Crafting with Arthritis: 7 Ways to Keep Knitting and Crocheting Comfortably

Can you knit or crochet if you have arthritis?

Many people do, and plenty of them say the craft matters more to them after a diagnosis, not less. What changes is the set-up. Arthritis is not one condition, and hands differ, so what feels better for one person can bother another. That is why the approach throughout this guide is to try one inexpensive change at a time and notice how your hands feel the next day.

Before buying anything, it is worth one appointment. An occupational therapist can assess your grip, show joint-friendly ways to hold tools, and tell you whether a splint, a warm-up routine or a change in technique suits your situation. Tools in this guide are comfort aids that can make crafting easier. None of them treat arthritis or protect joints on their own.

What are the best knitting needles for arthritic hands?

Knitters with arthritis tend to look for three qualities: light weight, a shape that is easy to hold without pinching, and a surface that keeps stitches in place so the hand does not clamp down. Circular needles also help many people, because the weight of the knitting rests in the lap rather than hanging from the wrists.

Needle size matters too. Bigger needles with thicker yarn mean fewer stitches, and fewer hand movements, per inch of fabric. A worsted project on US 8 makes about 4 to 5 stitches per inch; a bulky yarn on US 10 or 11 makes about 3. Our best knitting needles for arthritic hands roundup covers each pick in more detail.

Are ergonomic crochet hooks worth it for arthritis?

For many crocheters, yes. Thin aluminum hooks make the fingers pinch a narrow shaft, and a wider or cushioned handle spreads that pressure out. Crocheters with arthritis frequently report that an ergonomic handle lets them work longer before their hands tire, though comfort is personal. Pencil grip crocheters, who hold the hook like a pen, often like slim cushioned handles. Knife grip crocheters, who hold it overhand, often prefer a thick, rounded handle that fills the palm.

Before buying a set, buy one hook in the size you use most, usually 5 to 6 mm for worsted yarn, and crochet with it for a week. Compare the two most popular sets, Clover Amour and Tulip Etimo Rose, in our hook set comparison, or see every shape in our best ergonomic crochet hooks roundup.

What is the best lighting for knitting with arthritis and tired eyes?

Lighting is not usually the first thing people connect with sore hands, but it matters. When you cannot see stitches clearly, it is natural to lean forward, bring the work close to your face and grip harder. Strong, even light lets you sit back, relax your shoulders and hold the work loosely.

Two numbers on a lamp's specifications help. Color temperature around 6,000K looks like bright daylight, and a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 or higher means yarn colors look close to how they look by a window, which matters when matching navy and black. A floor lamp that reaches over the chair from behind your shoulder lights the work without glare in your eyes.

A magnifier can help with fine yarn and dark colors, but it does not replace an eye exam. If stitches have become harder to see, see an eye care professional first, since updated glasses may solve the problem. For a side-by-side look at stand lenses and visors, read magnifier lamp vs magnifying visor, and for lamps alone see the best daylight lamps for crafts.

How should you sit when knitting or crocheting with sore hands?

A slumped sofa corner makes the hands and forearms hold up the work. A supportive seat lets the arms rest. Common set-up suggestions from crafters include:

• Feet flat and knees level, which usually means a seat height you can adjust.
• Back supported, so you are not leaning forward over the work.
• Forearms supported on a firm cushion in the lap or on chair arms, so the hands only move the needles or hook, not hold up the project.
• Work held at a comfortable distance, with the light, not your face, brought close.

The Arrow H7013B is armless with a hydraulic seat that adjusts from 18 to 22 inches, a five-star swivel base and storage under the seat for yarn, for about $400. An armless chair leaves room for a lap pillow and elbow movement. If you prefer chair arms to rest on, the HON Crio mesh task chair adds adjustable arms and lumbar support, and the Boss Perfect Posture armless task chair offers pneumatic height and back depth adjustment for about $80. Our best sewing chairs roundup explains seat height in more detail.

How long should you knit or crochet at one time with arthritis?

There is no universal number, and the right answer is one to work out with your doctor or therapist. A common approach many crafters describe is to work for a short spell, often 20 to 30 minutes, then put the work down, change position and move your hands differently for a few minutes before picking it up again. Stopping before your hands feel tired, rather than after, is the habit people most often say made the difference.

A few tools make stopping easier:

• A row counter such as the press-button Clover Kacha-Kacha Counter lets you stop mid-pattern without losing your place, so a timer never costs you a row.
• Two projects at once, one simple and one detailed, let you switch when the detailed one starts to feel like work.
• Thicker yarn finishes projects in fewer stitches. A bulky hat takes 125 to 200 yards knit, compared with 250 to 325 in fine yarn.
• Smooth, slightly grippy yarn that does not split means less tugging and fewer do-overs.

Is a knitting machine easier on arthritic hands?

For some people, noticeably. A crank knitting machine moves the work from the small joints of the fingers to a larger arm and shoulder motion, and it knits a hat tube in minutes instead of hours. Knitters whose finger joints limit how long they can hold needles sometimes use a machine for the plain parts of a project and save their hand knitting for the ribbing and finishing.

It is not easier for everyone. Cranking still uses the wrist and shoulder, and clamping the machine to the table takes some grip. If you try one, clamp it at about elbow height and crank slowly. The Sentro 48, about $50, is an inexpensive way to find out whether the motion suits you; the addi Kingsize is the sturdier machine for regular use. The honest limits of these machines are in knitting machine vs hand knitting and our knitting machine guide.