How should I hold my yarn when I crochet?

[minkajane]

I'm trying to improve my crochet technique. I tend to crochet really really tightly, which makes it more difficult, makes the pattern less visible, and makes the piece rougher and heavier. One thing that contributes to this is that when I yarn over, I use my left hand to loop it around the hook, rather than moving the hook around the yarn.

I started a new project tonight and I'm working on moving the hook instead of the yarn, which has already resulted in noticeably looser stitches. But I'm having a hard time holding the yarn in my left hand. I've tried Googling and have come up with a couple of different ways, but none of them are working for me. Either the yarn tightens up around one of my finger and won't glide or it falls off my finger or there's no tension or whatever.

Is there a way to hold the yarn so that it doesn't just fall off my hand, but it also doesn't tighten around my finger or palm?

[cristeen]

If you go to knittinghelp.com and watch the knitting instructions for continental knitting, I hold my crochet the exact same way. Which made it really easy to learn continental knitting. But yes, the only thing your left hand should be doing while crocheting is holding/supporting the work and holding the yarn. It shouldn't be moving/manipulating the yarn at all.

[Purple*Lotus]

Yes, your left hand shouldn't be moving. I tend to stick my left index finger up a bit to support the yarn string and hold my work with the other fingers.

I still have tight stitches though even doing this. People are almost mentioning how tight they are. I think they are tight because that is how I learned and that is how I've always hooked.

[BeanyMama]

I'm a tight crocheter, too. I hold the hook almost vertically (learned to knit first ) and have the yarn wrapped once around my right index finger for tension.

My left hand does nothing but hold and move the project.

[minkajane]

Still having trouble. I tried the hold on the video and I'm having trouble still. I can't seem to hold it with the fingers of my left hand and when I run it over my thumb and index finger, it's so loose that when I move the hook around it, I have trouble catching it. Doesn't help that I am the most uncoordinated person in the history of creation!

[SophieAnn]

I don't have any yarn with me so it is hard to visualize how I hold the yarn when crocheting.

I've searched a whole bunch of youtube videos and I don't think I've found any that hold the yarn as I do. Maybe I'll have to make my own video for you.... will come back and post a link if I do.

Edited to add - the way I control my tension is using my pinky finger, but I don't think I actually have the yarn wrapped around any fingers - I just grip the yarn under my left pinky.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by minkajane

Still having trouble. I tried the hold on the video and I'm having trouble still. I can't seem to hold it with the fingers of my left hand and when I run it over my thumb and index finger, it's so loose that when I move the hook around it, I have trouble catching it. Doesn't help that I am the most uncoordinated person in the history of creation!

It shouldn't be loose. When you run it around your pinky, your pinky is controlling the tension. Curl your pinky up to tighten it, straighten it to loosen it. The index finger is just supporting. If it's loose, just pull on the tail between your hand and the ball of yarn to pull the excess back out.

You might also want to try going up a hook size (or 2). It won't resolve any hand problems cause by tight crocheting, but it will help loosen up the stitches.

[Dreamy]

Originally Posted by cristeen

You might also want to try going up a hook size (or 2). It won't resolve any hand problems cause by tight crocheting, but it will help loosen up the stitches.

I crochet tightly as well, so I usually use a larger hook than called for. I've been consciously loosening my grip on the yarn lately though, and my tension has gotten better.

I don't have a "hold" for the yarn either, I just "grab" it - I hold the work with my left fingers, and the yarn runs down inside the palm of my hand. I think I may press my pinky against my palm a bit to keep some tension.