Holy cow, can you believe it’s mid August already? Where does the time go? It’s Monday again which means you have yet another chance to win a fabulous prize! Last week we asked “What tips do you have for changing yarn colors mid-project?” If you missed it, make sure you check out all the great tips!
The past few weeks I’ve been working on a baby blanket made with granny squares. As I’ve said in the past, I will always consider myself new to crochet. With that said, I still have no idea how to keep an even tension. Most of my squares are a bit different in size because some are tighter than others. I think finding your tension in a crochet or knitting pattern is important so your project will come out as it should. Keeping this in mind, take a minute to answer the question below to help out all our yarn folks. Maybe we can all learn something new!
What tips do you have for keeping an even tension?
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I find that my tension in my crocheting is in direct proportion to the tension in my life…If I try to crochet when I am stressed, tired, or in a hurry, I hold the yarn more tightly and my stitches are tighter; whereas, if I’m relaxed, the tension in my stitches seems to be fine. If I have a lot of interruptions(someone at the door, a phone call, laundry to take out of the dryer, cats trying to play with the yarn or sit in the middle of the piece I’m working on) while working on a piece it can also affect the stitch tension.
I keep my tension the same by the way i hold the yarn in my left hand i wrap the yarn over the top of my middle finger and under my pointer finger…if i find it is too loose i use my pinkie to hold it tighter to my palm….this seems to work for me when i pick up the yarn in the hook that i hold in my right hand…i am right handed and find if i dont crochet this way i will pull too big amount and my stitches will be uneven….
I try to always stick to the tension that feels most natural to me. I change hooks if I can’t get the gauge right, rather than changing the way I crochet. Also, the type of yarn influences my tension a lot. So, I try do always do the same and try different hooks. And if I work on a project for a long time I can usually eliminate differences in gauge during blocking.
I’m very bad I never check my gauge and I’ve never had a problem with my tension so far I’ve been lucky in how things turn out; great site love free patterns thanks
By holding the yarn in between my fingers, it gives me the right tension.
I find that I start tight and loosen up as I go along so I deliberately start with what I consider a loose chain and first row and it all matches up nicely to a good square. Keep an eye on the starting tension and compare it to what you are actually doing later on. Some have the tendency to start loose and tighten up as they go along, while others like me start tight and loosen up. Once you *know yourself*, you can adjust right away to be consistent throughout. 🙂
I keep the yard wrapped once around my pinky finger then over my index finger. This way I can control the tension with my index finger without the yarn being too loose. The best way to keep your tension even, though, is practice, practice, practice!
I keep my tension loose and when I feel it getting tight I just take a deep breath and that brings me back to my relaxing, loose but smooth rythm.
I wrap the yarn around my pinkie and guide it with my index finger and it seems to do the trick
I keep my tension control with my left hand, and sometimes have to do some relaxation techniques to keep myself loose!! Blessing each stitch helps, especially if the piece is a chemo cap or baby cap. I get as much of a blessing as the recipient, whom I rarely meet!
I weave the yarn over/under my 4 fingers – have tried many ways over the years, but this one works for me!
I turn the tv or a radio on so it takes my mind to a different place. 🙂
I can’t crochet because I can’t hold the yarn around my fingers to get the tension right. When I knit I just hold the yarn in my right hand not around any fingers. My stitches are very even and neat. People comment on my stitches saying they are so even and looks very professional.
My first thought when I saw the question was: “I crochet to get rid of tension”, then I realized you wanted a technique answer. While I do wind the yarn through my fingers, after what feels like a thousand projects, my tension is automatic. I can pause, stop, and restart dozens of times on the same project and you can’t tell one stitch from another. So I think the secret isn’t so much the winding through my fingers, but the repetitive practice of hundreds of projects.
I crochet with size 0 thread mostly. I keep my tension by wrapping the thread once around my little finger. Sometimes I wrap a piece of clear tape around my little finger so the thread will slide if my hands are perspiring.
I wrap the yarn around my little finger and then loop it over my index finger as mentioned by Beth, but I also remind myself to relax, relax, relax.
Seems like when I am working on a project I tend to tense up so reminding myself to relax really does help and, of course, as Beth also said, practice, practice.
2 wraps around index finger.
I weave the yarn over and under my 4 fingers.
I hold my yarn with my right hand around index finger and hold the crocheted piece with my index finger and thumb to control the amount of yarn that goes throw the needle. Also it depends on the type of thread and size of the hook. If I am using a large hook I tend to let my yarn be loose and if it really matters with the pattern I try to stay on gauge and sometimes have to adjust my hooks.
Crocheting is my stress buster for sure especially since waiting on first grandbaby. My kids say moms stressed again she made another outfit.
I crochet the way my mom taught me. I hold the crochet hook in my right hand like a pencil and hold the yarn in place with my bottom three fingers. My tensions is tight and even.
I have a very tight tension. I have to make sure have plenty of yarn unwound from the ball and have it wrapped around my pinky and my pointer finger. But, if I’m stressing, it doesn’t matter how careful I am, it is going to be tight.
I find that if my tension for a project is continuously too tight, I either graduate to a larger needle for that project, or I switch to a project that uses a larger needle anyway. I tend to relax whenever I am knitting or crocheting, so I find that sometimes working on a little project will get me relaxed and then I can switch and work on a larger project and then my tension works out just fine.
