How To Hold Yarn When Crocheting

In this article, we will be talking about how to hold yarn when crocheting, as well as tips on controlling yarn tension, specifically for beginners.

Many beginners have trouble achieving even tension while crocheting, which can lead to frustration and giving up on the craft altogether.

This is because the item they have been working on could end up uneven looking, smaller, or larger than expected.

And we don't want you to feel discouraged by this, so we will go over some crochet tension tips to help you manage and improve your tension while you crochet.

What Is Yarn Tension?

When crocheting working with an even yarn tension is important because it allows you to create even consistent stitches and helps to maintain the overall shape and structure of the project you are working on.

As you crochet, there needs to be the right amount of tension to the yarn so that your stitches are not too loose or tight.

Image showing a comparison of different tensions.

If the yarn tension is too loose, your stitches will be too big and floppy, and your project can turn out much bigger than it was supposed to be.

If the yarn tension is too tight, your stitches will be too small, and your crocheted piece can turn out to be smaller and much tighter than it should be.

Yarn tension is also affected by the yarn thickness and the size of the crochet hook you use.

And if a pattern says that gauge (the number of stitches and rows per inch) is crucial, make a gauge swatch to ensure that you get the correct tension for the pattern before starting your project.

Learn more about gauge and how to make a gauge swatch on our page crochet gauge for beginners.

How to Hold Yarn While Crocheting

The most important thing when holding yarn for crocheting is that it should feel comfortable in your hands as you work.

And you should be able to pull the hook and yarn easily through stitches and without the need of constantly readjusting the yarn in your hands as you work.

Below you will find three common ways to hold yarn when crocheting, but these are not the only ways.

And if after trying these methods and none of these suit you, you may find that variation will work better for you.

How To Hold Crochet Yarn

The following are instructions for right-handed crocheters, where the hook is held in your dominant hand, the right, and the yarn in your left hand.

Method 1

Here is how I hold the yarn, I did this automatically when I first started and have never switched.

After making a slip knot and you are ready to crochet, hold the hook in your right hand and slip your left pointer finger between the two yarn strands hanging from the hook.
The tail strand should be on the palm side of the finger (the front), and the working yarn should fall to the back of the pointer finger.
Then close your fingers and have your left palm open and facing you. You should see the working yarn run along the base joints of your middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie. Fold these three fingers toward the palm and over the yarn.

Method 2

This method might be a good option for loose crocheters because wrapping and weaving the yarn through your fingers gives more yarn tension as you work.

Hold the beginning of the yarn and wrap the yarn around your pinky finger from the inside to the outside and then under your pinky,
Next, bring the yarn over your ring finger and then under your middle finger, ending with the hanging over your index finger.

Method 3

This method is similar to method 2, it gives a little less tension and might be good if you are a tight crocheter.

Hold the beginning of the yarn and wrap the yarn around your pinky finger from the inside to the outside and then under your pinky,
Next, bring the yarn under the ring and middle fingers, and bring it over your index finger.

Tips For Holding Yarn When Crocheting

Here are some more tips on how to hold yarn when crocheting.

Start by holding the yarn and hook in a way that feels most comfortable to you, and if necessary, try variations to help you achieve the correct tension.
Relax your grip as you work because it will help you maintain consistent even tension. Also, relaxing your grip will stop your hands from getting sore as you crochet for long periods of time.
Use your left hand to control the tension by squeezing and releasing the yarn with your fingers as your work.
The yarn should be free-flowing and tangle-free before you work. So, take a few minutes to untangle or rewind the balls if they look like they will tangle as you work.
Don't get discouraged if it feels award to hold the hook and yarn because, with some time and practice, it will soon become second nature.
As you learn to crochet, your hands can become fatigued because you are training them to do something new, so take frequent breaks to rest and stretch your hands.

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