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Holding the hook and yarn
Two hook grips, one way to tension the yarn, and why the position of your hands matters more than which one you pick.
By The StudioPublished Jun 1, 20265 min read
Before the first stitch there is the question nobody answers clearly: how do you actually hold the thing? There is no single correct grip. There are two common ways to hold the hook and several ways to feed the yarn, and the right combination is whichever one lets you make even stitches for an hour without your hand aching. This article shows the two grips, one reliable way to tension the yarn, and how to tell when something needs to change.
The two hook grips
The pencil grip holds the hook the way you hold a pencil: the flat thumb rest sits between the pad of your thumb and the side of your index finger, and the handle rests along the top of your hand. Your wrist does most of the work. Many people find it precise for small hooks and thread.
The knife grip holds the hook the way you hold a table knife when cutting: the handle sits in your palm, your index finger lies along the top of the hook, and your thumb rests on the thumb rest from the side. The movement comes from the wrist and forearm together. It is the grip most people settle into for larger hooks because it tires the hand less.
Tensioning the yarn
Tension is what keeps every stitch the same size. The yarn should flow through your non-hook hand with slight resistance, so that when you pull a loop through it comes out to the same size every time without you thinking about it. The hook makes the stitch; the other hand controls how big it is.
A common way to thread the yarn
- 1Hold your non-hook hand palm up. Lay the working yarn, the strand coming from the ball, over your little finger.
- 2Pass it under your ring and middle fingers and over your index finger, so it comes off the tip of the index finger toward the hook.
- 3Turn your hand palm down. The yarn should run from the ball, around your little finger, under two fingers and over the index finger, with about 5 cm (2 in) between your index finger and the hook.If the yarn slides too freely, wrap it once more around the little finger. If it drags, take the wrap off.
- 4Pinch the work itself between your thumb and middle finger, just below the hook, so the stitch you are working into stays still.
Your index finger now controls the yarn like a guide, and your thumb and middle finger hold the fabric. As you make each stitch, the fabric grows and you move that pinch up every few stitches so it stays close to the hook. Holding the work too far from the hook is the most common reason early stitches come out loose and uneven.
Signs something needs to change
- Your hand aches within ten minutes: you are gripping the hook too hard. Loosen your fingers and let the hook rest in your hand.
- Loops keep sliding off the hook: the hook is tilted upward. Keep the throat facing down or toward you while pulling through.
- Stitches are different sizes: the yarn is not running under consistent tension. Add a wrap around the little finger, or slow down.
- The yarn twists tightly on itself: you are letting the ball spin. Put it in a bowl or bag so it can turn freely.
- Your shoulder is rising toward your ear: the whole arm is tense. Drop your elbows, sit back, and keep the work in your lap rather than in the air.
Where to sit and how long
Sit with your elbows supported if you can, with good light coming over the shoulder opposite your hook hand, so your hand does not cast a shadow on the stitches. Work for twenty minutes, then stretch your fingers and wrists, open and close your hands a few times, and look at something far away. Crochet is a repetitive movement and the early weeks are when habits form; a small habit of stopping now saves a strained wrist later.
Once you can hold the hook and feed the yarn without thinking about it, you are ready for the slip knot and foundation chain, the two things every project starts with.
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