How to hold your hook and yarn

Nobody holds a hook the “right” way. What matters is that your hand is relaxed and the yarn moves smoothly. Start with a 5 mm hook and a smooth, light-coloured worsted yarn, so you can see what you are doing.

Choose a grip

The pencil grip. Hold the hook as you would a pencil, with your thumb and index finger resting on the flat part of the shaft. It gives fine control, and many people find it comfortable for small stitches.

The knife grip. Hold the hook as you would a knife, with your palm over the handle and your thumb and index finger on the flat part. It is steadier for long sessions and heavy yarn.

Try both for a few minutes each. Keep the hook’s throat (the notch) facing you or slightly down so it does not slip off the yarn.

Feed the yarn

1. Hold the hook in your dominant hand and the work in the other.
2. Drape the yarn over your non-dominant index finger, from the ball side to the work side.
3. Pass the working yarn between your ring and little fingers (or wrap it once around the little finger) to create a gentle drag.
4. Use your middle finger and thumb to hold the base of the work close to where you are stitching.

If it feels awkward

• Stitches are too tight. Loosen your grip on the yarn, not the hook. Go up a hook size while you practise.
• Your hand cramps. Take a short break and shake out your fingers. Consider a hook with a thicker handle.
• The yarn keeps slipping. Add one more wrap around your little finger.

Next, make a slip knot and a foundation chain.