Ergonomics in Crocheting: Healthy Posture and Techniques

Dear users, dear authors,
Do you have any tips on how to avoid pain while doing needlework or how to make crocheting—or needlework in general—easier? 

Hi everyone!

It’s very important to hold the hook(s) in a relaxed manner and to sit in a comfortable, relaxed position.
Also, you should stop immediately (yeah, easier said than done 🫣😂) as soon as you feel pain anywhere. This is especially true for stiffness in the neck area and pain in the wrists. And if tendonitis is actually starting to develop or has already set in, you have to be really strong and take a few days off.

Best regards

I prefer to sit in a corner of the couch and place a pillow under my elbows. That way, my arms are supported and my fingers can move freely. This takes the strain off my shoulders and neck because my arms are resting.

And of course, don’t forget good lighting and, if needed, reading glasses for handwork. If the lighting is poor or your glasses aren’t the right prescription for close-up work, you automatically end up craning your head and neck toward your project. That causes neck pain.

When I had my craft glasses made, I carefully measured the distance from the lens to where I always hold my needle while working. To do this, you have to sit exactly where you always do your needlework. Even a difference of 1 to 2 cm makes a big difference here. So measure it carefully beforehand—or have your husband measure it—and then take those measurements to the optician. At the optician’s, they’ll always hand you a book to read. But that’s not necessarily the same distance as from your eyes to your knitting.

Best regards, Ina

Recently, a friend showed me somewhere online that, similar to reading pillows, there are also crochet pillows—that might actually be a good way to support your arms.
I crocheted the temperature blanket at the table last year during the summer months, but it ended up being too warm on my legs; that’s a completely different posture than when you’re on the sofa.