Disappointed Hooker

[TheWoollybacksWife]

After seeing them mentioned here I bought myself a Knit-Pro crochet hook as I have a dodgy shoulder and an arthritic hand and felt something more ergonomic might help. I am distinctly underwhelmed

I found I had to hold the hook in a funny way to build up any rhythm. I normally work with the hook just about parallel with my work but I had to hold the hook with the tip pointing towards me. If I held it like I hold my bamboo hook it caught the loops and split the yarn. I couldn't get a consistent tension and I ended up frogging it and starting again with a bamboo hook. The yarn didn't slip over the hook either.

Has anyone else had similar problems? Should I persevere? Am I doing it wrong?

Thanks Miaow. I'll keep an eye out for the interesting Boye handle

I know the feeling of going mad without something on the go. My doctor has told me to give up as it appears to be some form of RSI that is causing my pain but I have been crocheting for over 40 years and I am stubborn and don't like to be told what to do with my spare time - besides my mum always said that the devil makes work for idle hands.

I'm laughing at the use of disappointed hooker And the description of the dildo handle

I think the problem is it's very individual but until you buy and try you have no idea which hook is right for you.

I love my Addi swings and can crochet indefinitely with them, I find clover ok and quite like Prym hooks.

It's a shame there isn't a hook swap shop where you could pass on the ones that didn't work for you and try a different type.

I quite like addi swing hooks. They take a bit of getting used to but they are quite a good shape and very comfy to use.

I just bought a couple of knit pro hooks with supposedly ergonomic handles but they are too short and don't sit properly in my hand. I also found the yarn didn't move well on the hook.

I use the addi swing for acrylic yarns and my all time favourite knit pro symfonie wooden hooks for merino yarn.

I've put a couple of Addi hooks on my Amazon wish list and will continue with my bamboo ones until later in the year. I'll have another go with the Knitpro hook before I write it off completely.

I'm not on the yarnaholics group as I am a Facebook numpty but will happily pass the hook on if I can't get used to it eventually.

I get on well with the Hobbycraft moulded handle ones (in recovery from tennis elbow), I hold them the same as normal ones but much more loosely. Everyone seems to hold differently, I hold it flat against my palm with 3 smallest fingers but some hold like a pen, so I suppose that makes a difference too.

I think the Boye dildo hook holder is quite appropriate for a hooker :)

So pleased I don't have to explain that last post to my Dutch friends.

:)

Owl

Oma

At least I'm worried about my tension. I don't want to be a loose hooker.

Hi woolly, I too have RSI, you could try putting some foam tubing on your preferred hooks as having something chunkier to grip can ease the stress on your joints and tendons. You don't want it too thick though as this can indeed change the way you comfortably hold the hook. You could try a number of other adaptations such as pencil grips, there are several good ideas to try on YouTube. Ultimately though you may have to work in shorter bursts to give your hands chance to recover (I'm an OT so have some experience of adapting tasks for people with different injuries).