Comments on: review: ergonomic crochet hook http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/ The crafty journal of a crochet pattern designer and multi-crafter. See what I've been making lately... Crochet, amigurumi animal designs, punchneedle embroidery, polymer clay, cross stitch, beading, sewing, sketching, painting and more! Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:35:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sherry http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-88151 Sherry Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:44:04 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-88151 Quote: "My main hand problem when I crochet is actually with my non-crocheting hand; the hand that holds the work in place rigidly grips the work without moving for long periods of time, and that is the main cause of my (crochet-related) pain." This is exactly the resent problem I have been having, I went to a Doctor, and he diagnosed Arthritis in my thumb joints....very painful, it took almost eight weeks of NO crocheting to finally be able to pick up my hooks again, and I still have some pain, so I really have to baby this area! All great advice above, the exercises , breaks, and switching to knit, less tension, when I feel myself speed up or apply lots of tension - I take a break for about 2 minutes and remind myself of the pain it will cause! However what has really worked for me is , I wear a thumb brace on my left hand at all times when I am crocheting, purchased it at WalMart for around $17. I will never crochet without it now, I am crocheting pain free!! The thumb brace wraps around your wrist, and has an extension which a metal piece sewn into the brace which runs down along your thumb, immobilizing the bending of the thumb. http://www.muellersportsmed.com/Specialty_Thumb_Stabilizer.htm The brace is made by "Mueller sport care. ( www.muellersportsmed.com) 1-800-356-9522 It looks bulky, but I have learned to crochet just great with it on, I use Clover soft touch crochet hooks. Hope this helps someone else. Quote: “My main hand problem when I crochet is actually with my non-crocheting hand; the hand that holds the work in place rigidly grips the work without moving for long periods of time, and that is the main cause of my (crochet-related) pain.”

This is exactly the resent problem I have been having, I went to a Doctor, and he diagnosed Arthritis in my thumb joints….very painful, it took almost eight weeks of NO crocheting to finally be able to pick up my hooks again, and I still have some pain, so I really have to baby this area! All great advice above, the exercises , breaks, and switching to knit, less tension, when I feel myself speed up or apply lots of tension – I take a break for about 2 minutes and remind myself of the pain it will cause! However what has really worked for me is , I wear a thumb brace on my left hand at all times when I am crocheting, purchased it at WalMart for around $17. I will never crochet without it now, I am crocheting pain free!!
The thumb brace wraps around your wrist, and has an extension which a metal piece sewn into the brace which runs down along your thumb, immobilizing the bending of the thumb.

http://www.muellersportsmed.com/Specialty_Thumb_Stabilizer.htm

The brace is made by “Mueller sport care. ( http://www.muellersportsmed.com) 1-800-356-9522

It looks bulky, but I have learned to crochet just great with it on, I use Clover soft touch crochet hooks.

Hope this helps someone else.

]]> By: June http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-62745 June Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:21:57 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-62745 Natasha: I intended to do a follow-up post on this, but I haven't got around to it yet! I did actually cut down a grey Susan Bates aluminium hook (with the assistance of my husband) and it really didn't work well for me. The flattened 'grip' area on the hook was too wide to fit into the shaft of the egg's mechanism, so the only way it would work was to leave a much longer portion of the hook sticking out of the egg. I have now given up on the egg. Nice idea, but it really doesn't feel comfortable for me - it's too much of a wrist/arm workout! Natasha: I intended to do a follow-up post on this, but I haven’t got around to it yet! I did actually cut down a grey Susan Bates aluminium hook (with the assistance of my husband) and it really didn’t work well for me. The flattened ‘grip’ area on the hook was too wide to fit into the shaft of the egg’s mechanism, so the only way it would work was to leave a much longer portion of the hook sticking out of the egg.

I have now given up on the egg. Nice idea, but it really doesn’t feel comfortable for me – it’s too much of a wrist/arm workout!

]]> By: natasha http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-62744 natasha Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:14:21 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-62744 thanks for the review. i was checking out the egg online and found you. i did see on their listing that you can cut off your favorite hook and use it in the egg, which would work better for me because i personally like that exact type of gray susan bates hook that you showed in the photo. i do a lot of freeform crochet and have a favorite in that gray hook in a 2.75, i hold it in a death grip and last night , right before i finished a piece, it snapped right at the grip. gah! i went right online and started looking around. i hate the boye shaped hooks and i found a japanese style that has a squishy grip and is double ended, but i don't like the way the hook looks. i did find a set of bamboo ergonomic hooks from china that look like the clover soft grip ones, but with a more bates-like hook. i find that the clover ones have a shape that i don't like. one thing i have done is to make a polymer clay handle on some of my smaller hooks and it does help. i am still not sure whether to get the egg or not. i wish i got see it in person. again, thanks for the review and sorry to yammer on so:) thanks for the review. i was checking out the egg online and found you. i did see on their listing that you can cut off your favorite hook and use it in the egg, which would work better for me because i personally like that exact type of gray susan bates hook that you showed in the photo. i do a lot of freeform crochet and have a favorite in that gray hook in a 2.75, i hold it in a death grip and last night , right before i finished a piece, it snapped right at the grip. gah! i went right online and started looking around. i hate the boye shaped hooks and i found a japanese style that has a squishy grip and is double ended, but i don’t like the way the hook looks. i did find a set of bamboo ergonomic hooks from china that look like the clover soft grip ones, but with a more bates-like hook. i find that the clover ones have a shape that i don’t like. one thing i have done is to make a polymer clay handle on some of my smaller hooks and it does help. i am still not sure whether to get the egg or not. i wish i got see it in person.

