Learning Crochet: How to hold your crochet hook and yarn
If you’re brand new to crochet and would like to learn how to hold your crochet hook and yarn so you can start crocheting your first stitches, this post is for you.
Now that you’ve purchased the items you need to start crocheting, let’s talk about set-up and positioning. Before we get to grips with how to hold your crochet hook and yarn, I do need to emphasize that in crochet there is no right or wrong! You’ll see many crocheters using a variation of techniques when they crochet, but do not fret. Just because someone crochets differently to you doesn’t mean that they are right and you are wrong or vice versa.
That’s the beauty of crochet and our community - we’re all diverse and so are the crochet techniques we use, and that diversity is worth celebrating.
In saying this, all crocheters have to start somewhere. So in this post I’ve rounded up a variation of techniques for you on how you can hold your hook and yarn while crocheting. The most important thing is to give each way a try, experiment, move things around, and find the technique and position that is most comfortable for you.
Also, my absolute best tip when you’re starting out is to just start crocheting. The positioning of your hook and how you hold your yarn will come in time once your first crochet stitches are underway.
Getting started with crochet
Before we get into the various ways you can hold your crochet hook and yarn while crocheting, let’s talk positioning.
Crocheters will usually crochet with their most dominant hand. Meaning, that if you are right handed, you will hold the crochet hook in your right hand and the yarn will be in your left. If you are left handed, it will be the opposite - your crochet hook will be in your left hand and you will hold your yarn with your right.
Crochet set-up if you are right-handed: Yarn will be on your left side, and your crochet hook will be on your right side.
Crochet set-up if you are left-handed: Yarn will be on your right side, and your crochet hook will be on your left side.
Just to let you know, I am right handed, so the photos throughout the rest of this post will show right handed positioning. However, this doesn’t mean that this post won’t help you if you are left handed. The only difference is that your positioning will be switched around the other way (yarn on right side, hook in left hand).
How to hold your crochet hook
Okay, so let’s get to it - how do you hold a crochet hook?
The two most popular ways are using either what we call a knife hold or a pencil hold.
To explain the technicalities of how each of these work, let me walk you through the anatomy of a crochet hook.
The anatomy of a crochet hook
The head of the crochet hook is what you use to grab onto the yarn.
The throat helps the yarn slide on to the hook.
The shank is where the magic happens. This section is where your yarn should be when you crochet your stitches. It's also the part that determines the size of your crochet hook and in turn the size of your crochet stitches.
The grip and handle is the section of the crochet hook that you hold.
This brings us nicely to how you can hold your crochet hook. As I mentioned, the two most common ways to hold your crochet hook is the knife hold and the pencil hold.
I will go into detail about how each of these work and show you photos, but before I do, pick up your crochet hook with your most dominant hand. If you're right-handed this will be your right hand, and if you're left-handed this will be your left.
Imagine how you hold a knife in the kitchen. Try positioning your hand on the crochet hook's grip and handle in the exact same way. Does this feel comfortable to you?
Now let's try the pencil hold. Imagine how you hold a pencil. Even better, pick up a pencil up and start writing. Notice how your hand is positioned on the pencil. Now duplicate this hold when you pick up your crochet hook. Does this feel better or worse than the knife hold to you?
The reason I wanted you to give this a try before I explain the technicalities of how each of these work is because each of us will have slightly different ways we hold a knife or a pencil. Crocheters also have slightly different ways of holding their crochet hooks. As such, while these two holds do have fairly precise positioning techniques, you don’t need to stick to them to a tee. You may need to rejig your positioning a little bit until you find a position that’s most comfortable for you.
But let’s get into the detail…
The Knife Hold
To hold your crochet hook using a knife hold, rest your hand over the crochet hook’s grip and handle so your thumb is on one side and your fingers are on the other side. Hold the crochet hook with your thumb resting on the grip (the flat part of the hook) and then use your fingers to hold (or grip) the hook in place.
The Pencil Hold
To hold your crochet hook using the pencil hold, rest your hook over the section between your thumb and index finger. Your thumb should be on one side and your fingers are on the other side. Hold the crochet hook with your thumb resting on the grip (the flat part of the hook) and then rest your index finger on the hook above your thumb.
That’s a very basic overview of two ways you can hold your crochet hook. Once you start crocheting you might find one hold more comfortable than the other, and you may just need to rejig your hand slightly to make it even more comfortable. Remember, comfort is the most important factor and everyone is different. Either way, it will take some getting used to - as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day and proficient Crocheters weren't either. It takes time, patience and perseverance. But you will get there! Just don’t give up.
How to hold your yarn while crocheting
Holding your yarn controls the tension of your stitches, e.g. how tight your crochet stitches are. You want to ensure you have tension in your yarn when you crochet otherwise your stitches will turn out looking extremely loose. Remember how the shank of the hook controls the size of your stitches? Well if your yarn tension isn’t tight enough and the yarn doesn’t sit securely around this section of the hook, your crochet stitches won’t turn out looking right.
That’s where the way you hold your yarn will make a difference.
Just like there are different ways to hold your crochet hook, there are also several ways you can hold your yarn. There is no right or wrong. Whatever you do, don’t feel like you need to stick to one particular method, make sure you change things up until crocheting feels comfortable. This will take time, but hang in there.
I’ll start off by showing you how I hold my yarn (with my left hand). Remember, to hold your yarn in your least dominant hand, e.g. if you are left handed this will be your right hand. For any of these options, you should leave a tail of yarn of approximately 10cm or 4 inches at the thumb side of your hand. The other end of yarn will be attached to your ball of yarn that should sit on the same side as the hand holding the yarn. E.g. this will be on your left side if you are right handed, or on your right side if you are left handed.
Holding your yarn option 1
I hold my yarn by wrapping it around my little finger, over my ring finger, under my middle finger and then back up over my index finger. This positioning came to me over time however, and was not how I first started holding my yarn but it’s what I’ve come to find the most comfortable for me. In this position, I use my middle finger and index finger to control the tension of the yarn. More specifically, by closing the gap between my index finger and middle finger I can make the yarn tension tighter, and my creating a larger gap between the two fingers I can make the yarn tension looser.
Holding your yarn option 2
Another more simplistic way to hold your yarn is by wrapping it around your little finger, bringing it up over your three middle fingers (ring, middle & index), and then sitting the yarn between your thumb and your index finger as shown below. In this position, your thumb and index finger will control the tension of the yarn as it glides through your hand.
Holding your yarn for crocheting - option 3
Another technique you can use to hold your yarn while crocheting is my literally weaving it through your fingers. By this I mean weaving the yarn under your little finger, over your ring finger, under your middle finger, and then back over your index finger. In this position, your thumb and index finger also control the tension of the yarn.
There are honestly many ways crocheters hold their yarn, but I hope these three hand positions help you get started with crochet. The final point to mention is that when you get started crocheting, you will also hold your work with the same hand that you hold your yarn with. But don’t worry, I will get to this in more detail in my next post where I’ll help you learn your first crochet stitch. Exciting times!
I do hope this post helps you get started with crochet. It may feel a little daunting at the beginning, but with a little bit of practice, you will get there! I promise, and I cannot wait to see your progress.
Remember, you can connect with me on social media and reach out with any questions. I’m more than happy to help however I can.
Until next time, happy crocheting,
Cilla x
