this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Crochet
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I'm not doing it yet. Just started knitting in December of last year, and am looking to get into crochet as well. I own a pack of cheap hooks and now it's just a matter of figuring out how it works.
Those who do both, which one aggravates carpal tunnel worse? I'm scared crochet will hurt more because one wrist is doing a lot, but I don't know. Also, fellow Canadians, where can I get decently priced wool yarn? Do you even use wool yarn in crochet?!?
I have some wrist issues from an old injury and honestly I find that what aggravates mine the most is just doing any one particular thing too repetitively. So I flit around between crochet, knitting and cross stitch for the variety of movement.
There are things you can do crochet-wise though, for example you'll mostly see people flicking the wrist of their hand that holds the hook, but if mine is playing up I'll wedge my elbow against something and keep that wrist as still as possible and just do all the movement with my other hand.
p.s. yes you can definitely use wool yarn but I'm not Canadian so can't help with the other part of that 😄
Thanks for the help! I see a lot of crochet people using cotton and synthetic yarns, maybe because the stitch has different flexibility than knit? I already adapted my knitting to continental which helps a lot, so I may just look into methods that adapt.
Cotton and acrylic are great for things like amigurumi because you get better stitch definition, so they do tend to be popular. Still though the flexibility makes a difference too like you say, I knitted a top from linen yarn once and it just ruined my wrist.
Thanks for all the help! I might just pick up a couple of cheap cotton yarns somewhere to practice crochet. Can't stand the texture of acrylic, otherwise I'd hit up the dollar store. Still hunting for decent priced wool, we'll see!
Good luck with that part!
I'm in the process (still, after 3 months) of making that sleepy bear blanket. I accidentally bought wool for the bear faces. I made one and then stopped because i worried they would shrink/felt when it gets washed. Should i go ahead with it and see what happens? Make the bears oversized and wash before attaching? Or buy different yarn? TIA for any advice.
Hey, so I'm not familiar with the specific pattern but it sounds like probably a baby blanket?
In that case it's going to depend on what sort of wool, for example if it's labeled "superwash" then that generally holds up well to being washed although it can sometimes grow quite a bit so it'd be worth washing a swatch to test it. Personally for a baby if you're going with wool I'd lean towards only using merino as it's very soft and good for sensitive skin (source: myself, I can't wear any other kind of wool 😢)
Any other wool I'd be concerned not only about how it'll hold up to washing but also just the risk of skin irritations. There's also the risk that baby may be allergic to wool in general.
I’m just trying to get back into crochet and knitting. I used to do a lot of both before we had kids, but found it just didn’t work when they were small.
To avoid repetitive stress injuries, I alternate between knitting and crochet. They seem to use different parts of my brain.
Sometimes I feel my brain just wants one, sometimes the other. I also try to have a mix of finicky projects that take a lot of counting or with fine yarn and some with larger hooks and needles.
I find that cheap hooks are more stressful on my body. In the end, I have purchased high quality stainless steel hooks one by one over time as I need them.
As for wool in Canada, better prices are usually found at places carrying discontinued lines and colours. Wool-Tyme in Ottawa sells a lot online. If you’re visiting the region, the store has a large back area where they clear discontinued yarn. See https://wool-tyme.com/collections/sale
Thanks for all your help! Unfortunately I'm not near Ottawa and don't go there too often. I'll check out what my local yarn store has on sale. Unfortunately the online retailers don't seem to have the best deals (or maybe that's just the way I feel).
My hooks are mid quality, I think? I'll upgrade to something better after I get a bit more experience under my belt. I've been known to orphan hobbies so I don't want to drop too much cash up front.
I find crochet intimidating. It's funny because I think most people feel that way about knitting?
I knitted for many years before I was willing to seriously attempt crochet.
My grandmother taught me both, but knitting was something my mum and others could help me with later and crochet was not.
It was actually when I was really sick and need to lay up in bed for a time that I decided to give it a try. I didn’t want to wreck my knitting or needlework projects.
I sent my spouse out on a quest for some yarn, a hook and a ‘how to’ book.
I really found having a decent hook reduced my frustration. Buying one good quality one with a steel head and plastic handle in the size you need for a first project will really help.
Most of the less expensive ones aren’t smooth enough at the tip where you push into the work and some of them are too rounded. I find most of the American brands really bad. And you’ll want the metric sized ones anyway so you can have more precision. Don’t buy a whole set until you know what works for you ergonomically in terms of handles.
Just dropping in again to add that someone has created a yarn exchange community [email protected].
I don’t know how people would sort out selling and exchanging yarn, but there it is.