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6 Knitting and Crochet Techniques for Aging Hands

June 7, 2016 by FaveCrafts

As you age, your body changes. This is especially true for your vision, hands, and overall coordination, some of the most essential parts of knitting and crocheting. While you may have learned how to crochet years ago, the truth is that sometimes with age you have to relearn how to crochet or how to knit in a more convenient and comfortable way. Aging does not mean you have to give up your favorite hobbies, but making some adjustments to your techniques can make the whole process much more enjoyable. Check out the 6 Knitting and Crochet Techniques for Aging Hands below to learn about some adjustments you can make to your crochet patterns and knitting projects to make them easier and more enjoyable.

One of the biggest gripes we hear from our audience when it comes to aging and crochet and knitting projects is that hand and wrist fatigue increasingly becomes an issue. Sore wrists and cramped hands can turn the cutest crochet project into a painful process. Look out below for our surprisingly simple solutions.

6 Knitting and Crochet Techniques for Aging Hands SAU(2)

6 Knitting and Crochet Techniques for Aging Hands

  1. Add light and a magnifier to your space.

    Adjust your crochet space to add more light and invest in a magnifier. While it may not seem like sore eyes are directly connected to wrist paint while crocheting, this extra issue can really affect your whole process. Crocheters and knitters who squint may be inadvertently adding tension to their hands as the struggle to see what they are doing. Plus, pausing in uncomfortable and unnatural positions due to poor lighting can easily cause over-exertion.

  2. Stretch, Stretch, Stretch

    Make sure to stretch your hands before, during, and after you work on your projects. No crochet technique in the world will make the project easier if you do not take care of yourself. Give your muscles a fighting chance by warming them up each time you crochet or knit. Stretching amidst a hooking or purling session can help too. Consider learning some new stretches or trying yoga for your wrists and hands if you are especially sore.

  3. Give Yourself More Time

    The reality is that the more wear and tear your hands receive, the more time they are going to need to recover. This means giving yourself more time to finish projects. Don’t plan on sitting down and crocheting that 2 Hour Pot Holders pattern all the way through in an afternoon. Break up the time you spend crocheting or knitting into smaller segments.

  4. Get (or Make) Hand-Friendly Hooks

    Basic and simple crochet hooks can be too small to grip for an extended period of time. Make sure you spend the money on crochet hooks and knitting needles that add some comfort to your crocheting. We recommend buying or making your own knitting needle or crochet hook polymer clay crafts. Adding a softer, bulkier handle to your tools can work wonders.Funky Polymer Clay Crochet Hook Handles

  5. Skip the super intricate projects.

    We all know that crochet patterns with thinner yarn and tinier needles are much harder to make. You should avoid these more intricate projects or, at least, work on them a lot less frequently. Bulky and chunky knitting patterns and crochet projects can be created a lot more quickly and require much less intricate, hand-hurting work.

  6. Be Kind to Yourself

    Aging can be a tricky process. It can be really hard to admit that sometimes you are just not capable of doing things as quickly or as precisely as you used to. Above all else, remember to be kind to yourself. While it might be a bummer to crochet a little less or work on easy knitting patterns instead of impressive intermediate endeavors, remember why you started creating in the first place. You can find as much joy in an hour of crocheting than you used two in three hours of hooking.


Easy Crochet Patterns and Beginner Knitting Patterns to Try

Check out these easy crochet patterns that make you crochet experience easy peasy and beginner knitting patterns that are gentle on your hands. Use the knitting and crochet techniques above with these free project patterns we love.

  • 50+ Free Easy Crochet Patterns and Help for Beginners
  • 45 Quick and Easy Free Knitting Patterns and Beginner Help

Did you learn to crochet when you were younger or later in life?

Filed Under: Crochet Tagged With: Craft Tips and Tricks, Crochet, crochet tips, Favecrafts, How to Crochet, how to knit, Kaylee Pope, knitting tips

How to Crochet: 9 Easy Crochet Projects for Kids

October 30, 2013 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

Crocheted Heart Wall HangingDon’t believe anyone if they tell you crocheting isn’t cool! Take it from me; as a yarn skeptic, I wasn’t convinced that I could ever enjoy crochet. Recently, though, I was proved wrong.

In our office, we took a class together so we could learn how to crochet. I thought I would struggle through the class, since I tend to mess up any kind of craft that involves weaving, sewing, embroidery…really anything that doesn’t involve paint or clay. But to my surprise, I made the starting chain with ease, and quickly picked up on the basic crochet stitch we’d be using to make our dish cloths. In minutes, I was crocheting faster than the speed of light!

