Holding the crochet yarn is no tough job. The only key factor is being comfortable. Most people thread the yarn in between their pinkie and ring fingers and pass it over the back of the hand. You can also thread it inside the middle and the ring finger. There is no “right” way.
Holding Crochet Yarn
For beginners, it may seem a bit overwhelming to learn how to hold a crochet yarn. So, it’s better to start with the most basic hold. Then you can gradually find your way to what works for you.
1. Use Dominant Hand For Hook
The first step of holding a crochet yarn is holding a crochet hook as you’re going to wrap the yarn with the hook. A very common piece of advice is holding it like you would hold a dinner knife or a pencil with your dominant hand.
However, these are just ways to get you into it. You can start with these techniques and find the most comfortable position for you.
2. Use Non-Dominant Hand For Yarn
Now for the yarn, hold it with your non-dominant hand. Which would be the left hand if you are right-handed. There isn’t any special advice regarding whether you are using the right hand or left hand.
3. Position Hand
For the third step, you need to position your hand to wrap the yarn on your fingers. The most basic way is flattening your palm. Now keep your fingers straight while maintaining a slight gap between them. This way it’s easier to feed the yarn in between the fingers.
4. Thread The Yarn
Grab the yarn end with your other hand and pass it through your pinkie and ring finger. Some people also prefer using the ring and the middle finger instead of the pinkie and the ring finger. But that’s your call. You can use whatever option feels the most comfortable to you.
5. Adjust Tension
Now pull the yarn strand over the top of your hand to the other side and pass it below your thumb. Leave about a few inches of yarn tail at the front so that it’s easier to grip it with the thumb.
At this point, you are going to feel some tension on the strand. You can control this tension by opening and closing your fingers. Spreading the fingers slightly loosens the strand and decreases the tension on the strand. So, the pattern looks a bit loose or sloppy.
On the other hand, pulling the fingers closer to each other provides tension on the strand so the pattern looks more tightened.
How To Crochet For Beginners
Learning how to crochet takes time and determination. So, for beginners, the best way to learn is by following steps and practicing.
1. Slip Knot
The first step of crocheting is tying a slip knot. Because that’s how you attach the yarn with the hook. Make a loop with the thread by putting the shorter ones over the long side. Then flip them on the long thread. Now if you pull out the middle part it will make a knot.
2. Attach Slip Knot To Hook
Now take the hook and slip it into the loop. Then tighten the loop around the hook to attach the yarn.
3. Hold Yarn
Next, you have to hold the yarn with your hand. For this flatten your hand with your palm facing upward. take the long side of the yarn and wrap it around your index finger once. Then pass it over the ring and middle finger, and again wrap it around your pinkie. Hold the short side with your thumb and middle finger.
This technique provides enough space to spread your finger and control the tension.
4. Making Stitch
Now, twist the hook around the yarn and pull it through the loop to make a stitch.
5. Forming Chain
Keep repeating the stitch to finish the whole chain.
6. Row Changing
Now if you want to change the row, take your hook and slip it into the second stitch so there are two loops around the hook. Then catch the thread again and pass it through both the loops.
7. Finish The Row
Keep repeating this action until you have the full row. If you want to make more rows, just slip your hook into another stitch at the end of the row and keep repeating the process.
8. Secure Yarn
Lastly, cut the long side of the thread and tie a knot by passing it through the last loop. This will secure the yarn end so that it doesn’t come off.
How To Hold A Crochet Hook
The first struggle beginners face when starting to crochet is how to hold the hook. There are many opinions about how to hold a crochet hook the right way but there is no “right way”. Whatever works and feels the most comfortable to you is the right way for you. For starters, you can try out the pencil and the knife technique.
To start it out, you need to know about the shape and function of the hook. Generally, a crochet hook is about 6 inches long. It has 3 main parts- the tip, the throat, and the body. There is also a small flattened area between the throat and the body. It’s called the thumb rest. Learn how to connect yarn when crocheting.
1. The Pencil Technique
As the name suggests, it’s a common technique for beginners where you hold the crochet hook like you would hold a pencil. Hold the hook with your dominant hand so that the body stays inside your fist. Note that about 1 inch at the front of the hook should pass over the thumb and the index finger.
2. The Knife Technique
Similarly, the knife technique is the technique of holding the crochet hook like a dinner knife. Here, you need to grip the throat using only your index finger and thumb. Now the body should lie against the middle finger. This technique also requires you to hold the hook with your dominant hand.
How To Hold Crochet Yarn With Arthritis
Crocheting can be a real drag on your health if you have arthritis. But that’s no reason for giving it up altogether. Being careful and taking precautions is all it takes. Besides, it can potentially keep your joints healthy by moving them and keeping them busy.
Taking some care like soaking your hand in warm water or a massage helps a lot. You can do these both before and after crocheting. It wakes up your joints and prepares them to work as well as soothes them after crocheting for some time. But you shouldn’t crochet for a long time nevertheless.
The most important thing and I can’t say this enough, is finding a comfortable place and position to crochet. It will relax your body and prevents muscle cramps. Also, adjust the tension on the thread accordingly to not hurt your hand in the process. Above all, don’t strain yourself, and be sure to take a break when in pain.
How To Hold Crochet Yarn Left-Handed
For left-handed people, it is a bit different to hold crochet yarn than it is for right-handed people. First of all, if you are left-handed, your dominant hand is the left hand. So, you need to hold the hook in your left hand.
Now, for the pencil technique, many left-handed people hold the pencil a little differently. So, the only advice is to grip it however it works for you. The body should be in the first while the throat and the tip extend out of your hand.
It’s the same with the knife grip. You can also try it with your right hand and then just reverse it to figure out the left-handed way.
Frequently Asked Question and Answers
Q. How do I prevent my crochet from twisting?
Ans: Sometimes the crochet may keep twisting because the tension is either too tight or too loose. Use a tensioner to prevent this. Also, make sure to use the right-sized hook for the yarn.
Q. Why do my hands keep cramping while crocheting?
Ans: If your hands cramp easily while crocheting it means you are using too much tension while holding the yarn. Try loosening the hold a bit and hold it comfortably.
Conclusion
Learning how to hold crochet yarn is a matter of time and practice. It may take several days to just learn how to grip the yarn with your hand. But once you get the hang of it, it’s rather easy to find your pace and tension. Above all, be comfortable when holding it and just go with the way that works for you. That’s the best way.
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