Crochet hold for hook, yarn, tension and gauge are common challenges to new crocheters. Check out my tips to help you power through these beginner pitfalls!
Hook Hold:
There is no right or wrong way to hold a crochet hook. I’ve known many crocheters, and have seen many different ways of holding a hook. It can be a little awkward at first, but I recommend experimenting with some the basic holds below until you find what feels comfortable to you.
Pencil Hold:
Similar to holding a pencil, position the hook between your thumb and index finger, with your third finger near the tip of the hook.
Knife Hold:
Similar to holding a knife to cut meat; place your hand over the crochet hook with the handle pressed against the palm of your hand. Use your thumb and the third finger to grip the middle of the hook.
Again, don’t be afraid to experiment. When working on a large project you want your hook and hold to be comfortable to avoid cramping.
Yarn Hold:
Much like your hook hold, there are different ways of holding your yarn. I have one primary way of holding my yarn, but will occasionally switch my yarn hold to correspond to the type of yarn I’m working with.
Basic Weave:
This hold is made by weaving the yarn the fingers of your non-dominant (hook) hand. I prefer this hold for fuzzy or bulky yarn, as it allows more freedom of movement to pull the yarn. I would not recommend this hold with thin or slippery yarn as it may make it difficult to control the thread and tension.
Pinky Wrap:
To make this hold, wrap your yarn around your pinky before weaving it through your fingers. This is my preferred hold when working with thinner and more slippery yarns, but find this hold too tight for bulky or fuzzy yarn as the pinky wrap tends to lead to snagging.
Pointer Wrap:
Similar to the pinky hold you will weave your yarn through your fingers before wrapping it around your pointer finger.
Tension and Gauge:
When you are first learning to crochet it can be difficult to control and maintain consistent yarn tension, and stitches will often be too loose or too tights.
The picture below has 4 rows of single crochet using the same yarn and hook, the only difference between the bottom and top two rows is tension; which can affect overall appearance, edges and completed size. When I first started my stitches were too tight, and it made it very difficult to insert my hook into preceding rows.
Unfortunately, the best cure for tension problems is practice but you can ease the process by adjusting your hook size. If your stitches are too tight, try a larger crochet hook and if your tension is too loose, switch to a smaller hook.
While you are working on mastering tension it’s important to pay attention to gauge. Most patterns or yarns with give you a set number of stitches and rows with a measurement for gauge.
To check your gauge, make the recommended number of rows and stitches with the recommended yarn and hook size. Once complete, take measurements to make sure it matches the gauge measurement of your pattern. If it is too large, switch to a smaller hook or less bulky yarn. If it is too small, switch to a larger hook or bulkier yarn.
While working on my Captain America Blanket, I did not pay enough attention to gauge and my complete project was half the size of the pattern dimensions.
All the tips, tutorials, and techniques can be a bit overwhelming when you are first getting started. There is a lot of trial, error, and practice. But don’t give up, keep experimenting with the above, and you have them mastered in no time! Mastering your hold, tension and gauge will help you lay a solid foundation for years of crochet crafting adventures. Happy Hooking!