Okay, I might be exaggerating a little. But watching my hands create something I never thought I could do was just so exciting. I caught myself daydreaming about improving my skills to the point where I could make all of my Christmas gifts from crochet projects.

Learning to crochet is easier than you might think. After all, if I had a blast accomplishing a simple little dish cloth, just imagine how much fun you’ll have trying the easy crochet projects on this list. These beginner crochet patterns are the perfect way to get kids hooked on crochet. You might just have a crochet expert in your house before you know it!

Free Crochet Patterns for Kids

Simple Crochet HeartCrochet Flower HeadbandCrochet an ACrocheted Heart Wall HangingFantastic Crocheted Mustache

Every one of these adorable crochet projects is easy for kids and teens to make. Try them all!

  • Finger Crochet
  • Simple Crochet Heart
  • Crochet Flower Headband
  • Crochet an A
  • Cute Crochet Hair Bows
  • Crocheted Heart Wall Hanging
  • Hand Crocheted Knit Bracelet
  • Fantastic Crocheted Mustache
  • Crochet iPhone Cover

 

Learn to Crochet Online ClassIf I still haven’t convinced you that you can crochet with confidence, you can always try taking a crochet class. And have I got the perfect class for you! Annie’s Crafts runs incredible online video tutorials that will teach you just about any crafting trade, and AllFreeKidsCrafts is currently giving away free access to the Learn to Crochet Class! You’ll be able to follow along with the video and practice the essential crochet stitches you’ll need to churn out five pretty projects. Our giveaway ends on November 9, 2013 at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, so make sure you enter today for your chance to win!

What do you want to crochet?

 

Filed Under: Crochet Tagged With: free crochet patterns, How to Crochet, Kids Crafts Projects

How to Crochet the Bobble Stitch

November 14, 2012 by FaveCrafts

In my recent rendezvous into the world of crochet, I recently learned how to crochet the bobble stitch.  Perfect for scarves, purses, and sweaters, this fun stitch is great for adding dimension and texture to your projects.

If you’re unfamiliar with the bobble stitch, here’s an awesome tutorial on how to do it from our friends over at AllFreeCrochet.com:

Once I started crocheting with the bobble stitch, I just couldn’t stop myself!  I’ve added it to almost all my open projects and I’m always looking for fun bobble stitch patterns to make for my family and friends.

 

If you want to venture into creating the bobble stitch, I’ve gathered up some of my favorite patterns to help you on your way.  These crochet patterns are easy and fun…and perfect for holiday gift giving.

I love this Shimmering Lacy Bobble Scarf and Wristlets set.  This textured crochet pattern is great for Christmas and can be worn by women and men of all ages.  The use of Shimmer Yarn gives this winter set a nice sparkle, but you can easily use regular Red Heart yarn as well. This is a perfect pattern if you’re new to the bobble stitch, since you’ll be repeating the stitch several times!  If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can create a matching hat to complete the set!

If you’re looking for something nice and warm to cuddle up with during the cold winter months, you just have to check out the Aran Crochet Throw, made with a beautiful bobble stitch accent.  This pattern is a little more advanced than the others, so if you’re looking for a challenge, you’ve come to the right place!  This lovely crochet afghan can be made in any color, but I love the soft white of this pattern…and it makes it perfect for any room in my house, regardless of the decor scheme.

One of my favorite bobble stitch patterns is this adorable Brain Freeze Ice Cream Sleeve.  When you have one of those days that only a small pint of ice cream can cure, use this cozy to keep your fingers from freezing as you dive in for another bite.  This wrap can easily be altered to fit a container of any size, and can even be used as a coffee mug wrap as well.

 

Have you tried crocheting the bobble stitch?  What’s your favorite bobble stitch crochet pattern?

Filed Under: Crochet Tagged With: Crochet Tutorial, Favecrafts, free crochet pattern, How to Crochet, Melissa Conner

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas with New eBook from FaveCrafts and Red Heart

November 29, 2011 by FaveCrafts

Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is now officially here.  Bright lights, red bows, gift-giving and smiling people – the holidays seem to bring the best in us.  This year, FaveCrafts and Red Heart Yarn hope to make your holiday celebrations even more special with their new eBook:  Jolly Holidays: 15 Free Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects.

Download your copy of Jolly Holidays: 15 Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects free eBook from Red Heart Yarns today.

