How to Hold a Crochet Hook for Beginners - Tutorial One

Crochet Tutorials

13 Nov

If you’re completely new to crochet, you’re probably wondering how to hold your crochet hook. Don’t worry! We’ve all asked this same question and it’s not as simple as it sounds. It’s the first thing to consider when starting out with crochet and thus it is tutorial one of my How to Crochet Step by Step mini series.

Here, we will go through the various ways of how to hold a crochet hook, whether there is a right or wrong way and how to avoid causing tension in your wrists, fingers and arms.

A cream fabric pouch with pastel coloured polka dots on it is holding 8 crochet hooks or various sizes and colours. The pouch has a hessian style inner fabric and a metal cream handle that reaches backwards. The handle has a wooden toggle on it.

What’s the Correct Way to Hold a Crochet Hook?

You might be thinking that there is a right or wrong way to hold your hook but, honestly, there isn’t. All you need to do is choose the best option for you in terms of how comfortable it is and that’s it! It’s all up to you.

Everyones hands and fingers are different and so, what might be comfortable for me, could be really uncomfortable for you. So listen to your body and decide on the best way that suits your hands and fingers.

Do We Need to Pick One and Stick With it?

No, absolutely not. You can definitely choose to hold your crochet hook one way at the beginning and then decide later on that you want to change it. In fact I think it’s necessary not to settle on a specific way until you have crocheted at least a few rows to see how it feels.

Give yourself some time with each option. Make a small crochet square for each style of holding a hook and then decide. Your hands will help you make the decision based on how they feel during and afterwards.

How to Hold a Crochet Hook

Let’s get to it!

There are two popular ways to hold a crochet hook. The Pencil Grip and the Knife Grip. They may same pretty self explanatory but people hold these things differently as well, so what do we mean?

The Pencil Grip

First up is the pencil grip. I prefer to hold my crochet hook this way, as in the photo below, as it’s more comfortable for me, making it easier for me to crochet.

As we said above, everyone holds a pencil differently, so what does the pencil grip refer to exactly?

A white right hand is holding a silver crochet hook. It is being held like a pencil with the middle finger near the tip of the hook and the index finger behind. The thumb is holding the hook from below, at the same point as the index finger.

The pencil grip refers to holding the crochet hook with the end of the hook resting on top or outside of your hand. It is not referring to how you place your fingers, as this is different for everyone.

I like to have my middle finger near the tip of the hook and my index finger behind that. However it is inconsequential. You may prefer to have just your index finger and thumb holding the hook in a similar position, that’s also fine.

What is important here is the positioning of the end of the hook; that it is resting on top of your hand.

The Knife Grip

The knife grip, similarly to the pencil grip, is all about the positioning of the end of the crochet hook and not how you hold the front section. The photo below shows someone knitting instead of crochet but it is the same grip.

Two white hands are holding light wooden knitting needles and knitting a mixed pastel coloured project. In the background is the ball of yarn on the grey floor unfocused.

The knife grip is when you hold your crochet hook with the end of the hook inside your hand, resting against your palm. Again, your fingers can be in any position you prefer but the important thing is how you are holding the end of the hook.

You could have just your index finger at the tip, like in the photo above, or all of your fingers resting on the top of the crochet hook and your thumb underneath. Have a play around and see what is better for you.

Watch the Video

If you prefer to watch then here is a quick youtube video that goes through both options.

How to Avoid Causing Tension

Tension in your wrists, fingers and arms is sometimes unavoidable depending on how much we crochet. However, in order to minimise the strain, we really need to pay attention to how we have chosen to hold our crochet hooks.

The most important thing is finding a way to hold your hook that is comfortable. This is the key. You may decide that you love to hold your hook in a specific way but find that you end up griping your hook really tightly in that position. If that’s the case, try and switch it up.

You may also find that you tend to crochet really tightly one way but not the other. Choose the way that means your fingers are more relaxed and your wrist can flow easier. Everything needs to feel as ease.

Let me know how you hold your crochet hook in the comments and how many times you switched it up :)

Tutorial Two: How to Make a Slip Knot

Tina Rinaudo

Tina is a passionate zero waster and crocheter who aims to live and crochet as sustainably as possible. She has been crocheting since 2016 and specialises in using sustainable yarns to design zero waste crochet patterns to make easy swaps for yourselves and your homes. She has been featured in Happily Hooked Magazine, PatternCenter.com and many other websites for her eco friendly crochet patterns.