What Can You Put on a Crochet Hook to Make It Easier to Grip

Making a Hook Friendly

	In the last issue, I wrote about gripping your hook and that certain hooks are easier on your easily. This issue, I would similar to show you an like shooting fish in a barrel method to modify a favorite claw to be more hand-friendly. The starting time thing to consider is how permanent a modification you desire to make. Sometimes you desire a temporary modify that doesn't damage or permanently modify the hook. An example would be the antique steel hooks you inherited from your great grandmother. You desire to utilise them, but those teeny tiny handles can be very hard to grip without some amending. The 2d affair to consider is how y'all want to concur the hook y'all are modifying. Modifications for a pocketknife concur can be quite different from those made for a pencil concur. And at that place are all sorts of variations on those holds.


Thirdly, recall about what blazon of discomfort you are having when crocheting with the hook. Does the claw rub your pollex or palm? Practise you get blisters when crocheting, and where are those blisters? Finally, if you accept tried other comfort hooks that are commercially bachelor, think near what you liked and disliked nigh them. Many of the commercial condolement or ergonomic hooks are quite expensive so trying some modifications on inexpensive hooks to come across what you similar earlier buying a commercially modified hoot is helpful every bit well.
	My favorite way to temporarily change a hook handle is to use Shelf Liner Absorber. This material can be used to create any shape of hook handle modification y'all could desire. It is very affordable, easy to use and light weight. Plus it can be removed or undone without harm to your hooks. I volition show you this method in the following series of photographs. Yous will need a roll of shelf liner, small hair elastics or rubber bands, and, of course, a crochet hook. You will also need scissors, a permanent marker, and a ruler if you don't feel comfy just jumping in with the scissors. In my sample I purchased a curlicue of shelf liner at a local drugstore for a few dollars. My coil was 12 inches broad and four anxiety long (30.v cm ten ane.two 1000). The fabric is cushy with holes and has a slight sticky cling to it without any adhesives. It is piece of cake to cut with regular pair of scissors.
Using shelf liner absorber to change your claw handles is simply a matter of cutting pieces the size y'all want, rolling them up snugly effectually the hook, and securing with either the rubber bands or rubberband. Because you can undo and redo the rolls as needed, it is piece of cake to make adjustments in order to have the handle that is just correct for you. If y'all wish, you can mark the size of the claw on the outside of the cushion with the permanent marker.		Utilise the claw to measure how wide a slice of shelf liner to cutting off. In my case I am using a size G 4.00 mm Boye hook. I find the pollex rest with the texture on it to exist irritating to my hand, and so I want to cover that. I also want to embrace the end of the hook handle.
For folks with larger hands than mine you might desire to cut the liner even wider to extend the length of your hook.

The simplest way to apply the shelf liner is a directly roll to build up the amount of layers you want for your handle. A 12" past 4 ¼" strip cut off the end will make the full roll. A shorter strip 2 one/2" by four ¼" will make the narrow roll. Generally, a narrow absorber on the handle is amend for those that use a pencil agree, whereas the total roll is more comfortable for knife holders.
	My favorite style of rolled shelf liner handle modification is what I call tapered. This style is not bad for all types of holds; if you want to switch holds while working on your project you don't take to switch hooks.
The tapered manner of roll takes a bit more planning and some experimenting. I again started with a strip 12" x 4 ¼". And then I cut triangle shapes off the long sides as seen in this photograph: The long edge that will be nearest the claw terminate has a deeper triangle; the edge that will be at the end of the claw is shallower to make a somewhat rounded end to the handle.
	Once you have secured the loose end of the curlicue with bands you can try information technology out and see if it needs farther adjustment.
Y'all can utilise all kinds of inexpensive crafting materials and household supplies to make your own DIY Claw modifications. Whatsoever textile that can be molded to a permanent non-shrinking shape can be used. Materials that tin can be cut to shape and wrapped around the handle can also be used. Some additional ideas are:
Polymer Clay – this is a great textile for making a permanent handle for your claw. The disadvantages are that you accept to modify each and every hook, and if you use it on a very small diameter hook (like I did in my sample photograph), it can make for a adequately heavy hook. Paper Clay or Papier-Mache' – these are lighter-weight materials and tin be semi-permanent, depending on the material of the crochet hook you are modifying. Both Paper Clay or Papier-Mache' tin be used over an aluminum foil base of operations for a very lite weight hook. The disadvantages to these materials are: again yous have to modify each and every hook, and some of the materials bachelor tin can be a bit fragile. Coating the finished result with some sort of sealant can assist with that. Felt can brand a great handle for your hook, particularly if you crochet the material and felt information technology on to the handle. This blazon of modification is rarely permanent and can ofttimes exist switched amongst the hooks in your work basket. Ane disadvantage is that you may have difficulties with the claw sliding out of the handle while you lot are working unless yous glue the hook into the felt. Even so, gluing would eliminate the ability to use the handle with more than than one hook.
	If making your ain modifiers is not working for you, at that place are some commercially available options for some of the more than common sizes of crochet hooks. Susan Bates Condolement Absorber – These are generally available at many arts and crafts and hobby stores. They come up in a couple of different sizes. Information technology is said to be removable so you tin use i cushion with a number of hooks. I put mine on a size G Boye claw I had years ago, and have never been able to get information technology off over again. You may find you become a different result if y'all used the comfort cushion with a Bates hook, or with smaller diameter hooks. Professional person Tool Handle Cushions – These handle cushions are available from construction supply companies, and are used to reduce heat transfer and vibration issues. They are oft a skilful size for using on crochet hooks. I've not tried them personally however, but have heard adept things almost them from other crocheters. This is a link to a supplier'south site online – McMaster-Carr. You might also exist able to find them at your hardware or local DIY store.