Thanks to Red Heart, free patterns for Christmas projects fill the Jolly Holidays eBook. This fabulous free eBook contains crochet Christmas ornaments, patterns for easy crochet Christmas gifts, free knit Christmas ornament patterns, and more. In addition to great knitting patterns for Christmas tree ornaments and crochet patterns for Christmas ornaments, the Jolly Holidays eBook includes knitting pattern for fingerless gloves and easy crochet projects like crochet hat and crochet scarf patterns.

You’ll love making your holiday celebration as unique and special as those who take part in it.  Get all of your decorations and gifts made well before December 25, using the Jolly Holidays: 15 Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects eBook free from FaveCrafts and Red Heart Yarn as your source of inspiration.

 

Filed Under: Free eBooks Tagged With: crocheting, Free Crochet Afghan Patterns, How to Crochet, how to knit, Knitting, red heart yarn, red heart yarn company, red heart yarn patterns

Extreme Crochet Super Stars Tutorial

October 23, 2011 by TheCrochetCrowd

Learn how to take ordinary star patterns and make them extreme.

Using the Super Star Patterns as shown on this video, I have converted them into super extreme stars with just changing my hook. Learn how I did it here.

I kid you not, the super star I am holding up is only 4 Revolutions. It is that fast to get to those sizes.

In this tutorial I will show you how to extreme your stars. I give you links inside the video to take the 5 Point Star, 6 Point Star and 10 Point Star Patterns and convert them to Super Stars in a snap.

Changing your hook to P Size and increase how much yarn you use will instantly change virtually any pattern you may have.

Watch Howto Craft Video Now
Play Extreme Star Tutorial Now

Here’s another free crochet pattern showing the Aruba Star.

Filed Under: Full Project Tutorials Tagged With: Crochet, crocheting, free, How to Crochet, michael sellick, Star, Super, The Crochet Crowd

Extreme Crochet Granny Squares Tutorial

October 22, 2011 by TheCrochetCrowd

Michael Sellick from The Crochet Crowd Demonstrates To How Extreme Crochet

What you see in this picture is 2 identical patterns. The one on top with all of the coloured Bernat Softee Chunky is the normal size version of this Catherine Wheel Stitch.

Simply by switching the hook to a P Size and ensuring you are using 3 strings at one time, the massive difference between the two is outstanding.

Learn how to Crochet A Massive Granny Square Using This Technique.

Try extreme granny squares on this Beautiful Cream Afghan Pattern; this will give your squares some punch.

Watch Howto Craft Video Now

Play Tutorial Now

Filed Under: Full Project Tutorials Tagged With: Crochet, DIY, free crochet patterns, How to Crochet, michael sellick, The Crochet Crowd

One Skein Wristlets Video Tutorial

October 21, 2011 by TheCrochetCrowd

Video Host, EvaEva923, has created a wonderful crochet follow along tutorial.
Follow along with this great tutorial to begin making your own Wristlets. EveaMarie really does a fab job in presenting this video. Click this picture to begin your free tutorial.

EveaMarie, a new host for AllFreeCrochet, has just released a brand new tutorial called One Skein Wristlets. Grab your crochet hook and follow along with her.

She makes following along easy and you can keep your wrists warm all winter long.

You can continue to receive many more free patterns at AllFreeCrochet.com. Here’s a free Wrist Cuff Pattern.

Filed Under: Full Project Tutorials Tagged With: DIY, free crochet pattern, How to Crochet, michael sellick, The Crochet Crowd, Video tutorial, Wristlets

Celebrate Your Love of Fiber on I Love Yarn Day!

October 5, 2011 by FaveCrafts

 

Do you knit and crochet or just absolutely adore fiber?  If this describes you, then October 14 is your day to tell the world.  Celebrate I Love Yarn Day along with the Craft Yarn Council this October.  Whether you knit it, crochet it, wear it, post it, tweet it, carry it, share it, give it, or bomb it, you will join fiber enthusiasts around the nation who love yarn just as much as you do!  And by spreading the word about how amazing fiber can be, you might even inspire another knitter or crocheter or two!

Can’t decide how to show your yarn love?  The Craft yarn Council has some great ideas on their website, ILoveYarn.org.  Here are a few of them:

  •     Create an I Love Day Yarn badge
  •     Teach someone to knit or crochet
  •     Do something for charity
  •     Wear a knitted or crocheted item
  •     Give a gift of yarn
  •     Take your yarn to work day
  •     Host a yarn-a-bration party
  •     Knit, crochet and craft in public

We also have several easy knitting and crochet patterns on AllFreeKnitting and AllFreeCrochet that would be great to make and wear on I Love Yarn Day.  Don’t miss a couple of our favorites below!

