Comments on: Hate Getting Yarn Burn?

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:00:57 +0000

I know what you mean Melissa. I’m a really tight crocheter myself and I’d find that, especially doing amigurumi, that I could only do it for a short time and then I’d be in so much pain that I couldn’t get myself to go back to the project again for a few days. I also had a callous that was growing on my thumb from forcing the hook through the stitches. I’ve had to force myself to loosen up, though I could probably still use a bit of work on that.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:33:13 +0000

I found that holding the hook knife-style as opposed to pencil-style does not cause as much fatigue in your hand. My wrists will occasionally get sore, but for the most part, I can crochet for hours without any issues. Although, I did have to teach myself to loosen up a bit on the tension. I was a very tight crocheter….that would cause more strain than anything else.

By: Hezaaa

Hezaaa — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:04:31 +0000

Ive never gotten yarn burn but my hands do get achey after working on a project for a while. I think that I may invest in a pair of gloves or… something within the next few weeks. I agree that switching hand positions really helps but when working for long periods of time sometimes that just not enough.

-Happy stitching!

By: Jessica L

Jessica L — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:40:14 +0000

I totally get yarn burn all the time! I think it’s because i always pull the yarn too tight to get my tension right. Oh well, now I have an excuse to use some embroidery floss to crochet. They’ll go marvelously with fingerless gloves…

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:15:28 +0000

I havent experienced yarn burn but I do get blisters/caluses on my finger from my hook… I use fabric tape…kind used in hospitals or by athletes to wrap my finger. I also have aching in my hands from holding a psotion for too long but the crafting gloves and had exercises help with that.

By: Barbara Penn

Barbara Penn — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:27:05 +0000

Suggestion for those who get crochet fatigue: before you start (or even after you get the fatigue), do some hand exercises. I learned this in sign language class; the first thing we did was this exercise:

put your hands in front of your chest

clench both hands into a fist

without moving the arms away from your chest, open your hand suddenly & vigorously (as if trying to flip something yucky off all five fingers at once)

do this over and over until the hands feel nice & warmed up

P.S.–I agree that changing hook position occasionally will help too.
All these suggestions will work for knitters as well.

By: Lila

Lila — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:19:55 +0000

I used to get yarn burn, when i was a kid, but that because i held the yarn so darn tight! I have since learned that the yarn will not escape my nimble fingers and I don’t get yarn burn anymore XD !

By: Beth Ham

Beth Ham — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:00:59 +0000

Funny this should appear on a blog this morning! I just made an open ended finger-stall out of crochet cotton last night to ward off yarn burn. I thought I was being clever with a grand new idea. I guess there is nothing new under the sun! LOL! (Finger stalls are finger covers that look like little bitty condoms.) My dad used finger stalls working in a machine shop to protect his fingers. My mother borrowed them when pinning sewing patterns.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:54:52 +0000

I’ve been crocheting for over 35 years and I have always had to put a band-aid on my finger because no matter what I work with I get yarn burn. I’ve also covered the handles of my hooks with polymer clay to ease the strain on my hand.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:49:59 +0000

I get yarn burn, but it’s from the speed I crochet and the quality of yarn. I figure it comes with the territory and look at it as a badge of honor.