How YOU Hold Your Hook And Yarn: The Results! - Moogly

A while back I posed a question: How do YOU hold your hook and yarn? After all, you've most likely seen one of my videos, and you know how I do it, but that doesn't mean it's the "right" way - it's just *my* way! Well, I got lots and lots of emails and photos - and these are the results!

You all are amazing! I got nearly 60 submissions of photos, and I even received a video, and a gif! And they came from all over the world. Such a treat! So I didn't want to rush it!

The first step was to sort them into virtual piles, based on how the hook is being held - knife hold vs pencil hold. At first it looked to be about 50/50... but soon one showed a clear dominance. I also got lots of photos from left handed people (some of whom crochet right handed)! Here's a great look at left handed, knife grip crochet, by Susan Mielechowsky:

But sorting any further by how the yarn is tensioned... impossible! There are nearly as many ways to tension the yarn as there are grains of sand in the world. Okay, so that's a slight exaggeration, but it really drives home the point that if it works.... it works!

So let's take a look! First, the people who use the pencil grip. This is the same grip I usually use in Moogly videos (and even when no one is watching). Pencil grip, aka underhand grip, simply means that the length of the handle rests above the hand. The fingers can be in a variety of positions, and many of you mentioned that they tend to move around as you work. Here are some photos you all sent in of the pencil grip:

On the other hand (no pun intended) there's the knife grip! Also known as the overhand grip, this position means that the length of the hook is beneath the palm of the hand holding it. Again, the fingers can be in any position - check out this variety! This was the far and away winner for popularity!

And did you see all the different ways the yarn is being tensioned? There were a couple who wrote in who hold their yarn and hook in the same hand! For some, this is just the way they learned. For others, it's a way of dealing with dexterity problems or other hand issues. Here's a great photo of this type of technique, sent in by Tianna Byrtus:

This one is a lot of fun too. The hands aren't too unusual.... but Pony uses her toes to help keep the yarn flowing out of the skein! Efficient!

Not sure how the yarn and hook in the same hand can work? Here's a gif sent in by Zindy, showing off her method!

I was also fascinated by these photos sent in by Zipporah Sutton, who uses a homemade assistive tool to help her hold the yarn! So clever!

And Jill Doucette sent me a video via Instagram - and if you're on Instagram, you'll want to CLICK HERE to check it out - she crochets with just her left hand, with the hook held between her knees! So impressive! Here's a still photo (but go watch the video, it's so great!!):

Isn't it amazing, all the different ways we all crochet? And the most important thing to remember is that they are ALL correct. While this was by no means a scientific poll, it's been so much fun seeing all your photos and reading all your messages. And I think we have a huge variety here to see!

If you are having fun, not in pain, and getting the stitches you want, then it's all absolutely okay. If you are having pain in your hands, then maybe try mixing it up! Let's keep crochet happy!

Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their photos, notes, and more. This post was put together out of the joy and generosity of everyone who reads Moogly, and I am so grateful you're all here!

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