again, thanks for the review and sorry to yammer on so:)

]]> By: Joy Abara http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-40099 Joy Abara Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:15:52 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-40099 Very useful review, thanks. I have very small hands, so after trying different kinds of crochet hooks, I've found that the Clover Soft Touch hooks work best for me. They're of Japanese design, I believe, so they're the right size for small hands. The hook part isn't exactly like a Susan Bates hook, though, but I've able to work for very long periods with the Clover Soft Touch without pain. I will be trying the new Japanese Hamanaka hooks that I've ordered from eBay --will let you know if these are any good. Cheers :) Very useful review, thanks.

I have very small hands, so after trying different kinds of crochet hooks, I’ve found that the Clover Soft Touch hooks work best for me. They’re of Japanese design, I believe, so they’re the right size for small hands. The hook part isn’t exactly like a Susan Bates hook, though, but I’ve able to work for very long periods with the Clover Soft Touch without pain.

I will be trying the new Japanese Hamanaka hooks that I’ve ordered from eBay –will let you know if these are any good. Cheers :)

]]> By: June http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-32408 June Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:53:26 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-32408 Some good points raised in the comments! Nancy, I also crochet by twisting the hook to catch the loop, and yes, I don't feel I can do that using the egg hook. I will be writing a follow-up post on my ergonomic hook experience shortly... Stay tuned! Some good points raised in the comments! Nancy, I also crochet by twisting the hook to catch the loop, and yes, I don’t feel I can do that using the egg hook. I will be writing a follow-up post on my ergonomic hook experience shortly… Stay tuned!

]]> By: Nancy Reyes http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-32291 Nancy Reyes Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:54:42 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-32291 thanks for the review. I am wondering if the foam pads we have for silverware for occupational therapy might work better. <a href="http://www.rehabilitystores.com/Super-Grips-Teaspoon/" rel="nofollow">link</a> I have a small egonomic crochet hook myself about 1.5 cm around, and for other hooks, I wrapped them in duct tape. This also helps the palm which gets sore from the smaller needles. A lot of my patients got wrist pain from the wavy motion in picking up the loop. I would show them the "up down" motion similar to knitting, while you twist the hook from 9 to 6 o'clock to get the loop. This requires a lot more left handed movement, but there are several ways to feed the thread if my index finger gets sore. thanks for the review.

I am wondering if the foam pads we have for silverware for occupational therapy might work better.
link

I have a small egonomic crochet hook myself about 1.5 cm around, and for other hooks, I wrapped them in duct tape. This also helps the palm which gets sore from the smaller needles.

A lot of my patients got wrist pain from the wavy motion in picking up the loop. I would show them the “up down” motion similar to knitting, while you twist the hook from 9 to 6 o’clock to get the loop. This requires a lot more left handed movement, but there are several ways to feed the thread if my index finger gets sore.

]]> By: Shanna http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-22180 Shanna Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:55:34 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-22180 A bit about ergonomics: I have had some ergonomics training, but I am not a professional ergonomist (so don't sue me or anything because of what I say, 'kay?). One of the best things you can do if you are having problems is to change how you do what is causing the problems - like Denise said. If you can't change the way you hold your project to minimize the force you have to use, then the next best thing is to take frequent breaks. About every 5 - 10 mins, take a "microbreak". Just stretch your hand once or twice. Then about every 15 - 20 mins, take a longer break. And every hour or so, get up and do something different for a few minutes that uses your hands differently or doesn't use them at all. Definietly do some hand stretches a few times a day. As for using your wrist more with the egg hooks, yes, that could end up being a problem. Be careful with that. If you start to feel wrist pain, switch to a different kind of hook. I have problems when I crochet with small hooks as well, and I really like the Clover hook I have (size F since I use almost exclusively that size hook for amigurumi). However, I can't find what I did with it and have done a couple of projects without it, including longer stretches of crochet than I have done in a while (Christmas is coming, ya know?). Now my right hand hurts again (especially my thumb)! If I don't find it soon, I'll have to buy myself a new one!! A bit about ergonomics:

I have had some ergonomics training, but I am not a professional ergonomist (so don’t sue me or anything because of what I say, ‘kay?).

