Equality and knitting

sorry, he could get his hand trapped inside HIS jacket

(I thought I'd altered that )

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.

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!

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.

thy = they
aid = side ?

I always understood it dated from the nobility having ladies’ maids to dress their ladies. That originally all clothes buttoned up the ‘boys’ way, but ladies maids found it tricky so thy began to make them with the button on the opposite aid.
But I don’t recall where I read this, so happy to stand corrected ?

Yes . Right over left for boys

... meant to add, so the neck band isn't separate.

annsan that's my question!

gmelon the pattern didn't say, it's one of those written-on-the-fly patterns that I found on a blog. It's lovely though, it knitted sideways starting at one of the sleeves so the fun is in the construction - and it's forgiving in terms of stretch.

*Knack band??
Neck band

Have you completed the whole knack band or buttonhole side?
Is it possible to sew up the buttonholes and re knit them into the other side.
It is right over left for girls and opposite for boys.
The pattern will tell you.

Does it really matter?

You could always say ‘yes it’s a baby girl but I wanted her clothing to be gender fluid’. ....

humpty zips in knitting is way beyond my skill level

grammaretto the other granny can't knit, so she best keep schtum if she does notice

Thanks for the explanations, I am proceeding in the spirit of the times and going to embrace the change in this instance - I'm sure the baby won't be fussy

Maybe use a different form of fastening like a zip!

I go to a knitting group where I'm kept right or should I say correct.
Thanks for the explanations Elegran and harrigran

I think the valet idea is probably the reason. Men always needed someone to dress them. If I wear a man's shirt I find the buttons tricky. My OH has an infuriating habit of pulling his shirt over his head and thereby straining the buttons.
I agree with OP and don't think baby or mum will even notice though the other gran may!

Or small boys being dressed by their mothers.

From the days of royalty being dressed by their valets, easier for someone standing in front of them and also for hanging the sword.

What a good explanation Elegran. It's similar to the reason given for training dogs to always walk on your left side. It leaves the right hand free for your gun you see.
I love knitting but I CBA with left/right side button holes.

I think the reason is that men could hold their coat closed with the left arm while still having their right arm free to skewer an attacker. Babies are more often carried on the left arm, so women's coats fastened on the right. However, babies are mostly in buggies now and swords are out of fashion.

jalima, i always do that but I had never stopped to wonder why. I thought it was related to me being left handed.

Thanks, everyone. Why I asked is - I've made a mistake with this cardi so it's going to be as if for a girl, but the baby is a boy. So I wondered whether it is still important which side the buttonholes are on. Hopefully this generation of mothers won't know nor care!

One does wonder where the custom originally came from ...

Women are always right .
That's why, when we're making a drink or serving up a meal in our house, my cup or my dinner plate is always on the right.

Sorry - it appears I made a mistake. Thank goodness I only said "I think" and not "I am sure".

I thought it was the other way round - left over right for a boy.

I'm just finishing off a small garment for a girl and the one buttonhole is on the right and the button on the left side of the garment
.Just check your own cardigan or coat Grannyknot to make sure
now