Hands becoming very tired or cramping

Hands becoming very tired or cramping Convert this to crochet

I have Rheumatoid & Osteoarthritis and the crochetting helps to keep my hands limber. I have a tip I wanted to pass on to others that may have a problem with their hands also: I use the foam rubber Pencil grips made by Bic. I use the ribbed kind because they can fit on the larger hooks and make them much easier to use. They come in various colors per package so you can color-code them to the hooks if you want. Bic also has the smooth grips which fit on some of the smaller hooks as well. Cyndy C

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From Margaret who writes I keep a small container of baby powder w/ my crocheting. I use a small amount on my hands to make the yarn slide through my fingers, my hands don't seem to get as tired and projects seem to work up a lot faster...

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Hi - Cyndy here from Glens Falls, NY. Just started receiving the newsletter...love it. Its very informative for both knitting and crochetting. I do both, but mostly crochet. I have Rheumatoid & Osteoarthritis and the crochetting helps to keep my hands limber. I'm only 52 and had to give up my job as a bookkeeper 2 years ago (couldn't keep up all the writing and fitting those numbers in those tiny spaces anymore!). I have a tip I wanted to pass on to others that may have a problem with their hands also: I use the foam rubber Pencil grips made by Bic. I use the ribbed kind because they can fit on the larger hooks and make them much easier to use. They come in various colors per package so you can color-code them to the hooks if you want. Bic also has the smooth grips which fit on some of the smaller hooks as well. Thanks again & keep up the great site!

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I've tried a lot of different things to "pad" my crochet hooks. There is a thin foam tube you can buy for under $2 (work a drop of dish soap around the handle of the hook before working the tube on), but here are a couple other things to try.

You can also get the rubber or foam sleeves intended for pencils or pens at the office supply store. The rubber ones have a triangular shape that keeps the hook from twisting in your hand. If you are using a thin hook, you can wind a rubber band or piece of foam around the hook before adding the sleeve to ensure a tight fit.

Another option, especially good for people who have pain when trying to hold the hook tightly enough to work, is to find a child's ball (the kind with a sponge center) in a size that's comfortable, punch a hole through the center and insert the hook. It gives enough resistance to maintain the position of the hook but provides a large surface to hold, minimizing pain from arthritis, cramping, etc. C. Lapp