Arthritis in the hands, wrists, and fingers limits joint movement and reduces grip strength. Symptoms such as stiffness, inflammation, and pain make it harder to hold the knitting needles or crochet hooks and maintain yarn tension.
However, with ergonomic tools, the pain and discomfort can be minimised, allowing for crafting joy. The top knitting needle option for arthritis are Cubics, their innovative square-shape offers an ergonomic grip that requires less pressure to hold. The unique shape provides better control and evenly distributes tension across your hands and fingers.
When it comes to crochet hooks, Waves 2.0 offer soft rubber handles that assist with a comfortable ergonomic grip. Oasis is also an innovative interchangeable single-ended crochet hook with one ergonomic handle and different hook sizes. The handles fit comfortably in your hands, and the grooves on the handle ensure a firm grip, for hours of crafting comfort without any hand fatigue.
Top Tips:
- Support the arms so they don’t tire you. Use armrests or pillows to position your elbows comfortably and support your wrists. This prevents tension from building in your shoulders and hands.
- Use larger crochet hooks or knitting needles. Larger sizes reduce the number of tight movements needed per stitch & are easier to grip. They’re especially helpful for those with limited finger mobility.
- Warm Up before with simple exercises. Make a routine of rotating your wrists, stretching your fingers wide, and doing gentle thumb rolls.
- Take frequent breaks and avoid long stretches of stitching. Try the “20-20 rule” every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to stretch and rest your hands.
- Choose soft, smooth yarns. Opt for soft merino or wool blends that glide smoothly and stitch easily.