90 Minute Wasabi Cowl

90 Minute Wasabi Cowl from AllFreeKnitting.com

Sensational Scarf

Sensational Scarf from AllFreeCrochet.com

 

How will you celebrate I Love Yarn Day?  Tell us in the comments! 

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: caitlin eaton, craft yarn council, crocheting, easy crochet patterns, easy knitting patterns, How to Crochet, how to knit, i love yarn day, Knitting, knitting instructions

How to Crochet: 17 Popular Free Easy Crochet Patterns eBook

August 19, 2011 by AllFreeCrochet

Hey guys (and gals of course)! Because you are all such great fans and supporters of AllFreeCrochet.com I thought I’d come out with a brand new eBook for you to enjoy. I wanted to pick out some of the best free crochet patterns I could find and some of the popular ones you may have seen in the newsletter Hooked on Crochet.

The 17 Popular Free Crochet Patterns eBook is free to download so you don’t have to pay a single penny! Some of the great patterns you will find once you download it are shawls, hats, doilies, free crochet afghan patterns and much more. Remember the Framed Church Window? That’s in here too. 17 Popular Free Crochet Patterns eBook is your one-stop shop for the best free crochet patterns around. And since it’s free to download this eBook, you can get all 17 patterns immediately: just click on the download link and the PDF will download right away. Then you can print it or save it on your desktop.


    Download this fabulous eBook for free now!

After you download it, tell me what some of your favorite patterns are from this eBook!

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Crochet Tagged With: free crochet patterns, How to Crochet

How I Got Started in Crochet

June 24, 2011 by FaveCrafts

Guest post by: Robyn

I’ve been crocheting for over 15 years.  But I didn’t learn it from my grandmother, even though she crocheted all the time.   Nor did I learn from my mother, who can do basic crochet stitches but never learned to read a pattern.  The legacy of handmade crafts and needlework that had been passed down for generations in our family came to an abrupt halt when it came to me.  Not that I wasn’t interested; I’ve always been a crafty sort.  I just didn’t have the patience to sit down with someone else and learn a specific technique.

For me it all started with a little pamphlet titled “Teach Yourself Crochet!” I don’t even remember where I got it.  I was 19 or 20 and bored, looking through my collection of forgotten books for something to do.  I found that pamphlet, a small stash of yarn – probably from Grandma – and a hook, and prepared for what I was convinced would be a long, hard learning process.

To my surprise (and relief) it was easy!  It came to me like I’d been crocheting all my life.  My stitches were uneven, my grasp of pattern abbreviations a little slow, but it just felt right.  I’d dabbled in other needlecrafts before, with some success.  None of them felt as natural and easy as crochet.

As I started making more complex patterns, the mathematical nature of crochet became clear.  I realized that it wasn’t just this square that added three stitches at the corner to make a crisp turn – it was every square.  I realized that making a perfect circle was as easy as increasing the same amount of stitches in every round.  I realized that nice, even edges were a simple matter of making the correct number of turning chains every time.

Each new a-ha! moment increased my confidence in this new craft.  Confidence led to speed, practice led to better technique, and experience made reading patterns easy.  Now crochet is something I can do without really thinking about it – which makes it relaxing rather than a source of frustration and stress.  It never ceases to amaze me how a handful of yarn or ball of thread can become a thing of beauty.

Crochet can enrich your life in so many ways.  The repetitive motion calms you physically and emotionally.  The unfolding of each beautiful new project really boosts your self-esteem.  As your project nears completion, you get a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  No matter how simple or complex the project, crochet is just plain good for you!

If you’re just starting out, there are plenty of online resources to help you gain confidence and improve your technique – not to mention free crochet patterns!  Check out the Basics section of AllFreeCrochet.com for all kinds of tips, how-to articles, and simple projects.  Even the humblest project can become a cherished gift or a beautiful addition to your home.  Get crocheting today!

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: crafting, Crochet, free crochet patterns, How to Crochet, yarn

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When I first started sewing, the idea of sewing a ruffle or gathering fabric seemed daunting to me. It looked so complicated and difficult that I assumed it was a technique for more experienced sewers. I was proven wrong, however, when my grandma ignored my misgivings and insisted I try it. It turns out that […]

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Find Cute Valentine’s Day Ideas in the new eBook from AllFreeHolidayCrafts

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