Know Your Hands

The way we hold a crochet hook—and the reason we find one hook and handhold more comfortable or effective than another—is determined in part by the shape of our hands, the length of our fingers, and muscle memory development. Our lifestyle affects how we use our hands. Someone who swings a hammer every day will hold and use a crochet hook differently from someone who types all day. By being aware of our strengths and weaknesses, we may even be able to prevent repetitive-motion injuries.

The two broadest categories for crochet handholds are overhand (or knife hold) and underhand (or pencil hold), but there are several variants to these holds.We’ll consider six main holding positions (by far not all the ways a crochet hook can be held) that I have observed while watching crocheters’ hands at work (which I actually do a lot). For some holds, most of the movement lies in the fingers; for others, the work is in the wrist. As you read through the holds, consider which allies most closely with your preferred handhold. If you crochet frequently, it is useful to learn more than one hold. Particularly if you are experiencing hand strain, practice the modifications listed in the Notes, including considering using a different type of hook.

Check out the information on the six ways various crocheters hold their hooks on Interweave's post: Know Your Craft: Know Your Hands.