Aching Left Wrist, Padded Hooks, and a Yarn Ring I Gave Up On

I have the really bad habit of sitting down and crocheting for hours and hours instead of pacing myself. I may go a couple of days without doing anything, and then the next time I sit down, I may crochet for two or three hours.

When I do this, my wrists and fingers start to get pretty tired. I do end up stopping to try to stretch them every now and then. I'll also notice my fingers get really tight from trying to hold the yarn and the hook.

I just need to pace myself better.

Yarn Over the Left Index Finger, Ache in the Left Wrist

I crochet with my right hand, so I hold my hook in my right hand, and I hold the yarn in my left hand. Typically, it's my left hand and wrist that start to get really achy. My left thumb will ache as well, and I don't know if I hold it in a weird position as I work or what it is.

Also, my left index finger will start to get kind of an imprint from where the yarn has been sliding over my finger for hours and hours.

I really have to be careful with my left hand. Sometimes when it just starts to ache like that, I just know I have to put the project down for the day, stretch my wrist a little bit, and give it a break.

Switching to Rubber-Padded Hooks

I haven't tried changing anything about my pattern quite yet, but I know I will need to very soon if I want to continue doing this craft for many years to come. I know there are special gloves you can buy.

I have started using nicer hooks that have rubber padding on them so that they're thicker and easier to hold, so your fingers aren't trying to squeeze down on a tiny metal hook all the time. I find that having a really nice quality hook really does help improve the achy joints I might start to experience.

The Yarn Ring That Needed Too Much Re-Feeding

I've tried a couple of different things that I thought might help my fingers in particular. I bought a couple of those rings that you can put on your finger to feed the yarn through, hoping that if that's what I wear, then I'm not holding my fingers in such a weird position. I tried it for a little while.

It does seem to work okay.

The problem with it is that when you have projects where you're changing yarn colours a lot, or changing sizes, or working on something that isn't just so repetitive, you have to re-feed the yarn through the ring over and over again. And I just wasn't patient enough for that.

Two to Three Hours in the Groove

If I'm crocheting feverishly and kind of in the groove, I probably can sit and do two to three hours uninterrupted before my hands and eyes need a break. Sometimes, my wrists and hands don't bother me at all, and I can just keep going and going.

It seems like in the winter, maybe when it's colder, I notice that a little bit more, and I have to be more careful with my fingers and my wrists. And sometimes in the summer, when it's warmer out, I don't usually notice that, so I can go for longer stints in the evenings.

Dark Yarn, a Side Lamp, and the Neck Light

I probably have a harder time with my eyes than I do with my hands at this stage in my life. I was not crocheting for very long before I came to the realization that we all know it's very hard to see when you're crocheting with dark yarn.

My eyes just can't detect where the little stitches are. I also have the really bad habit of crocheting in the evenings after work. And sometimes I work just by a little lamp on my side table instead of turning on all the bright lights, and I know that's not great.

A couple of years ago, I was gifted this awesome neck light that really, really helps me, especially in the winter months when it gets dark so early outside. I can put it around my neck, turn the lights on, and point them exactly where I need them to be, whether it's on my yarn or my project or wherever my fingers are working. And it really does help me see things better and have less strain on my eyes.

Take a Break Before It Becomes Carpal Tunnel

If you're newer to this craft and you start to notice things that aren't quite feeling right, or you know that you're straining your wrists, fingers, or even eyes too hard, I would tell you to take a break and walk away for a moment. Don't ignore these signs because you could end up with bad carpal tunnel in your wrists.

You could end up straining your eyes and giving yourself a headache. Just when you get those feelings, know that it's normal. Know that everybody who sits down to do something like this for extended periods of time has this happen.

And you just need to be able to take a break for a couple of hours and come back later when you're ready.