm warm.

The Kerrs of the Scottish Borders must have had a problem as they were all left-handed and renowned as left- handed swordsmen.

As far as I know both children and adults clothing still have buttonholes on the left for the female sex and on the right for the male sex.

My DGD did not like the girl's school shirts and preferred the boys style. Now she is grumbling that it is tricky to do up the buttons! Funny how these thing get established but clever how brains adjust and manage!

You mean like this grandtante
Although I think it would take a bit longer to draw a sword, he could get his hand trapped inside your jacket!!

I think Charles used to do this too.

sorry, he could get his hand trapped inside HIS jacket

(I thought I'd altered that )

I've just found some more theories.

One, that in armour, metal plates would overlap so that a lance wielded by a right-handed opponent wouldn't slide under so easily and into the wearer.

Second, that ladies would ride side-saddle facing the right side of the horse, so their clothes fastened left-over-right to cut down the daughts that blew in from the front.

Third, (probably apocryphal) that ladies would copy that pose of Napoleon with his hand stuck inside his jacket to mock him, so he ordered that women's clothes be made fastening the other way. (Maybe the mocking made him feel a right tit)

Grannyknot
A child wearing a hand knitted garment, it's a sign that the child is loved, someone took the time to make it.
Whichever way the buttons are!

There doesn't seem to be much equality in the reasons why boys are left over right and girls are right over left!

Swords, Napoleonic decrees about women's clothing, -v-babies, side-saddles

gmelon that is very true. Love in every stitch.

I must go and finish the garment I'm knitting Grannyknot instead of posting on here!
It's probably the last one I'll make for a DGC because when they reach a certain age they just don't want Granny's knitteds any longer - however fashionable the pattern.

It's definitely right over left for girls - have a loot at a woman's coat. If you look at a man's jacket, you will see left over right.

This came about because in the early days, 'Ladies' didnt dress themselves, their maids dressed them. It was easier for the maid to fasten buttons and toggles right to left. Also the men, had to have their right hand free for their swords and later guns, so they would dress using the left hand only left to right.

True jalima that's why I'm now knitting for other, newer, babies

If knitting for a child, I think the buttons should be on the left for a right-handed child, and the right for a left-handed child.
That will make dressing themselves easier, whichever gender they are, and will prove that rules are made to be broken!

However, there is a snag to that idea - when little boys get a bit older (eg two) they can become most indignant if you try to make them wear a garment which does up 'the girls' way.

I can remember DS protesting when I tried to do that to him. "This is a girl's cardigan'!!
Funnily enough, girls don't seem to mind.

In Jalima's picture Meghan has her coat left-over-right.

Children always flatten our best ideas, don’t they?

When I fasten my husband's shirt buttons, I have to stand behind him and watch my hands in a mirror! Does that say something about my brain?

A tip I picked up on a knit and natter fb group. If you don't know the sex of the coming baby work the buttonholes on both bands and then when you know which ones you need you can use the others as markers for the buttons and sew them up as you sew the buttons on.

I often put button holes on both sides. Providing they are level you just sew the buttons over the hole.s that are not required

What a great idea to make buttonholes on both sides. I'd never have thought of that ☺

So she is Bagatelle
Is she left-handed?

I only ever worry about this when the knitted garment is to be worn by a child that's learning to 'dress itself'.

When it comes to newborns/18mths, why worry whether it's one way or the other

Looking on to the garment from the front buttons should be on the left hand side, therefore when wearing garment button holes on left crossing to right to fasten. Obviously oppisite for girls. Wouldn't bother if you have made it wrong side about. You are taking the trouble to make a gift, any idiosyncrasies should be overlooked.

Here's the outfit for interest .
I call it "The Coat of Many Colours". It was fun to knit as you start at one sleeve and carry on, knitted across, (so because of that it has a lot of "give").