So how do you hold it? (Part 2)
Earlier this week, we talked about how different people hold and tension their yarn for crochet. It was so much fun to see all the different styles! That discussion led to the related question – how do you hold your crochet hook?
In general, there are two ways to do it, but there are many variations of each. One way is a pencil or underhand hold, where the hook is held the same way you would hold a pencil. That’s how Janaya from Charmed by Ewe does it:
Tamara from Moogly does it that way too, but the position of her hand is much further from the end of the hook:
My mom holds it the same way, and that’s how she tried to teach me, but it didn’t stick. I hold mine the other way, which is called a knife or overhand hold, just like one would hold a knife:
Kati of KatiD Creations does it the same way, though it looks like she doesn’t lead with her index finger as much as I do:
Deborah of from Grammy’s Heart is also a knife holder. Isn’t the handle on that hook pretty? It reminds me a little of those rubber band loom bracelets that were so popular a few years ago!
Sara of Posh Pooch Designs and Debi from Dearest Debi both hold their hooks overhand as well, though it looks like they are gripping it with their finger tips rather than wrapping their fingers around it. I’ve heard there is a variation called a “violin bow” hold, though I’m not entirely sure what that is. I would imagine it might be like these…does anyone know?
Laurinda from ReCrochetions is a lefty, and she uses the knife hold as well:
She was kind enough to also send a picture demonstrating what a pencil hold might look like for a lefty:
Overall, it looks like overhand / knife hold is most popular out of the designers who sent me pictures to use, but is it the most popular over all? Let’s find out! How do you hold your hook?
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26 Comments
DearestDebi
I am not sure but I like the sounds of violin bow .
Dena
It is very similar to holding the bow of a stringed instrument although not exactly the same.
Marianne
Im the knife hold. My mom also tried to teach me the pencil hold and it made me so uncoordinated. …lol
Sarah J
I am left handed crochet right handed…there was no internet in the late fiftys so I used a book and it showed the knife method
Linda D
I’m a lefty who crochets right handed as well. I enjoy it much better than knitting.
Norma Ellen Reid-Hunt
I use both, was soly pencil but now hands are sore so pensil for fine threads and knife for heavier yarns
RedFeather
I’m with Norma…I use pin il hold for steel hooks and knife hold for aluminum.
edwina
I’m a knife holder all the way!!!
C J
I don’t know what the violin bow hold but envisioning how the bow is held, I would guess is the overhand without the index finger pointed.
Oksana Alekseenko
I use pensil like method, but my third finger is very active, I “tense/hold” with it the loop on the hook while crocheting. Thus my crocheting is very tight/tense, I have to use bigger hooks to make it at least a bit looser. And I crochet very slowly due to holding the loop.
Grace Patane
Knife hold. Tried the other way, just can’t get the hang of it.
Pat
When I learned to crochet I held the hook knife like since it’s pretty much how I knit but I found I was working my wrist too much and tiring quickly. Pencil style I use my fingers more than my wrist and find it not nearly as tiring.
Patricia B
I’m definitely a knife hold kinda gal….lol It’s the way I taught myself, my sister tried to teach me the pencil hold and it never felt comfortable, so I started holding the knife!!! lol
sheila
Because I hold my hook in my right hand with my yarn my hook rests between the index finger and thumb.
MaHene
I primarily use knife, but have been attempting pencil intermittently. I’m much slower with underhand.
jennifer Toal
Pencil grip here, fast and fun:)
SheilaL
Never really thought about it,had to look at the pics, so it’s also knife style for me.
Peggy Smith
I hold my hook very much like Kati of KatiD Creations with the throat of the hook facing me, with thumb and first finger holding the hook on opposite sides of the thumb rest, with the rest of my fingers closed loosely over the handle. When I am stitching, I move my whole hand with the hook back and forth in a smooth rocking motion which, now that I think of it, looks exactly like the movement of a violin bow. Is this what you are talking about when you mentioned a violin-bow hold.?
Konica
I never Knew there were different holds…. I was taught by my grandmother 30 years ago and never thought different so once my shoulder heals and I can get back to crocheting I will try out the knife hold.
Dawn H
I use the knife hold with my index finger holding the loop on the hook.
Dena
As a person who has played violin for years and now learning cello, the knife hold IS very much like holding a bow. And that is how I hold my hook to crochet although I learned using the pencil hold. I’ve found it’s faster for me to crochet using the knife hold.
Barb
Knife – yet my index finger is more opposite my thumb. I’m a cellist who has also played violin. A violin bow hold has the pinky resting on top of the bow, which then contributes to the motion – I wonder if anyone does that with the hook? A cellist’s pinky slips over the bow, but is still active for some bowing, and I know I do use it when I crochet as my shorter hook feels less in control. However, a bow hold is pronated (as if checking a watch) – the bow should never fall into the palm the way my crochet hook does. I use a rolling motion of the hook, so sometimes the fingers are on the tips on the hook, and sometimes the hook is deeper in the fingers.
Pia Thadani
Interesting! I’ll bet that’s exactly what the difference is between the two. I don’t think I could do a bow hold, I definitely wrap my fingers around the hook a bit more
Michelle Roberts
I’m a right handed violin holder. I use my pinky finger to steer the hook up and down and my index finger to rotate. My pinky does get rather sore!
Pia Thadani
I always say it’s not wrong unless it hurts…but if it hurts, maybe try a different way!
Anni
I’m definitely a bow hold then. All the action is at my fingertips and the handle doesn’t touch my palm. I call it a flute hold. My fingers touch the hook like they’re covering the holes on a flute.