Pencil or knife hold?

[cgd]

I had heard that the knife hold is easier on wrists and allows for more even tension but don't know if this is true. How do y'all hold your hooks? I've always used the pencil hold. Thanks.

[Debi Y]

I've always used the "knife hold". Better control for me.

Debi Y.

[susieq8579]

I am a knife hold kinda girl. I learned from a book that only showed the stitches.....so I just went with what was comfortable.

 

I am also a lefty but I crochet righty.

[niqita]

The Knife hold was the way I was taught. My great aunt used to hold it like a pencil but I could never hold it that way:no

[Riohnna]

Pencil,,,or,,,like I hokd a spoon/fork.

[sewnsew]

I've tried to hold it like a pencil and I just can't the only way I have control and can do it is the knife hold.

[JoAnn]

Knife. I think for me, it comes from learning to knit first. Or not!

[victoriarose]

Knife hold for me. Pencil hold is really awkward and I feel I have less control. I understand that the pencil hold was used to exhibit "delicacy" by Victorian women.

[Katchkan]

I hold mine like a knife, can do with a pencil grip but I am slow slow slow that way and it just doesn't feel good. Probably if I used it more I would get faster. But why change ?

[Auntie Kellie]

I hold mine the way others hold a pencil. For some reason, I'm not comfortable writing unless all my fingers are bunched up and close to the tip. Guess I'm an oddball.

 

Hugs and Cookies

Auntie K

[gavinsmom]

I hold mine with my thumb and my middle finger and my yarn wrapped around my index finger all in my right hand... I've been told this was the wrong way but it gets the job done. I taught myself with a book that didn't show the hands just the stitches so i just did what was comfortable. I already knew how to knit so my yarn is held like I'm knitting

[SweetButterfly]

I hold my hook like a knife. Pencil hold is too awkward for me.

[lilpug]

I also hold it like a knife, tried the pencil grip it just didn't work for me!

[LadyTwilyte]

Knife hold for me

[Aggie May]

If pencil is underhand, then I am a pencil.

Here is a funny wee video which shows my weedy plant pots to best advantage but also shows how I hold my crochet and how easy it is to work this way.

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/Aggie2may/?action=view&current=Swimmingsocceretc.flv

Have fun.

Colleen.

[ChayaSar]

knife hold for me, and I've seen gavinsmom crochet in person, it does look weird, but she does GREAT work,

[Ladykats]

It's a knife hold for me. I am self taught after first learning to knit. I never knew about different holds, just holding it like a knife gave me more control and an easier way of crocheting. I have been crocheting for years, but am still learning so much about it.

[scrapwithnikki]

knife for me too! my grandma taught me to use the pencil hold and I couldn't - she thought it was so weird lol

[cgd]

Wow, maybe I should change to the knife thing--it's definitely the most popular by a longshot! Maybe there's a reason for that . . .

[needlesandpinza]

knife. probably since I started as a small child and just remained the same. My mom holds her like a knife as well. but my knitting...thats a whole 'nother story. very differnt

[bluemoon]

i hold mine like a knife...it's always felt so awkward the other way.....

[CrochetJC]

For many years I did the pencil hold and then arthritis started taking over the hands and body and I changed to the knife hold so I could continue to crochet. The pencil hold for me was much faster but am learning to go with a little more speed on the knife hold.

[unicorn37757]

I hold mine pencil style:think

[MyissaG]

I use the knife hold.

[ChainOFools]

I hold mine with my thumb and my middle finger and my yarn wrapped around my index finger all in my right hand... I've been told this was the wrong way but it gets the job done. I taught myself with a book that didn't show the hands just the stitches so i just did what was comfortable. I already knew how to knit so my yarn is held like I'm knitting

 

You and I are kindred spirits, then! I thought I was the only one that did that! I am the same way, learned to knit long before a friend taught me to crochet, and holding the yarn in my right hand just seemed to make more sense...much later a co-worker showed me the 'error' of my ways and I re-learned, holding the yarn in my left hand, but still when I start the foundation row or I'm making something small I hold that yarn in my right hand and kind of 'flick' the yarn around the hook as I go...if I try to do it the 'correct' way it just goes all wrong. I do use the pencil grip both ways though.