I too weave the yarn between my fingers but which fingers depends on the yarn or thread I am working with. In addition I keep the skein or ball of yarn free flowing.
I make sure my yarn comes out of the skien easily or if it is in a ball, that the ball can turn easily, but not roll away by putting it in a bowl or jar.
I thread the yarn up between my pinkie and ring finger, over the ring finger and middle finger, down between the middle finger and index finger and all the way around the index finger and hold it between the middle and index fingers. I hold my work between my thumb and middle finger
This way I can crochet close to my hand and pull the yarn with my index finger by slightly opening my other fingers,pull up with the index finger, then close them to hold it until I need more. Sometimes I have to take up slack by winding the yarn around my index finger two times until it gets taught, then let out one of the winds as I crochet to loosen again.
It takes a little practice, but like anything worthwhile, once you master it, you will be able to crochet quickly and easily.
Just sit relaxed watching TV, Don’t pull on it to tighten it. Just do it natural. Try to watch that my stitches are right though so I don’t have to rip out and start over.
I always hold it down with my pinky finger and ring finger. that way I can keep a consistant feel to the yarn. My tention stays consistant because it is a feel that I am getting used to so the only variation is the yarn or hook.
I wrap the yarn between my pinky and ring finger, up over my ring and middle fingers (sometimes twice depending on the yarn). I think practice is the best way to keep an even tension. I tried many different ways of holding the yarn before finding one that worked for me. Also, when I know I am stressed/tensed up (which happens a lot since we’re military), I try to focus on not crocheting too tightly. Paying attention to my work also helps to get my mind off of whatever is bothering me that particular week lol!
I find my tension goes hand in hand with whatever is going on in my life at the time–I have no secret way of holding the yarn–I just do it–If I am tense I do it faster!
particular to granny squares, I’ve found that if I do each square by itself from start to finish, they’re each different (which is not always a bad thing) but if I do the production-line (make a whole bunch of centers, then crochet round each center, and so on) they’re much more uniform.
I find wrapping the yarn around my little finger gives just the perfect amount of tension and the least problem. I have been knitting for over 40 years and this seems to work best for me!!! Learned from a very old friend who was so experienced at knitting she could have gone into business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t hold my yarn the way all the instructions-and the way my Mom tried to teach me-. To keep my tension, I have the yarn wrapped partially around my pointer finger, then held against my hand with my ring and pinky fingers.
I keep my tension by wraping the yarn over my index finger and under my middle finger. I keep it held between the two fingers. It seems to work well for me.
I use my pinky finger because no matter what your mood is, your pinky usually don’t tense up. And if it does, I think turning the TV or radio on helps relax your mind 🙂
I have crocheted for over 40 years and I find I have no problem with keeping the tension the same. But, of course, I never stop crocheting – I crochet year-round so that helps too. I think the way you hold the yarn helps keep your tension correct.
I am a knitter only and I learned to knit by wrapping the yarn around my pinkie and then over my index finger. I was a child when I was taught and picked it up again in my 50’s. I grabbed the yarn and it all came back naturally on how to hold it. Couldn’t believe it!
I teach crochet and figuring out a way to hold the yarn in your “yarn hand” (our left hand for us righties) is the hardest part! For medium weight yarns, I wrap around my pinky, across my palm and behind my index finger, gripping the work with my middle finger and thumb. I explain to students that this won’t work so well for people with sweaty hands or chubby fingers… And even for me, it doesn’t work for the Super Bulky yarns. For that I just drape the yarn over my palm and behind my index finger and close my pinky and ring fingers over the yarn. For crochet thread for doilies, I find I need to wrap the thread twice around my pinky. I also make sure to do a super loose base chain. But, if I’m in a hurry to get a project done, I tend to work tighter… So I try not to get in such a rush! Keep checking the project and if you see inconsistency, take it out and do it better. : )
To me, it just comes natural. I am very, very relaxed when I crochet, therefore, so are my fingers. If it does get too loose, I put a little pressure on my little finger up against the next finger.
I keep the yarn (wrapped around my pointer finger and under my pinky finger) a bit tight to keep the tension even. To compensate I use a crochet hook one size larger than the pattern calls for.
i, too, wind the yarn or thread through the fingers of my left hand and can feel the slip of it as i work. the correct tension is felt as it slids through and becomes an unconsious measure to work by. so it does take practice to feel the size of the loop the hook pulls so that it will just slip smooothy through. it’s the size of that loop that makes the stitch tight or loose.
I make sure I have plenty of yarn free from the skien. I wrap around my little finger and behind the other 2 finger and over my index finger. Seems to work. My Mom taught me to crochet many years ago. She made all these doillies with big ruffles on them and starched very stiff. They were all over the house and very pretty.
Stay relaxed! Tension often comes naturally – once you realize you don’t have to keep it TOO tight. New knitters/crocheters seem to struggle with that the most and I find mine tightens up when I’m stressed or when I’m unfamiliar with a stitch or technique.
I keep the yarn wrapped around my fingers, and make sure I have plenty of yarn loose around me to work with.
I wrap the yarn once around my pinkie then weave in and out my other fingers. It keeps it from being too loose but sometimes it gets a bit tight.
I knit with my right hand. I hold my yarn around my pointer finger(right hand) As I knit I auomatically pull my yarn as tight and even as I go……
Mine changes throughout hard time keeping the tension.