How do you hold your crochet hook? Is there one way that is better than another?
I’m a newbie at crochet and mostly trying to teach myself from internet resources and books. I’ve read there are 2 general ways to hold the hook, the “pencil” method (hook over hand) and “knife” method (hook under hand). It seems that most resources suggest the pencil grip is more common and better to start with, but I find it terribly awkward and much prefer the other way. I’m just curious how others hold their hooks. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to one way over the other in your experience? One web site I read said the knife method is better for working with heavier yarns…so would it be a disadvantage when working with crochet cotton or thinner threads? Also, when you started out, how long did it take you to develop an even tension?
I hold my hook like a knife. I watched my mother crochet for years and this is how she holds hers as well. I learned to crochet online and after fumbling with the pencil grip for 15 minutes, I switched and have not looked back when I’m using regular yarn.
It is especially important for you to learn to crochet with the grip that makes you more comfortable. While you are learning to master tension and stitches, you dont need to be fussing with holding the hook a particular way if you have a method that works for you. Once you have all of the other parts of crocheting down to a science, you can go back and alter your grip if you choose.
I have only needed to change my grip when I attempted to work with crochet thread. It was more awkward to try to “knife” with thread. However, this was well after I had learned to make stitches and control tension, so it took me only a half an hour or so to get comfortable with the pencil grip for that application.
I spent an hour or so trying to figure out tension when I started to crochet. I was working from a skien and had terrible trouble with my stitches tightening and loosening. Then I realized that it was the battle to draw up yarn out of the skien itself that was throwing me off. If you are going to work from a skien, pull up a few feet of yarn out of it and work from that. When you’ve used all the loose yarn, draw up more. This will allow you to work at a more even tension. Another option is to wind your yarn into a ball, as this will unwind more easily than a tight skien.
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