Crochet Shouldn’t Hurt (But Here We Are)
How to Keep Your Hands Alive While Repeatedly Ignoring Your Own Limits
If crochet didn’t occasionally hurt, we wouldn’t all have that one moment where we put the hook down, flex our fingers, and whisper “oh no.”
Let’s talk about why crochet hurts…and more importantly, how to make it hurt less without giving up the craft keeping in my that I am NOT a doctor or healthcare professional. Just a old bitty with hands of a much older bitty because no one was gonna tell me nothin’…until I hit 40… And now I am sharing my experience:
Pain Truth #1: Crochet Is Repetitive Motion (No Matter How Chill It Feels)
Crochet uses:
Small muscles
Repeated motions
Often the same angle for hours
Your brain says “I’m relaxing.” Your tendons say “THIS IS A JOB AND I WANT TO QUIT!”
How to Reduce the Damage
Switch stitches regularly (texture changes help more than you think)
Change projects during long sessions
Alternate hands for tensioning if you can (even briefly helps)
Rule of thumb: If your hands go numb, stiff, or tingly then your body is asking for a break, not your opinion.
Pain Truth #2: Cotton Yarn Is a Jerk (To Your Joints)
Cotton has zero elasticity. Which means you provide all the stretch.
This leads to:
Higher grip force
More joint compression
Faster fatigue
What to Do Instead
Try a larger hook with cotton
Loosen tension on purpose (yes, it feels wrong—do it anyway)
Limit cotton-heavy sessions
Mix fibers when possible (cotton blends are kinder)
If wool is yoga, cotton is CrossFit.
Pain Truth #3: You Aren’t a Statue (Move or Regret)
The damage isn’t just in your hands. It’s in:
Your neck
Your shoulders
Your upper back
Crochet posture creep is real.
Fix It Without Buying a $300 Chair
Sit upright for textured or tight stitches
Support elbows with pillows
Bring work up to your eyes, not your head down to your work
Reset posture every 20–30 minutes
If you’re craning forward like a goblin guarding treasure, stop.
Pain Truth #4: Stretching Isn’t Optional (Sorry)
You don’t have to become a yoga person. You do have to move.
Simple Crochet-Safe Stretches
Open/close fists slowly ×10
Wrist circles both directions
Gentle finger pulls (not aggressive)
Shoulder rolls and neck resets
Do them:
Before starting
During breaks
After finishing
Yes, it interrupts your flow. So does injury.
Pain Truth #5: Pushing Through Pain Makes It Worse
This one hurts emotionally.
Pain ≠ dedication.
Pain = inflammation.
Crochet injuries build quietly:
Tendinitis
Carpal tunnel symptoms
Trigger finger
Ignoring pain doesn’t make you tough. It makes you sidelined.
The Real Crochet Flex
The goal isn’t to crochet through pain.
It’s to crochet for decades.
That means:
Listening to your body
Choosing materials wisely
Taking breaks without guilt
The most advanced crochet skill isn’t tension control.
It’s knowing when to put the hook down.
AGAIN I am NOT a doctor or healthcare professional. And if you are experiencing chronic pain when crocheting - go see a doctor. I know that isn’t always in option in America, but at the very least don’t pretend you can push through the pain and not make things worse.