One of the best things you can do if you are having problems is to change how you do what is causing the problems – like Denise said. If you can’t change the way you hold your project to minimize the force you have to use, then the next best thing is to take frequent breaks. About every 5 – 10 mins, take a “microbreak”. Just stretch your hand once or twice. Then about every 15 – 20 mins, take a longer break. And every hour or so, get up and do something different for a few minutes that uses your hands differently or doesn’t use them at all. Definietly do some hand stretches a few times a day.

As for using your wrist more with the egg hooks, yes, that could end up being a problem. Be careful with that. If you start to feel wrist pain, switch to a different kind of hook.

I have problems when I crochet with small hooks as well, and I really like the Clover hook I have (size F since I use almost exclusively that size hook for amigurumi). However, I can’t find what I did with it and have done a couple of projects without it, including longer stretches of crochet than I have done in a while (Christmas is coming, ya know?). Now my right hand hurts again (especially my thumb)! If I don’t find it soon, I’ll have to buy myself a new one!!

]]> By: Denise http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-21234 Denise Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:39:11 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-21234 The textured metal part of the hook looks as though it would be really uncomfortable. I bought the Provo Craft ergonomic hooks (they have the Susan Bates style hook) and found that I do have to exaggerate my wrist movements. The shape of the hook relieved the stress and cramping in my hand, but if I crochet for longer periods of time I start to get something like tennis elbow. I also struggled with using a death grip with my non-working hand. Inspiration struck and I changed the way I hold the the yarn and project in my non-working hand to more of a continental knitting grip. If it's good enough for knitting, why not use it for crochet? I no longer suffer from pain in the non-working hand, my yarn tension is better, and projects go quicker. Thanks for sharing your review! Your pocket Christmas amis are adorable. The textured metal part of the hook looks as though it would be really uncomfortable.
I bought the Provo Craft ergonomic hooks (they have the Susan Bates style hook) and found that I do have to exaggerate my wrist movements. The shape of the hook relieved the stress and cramping in my hand, but if I crochet for longer periods of time I start to get something like tennis elbow.
I also struggled with using a death grip with my non-working hand. Inspiration struck and I changed the way I hold the the yarn and project in my non-working hand to more of a continental knitting grip. If it’s good enough for knitting, why not use it for crochet? I no longer suffer from pain in the non-working hand, my yarn tension is better, and projects go quicker.
Thanks for sharing your review! Your pocket Christmas amis are adorable.

]]> By: Josefin http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-20662 Josefin Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:45:44 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-20662 Oh, that was a good review. But as with all fancy things, they dont excist in Sweden. The ergonomic crochet hook here is an ordinary hook, with a plastic handle, that is round, just like the hook. I havent tried it, but people say its ok to use. I have bought the ergonomic hook from Clover, the one with a plastic handle, and I think its great! I wish I had one of each size. Now I just have too, 3,5 mm and 4,5 mm. I have ordered a 4 mm too. They are just lovely, as I held my hook to tight, and now I have more to hold, so I dont hold it that tight anymore. But I have the same problem as you, holding to tight with the non-hooking hand. And I dont know what to do about it either. I guess best is to let go sometimes and stretch, maybe using a stress-ball to soften up the hand. Looking forward to hear more about your hook-experience! Oh, that was a good review. But as with all fancy things, they dont excist in Sweden.
The ergonomic crochet hook here is an ordinary hook, with a plastic handle, that is round, just like the hook. I havent tried it, but people say its ok to use.

I have bought the ergonomic hook from Clover, the one with a plastic handle, and I think its great! I wish I had one of each size. Now I just have too, 3,5 mm and 4,5 mm. I have ordered a 4 mm too.
They are just lovely, as I held my hook to tight, and now I have more to hold, so I dont hold it that tight anymore.

But I have the same problem as you, holding to tight with the non-hooking hand. And I dont know what to do about it either.
I guess best is to let go sometimes and stretch, maybe using a stress-ball to soften up the hand.

Looking forward to hear more about your hook-experience!

]]> By: Mia http://www.planetjune.com/blog/review-ergonomic-crochet-hook/comment-page-1/#comment-20645 Mia Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:01:19 +0000 http://www.planetjune.com/blog/?p=701#comment-20645 June! Thanks for the great review. I'd been wondering how those hooks were working out for you, and you really discussed all the finer points of what it is to hold a hook while crocheting :) June! Thanks for the great review. I’d been wondering how those hooks were working out for you, and you really discussed all the finer points of what it is to hold a hook while crocheting :)

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