How To Hold The Yarn When Crocheting | Itchin' For Some Stitchin'

Learn how to hold the yarn when crocheting with this comprehensive guide. Discover four popular techniques and find the best method that suits your style and comfort. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, find the perfect yarn hold for comfortable stitching and even results. Say goodbye to uneven tension and hello to professional-looking creations!

Today I want to give you another useful tutorial when you are a crochet newbie and just preparing to crochet.

It’s on how to hold the yarn when crocheting and it is a good follow up or even precursor to learning how to hold a crochet hook.

And just like learning how to hold a crochet hook, although it may seem like a minor detail, it is actually pretty important!

If you are not holding the yarn in a way that is comfortable for you and allows you to crochet freely, it may ruin your chances at crochet success.

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The Best Way to Hold the Yarn While Crocheting

Before we start, you should keep in mind that just like there is no single way to hold a crochet hook, there is also no particular way you have to hold the yarn.

The best way is always the way that allows you to crochet smoothly and comfortably.

When crocheting, the hook is held in your dominant hand (the working hand) while your non-dominant hand holds the yarn (the yarn hand).

The yarn hand then feeds the yarn to the hook while you crochet, this is why it is very important that you find a yarn holding technique that works well for you!

The hand that holds the yarn is also responsible for controlling the tension of the yarn as it is fed to the hook.

The tension determines how loose or tight your stitches will be.

There are many ways to hold the yarn, some are unique to the crocheter, but there are at least some methods that seem to be popular.

Here are four techniques that I know about.

Things to know before you start:

1. The Anatomy of a Crochet Hook
2. How to Hold a Crochet Hook
3. Tips for Absolute Beginners

My Other Crochet Resources

Techniques for Holding Yarn While Crocheting

I would recommend trying each of the following techniques with a medium #4 weight yarn. You can find some HERE via my Amazon affiliate link.

Note: The technique names provided are of my own invention and cannot be found in typical crochet terminology.

But seriously folks, how can I describe them to you if they don’t have a name! So, I just made up my own. 🙂

4 Popular Ways to Hold the Yarn When Crocheting

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1. The Over & Under Hold

Step One: With your palm facing down place the yarn under your pinky finger (also called the little finger) and over your ring finger.

Step Two: Place the yarn under your middle finger and over your pointer finger (also called the index finger).

Step Three: Pull yarn down along inside of palm and grip with the pinky finger and ring finger.

2. The Pinky Hold

Step One: With palm facing down place the tail end of the yarn between your pinky finger and ring finger.

Step Two: Wrap the tail end of your yarn around your little finger creating a loop around your pinky finger.

Step Three: Bring the tail end of the yarn over the top of your ring finger, under your middle finger, and over your pointer finger.

Step Four: Pull yarn down along inside of palm and grip with the pinky finger and ring finger.

3. The Pointer Hold

Step One: With palm facing down place the tail end of the yarn around your pointer finger and in-between your pointer finger and middle finger.

Step Two: Wrap the tail end of your yarn around your ring finger creating a loop around your pointer finger.

Step Three: Bring the tail end of the under your middle, ring, and pinky fingers.

Step Four: Grip the tail end of the yarn under your pinky finger or both your ring and pinky fingers.

4. The Single Loop Hold

Step One: With palm facing down place the tail end of the yarn over your pointer finger.

Step Two: Pull yarn down along inside of palm and grip with the pinky finger and ring finger. Grip the tail end of the yarn under your pinky finger or both your ring and pinky fingers.

When I began crocheting I didn’t know about any of these methods and seemed to naturally adopt the single loop hold. It just came naturally.

I suspect as you start crocheting you too will naturally find a hold that works for you, even if it is completely different from the ones in this tutorial.

However, these techniques are a good place to start if you pick up your yarn and simply have no idea what to do next.

I urge you to experiment with each method and then come back and share what worked best for you!

More Crochet Tips & Tutorials

Ready to learn more? Check these out!

1. How to Yarn Over in Crochet

2. How to Read a Crochet Pattern

3. How to Single Crochet (sc)

4. How to Crochet a Foundation Chain

Additionally, you can follow me on Facebook and join my Facebook group for crochet beginners!

I share lots of tips & tutorials to help you along in your crochet journey!

Plus, since it’s open to experienced crocheters too, you can get some really great advice from different perspectives – all the while gaining new friends and crafty inspiration!

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Until next time… Happy Crocheting!

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