Posted on 29-11-2022 by Muriël Blom
There’s nothing we love more than spending hours at a time working on our latest crochet project. It brings us a lot of joy and a host of mental health benefits. But long crochet sessions have less positive consequences for your body. Makers who frequently spend hour after hour crocheting will already be familiar with the aches and pains we’re referring to. To be able to crochet happily ever after, it’s important to learn how to crochet ergonomically. In this blog post, we share all our top tips to help you enjoy your hobby pain-free for years to come.
Why is it important?
There are many different aches and pains that frequent crocheters have to deal with. Of course, not all crocheters will suffer for their craft, and even those that do, tend to experience different levels of pain. The most common complaints are:
- Neck pain
- Shoulder ache
- Painful upper arms
- Elbow problems
- Sore or tender wrists
- Hand cramps
- Aching finger joints
If you’ve ever experienced these symptoms, you may have simply accepted them as part of the deal. But no one should have to crochet in pain! What might seem like a minor irritation in the short term can lead to serious consequences if nothing is done to prevent them. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to avoid pain while crocheting. Read on for our top tips!
How to crochet ergonomically
You probably came across this blog post while searching for how to improve your crochet technique. That’s great! The tips below will go a long way towards helping you achieve that goal.
Tip 1: Make sure your sitting posture is upright and relaxed
This sounds difficult, and it can be. It’s hard to break habits that have become ingrained over time. This one, however, is worth the effort! Many people tend to sit with their legs together or crossed. Neither of which are great for your body while crocheting. It is better to sit with your legs apart as this allows your spine to move more freely. To help you, place a cushion between your legs. It is also essential that you keep your back straight as you crochet. To help you sit upright, you may wish to support your arms as well. The easiest way to do so is to place a firm pillow or cushion between the sofa armrest and your body. Make sure this does not push your shoulders up.
Tip 2: Take regular (short) breaks
This one may be obvious, but a great way to prevent strain is to take plenty of breaks as you crochet. Get up every hour to grab a drink and walk around the house. If you were to take just one tip from this list, let it be this one! And if you tend to completely lose track of time while crocheting? Then set a timer to reminder you when you need to get up and move.
Tip 3: Make sure you have good lighting
Eye strain is clearly something you want to avoid. But taking good care of your eyes can also alleviate strain on other parts of your body. Making sure you have enough bright light whenever you crochet stops you from squinting and leaning forward to be able to see your pattern or project. Your neck (and back) will thank you! Take a look at our collection of lighting, so that you’ll always have the perfect illumination for your craft project.
Tip 4: Choose the right yarn
Each yarn has its own special qualities, but not every yarn is comfortable to work with. Heavy or stiff yarns require much more effort to crochet with, while lightweight and smooth yarns are much easier to process and therefore gentler on your joints. If you’re planning a big project that requires many crochet hours, it is especially important to bear this in mind when choosing your yarn.
Tip 5: Check the room temperature
This one might surprise you, but temperature also has an impact on crochet ergonomics. When you are cold, your muscles tense up, leading to poor posture and an increased risk of muscle strain and joint aches.
Tip 6: Relax your grip on the hook
Are you scared of dropping a loop or are you trying hard to keep your stitches even? Both cause you to hold your hook too tightly. To avoid straining your hand, remind yourself to relax your grip on your crochet hook. Switching to an ergonomic crochet hook can really help with this issue.
Tip 7: Get advice from an expert
Are you suffering from persistent pain or frequently experience pain during or after a crochet session? Then you would be wise to consult a medical professional. Contact your doctor or general practitioner for further advice.
Ergonomic crochet hooks
Ergonomic crochet hooks help prevent strained hands. And that’s not the only great thing about them! The handles of these types of crochet hooks often come in all sorts of beautiful colors and shapes. Now, no two hands are the same, so it's important to try out different styles of ergonomic hooks to find the one that fits your hand best. At Yarnplaza.com, we have a wide range of ergonomic crochet hooks for you to try:
Clover Amour crochet hooks
Clover Soft Touch crochet hooks
Prym Wool Ergonomic crochet hooks
Tulip Etimo Red crochet hooks
With these tips, you will be able to enjoy pain-free crochet for years to come. Do you have other great tips on how to crochet ergonomically? Then share them with us on social media via Instagram or Facebook. Ready for a new crochet project? You can find all our crochet kits here.
