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Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting
Imagine being told you have to stop knitting because of discomfort in your hands, arms, neck, or back. Imagine the sense of frustration and the longing to get the needles back in your hands. Imagine the lingering doubt you might have when you can pick them up again: “What was I doing wrong after all these years of knitting?” “Will I get hurt again?” “Will I have to stop knitting forever to make this pain go away?” Maybe you’d like to be a faster, more efficient knitter, or a knitter who produces more projects, but you’re not sure what’s getting in the way.
This book will help you understand the ergonomics of knitting so you can improve your safety, efficiency, and productivity in knitting. You’ll learn to identify ergonomic risks that contribute to injury and reduce knitting efficiency. Throughout the book, you’ll be provided with activities and guidance to improve your knitting ergonomics so you can knit more confidently and comfortably. Through instruction in stretches, exercise, and self-care, you’ll also learn how to manage the discomfort common to knitters before it becomes an injury, and how to recognize when it’s time to seek help from a health-care professional.
Join me in this unique knit-along that will help make a more comfortable, lifelong knitter out of you.
This book will help you understand the ergonomics of knitting so you can improve your safety, efficiency, and productivity in knitting. You’ll learn to identify ergonomic risks that contribute to injury and reduce knitting efficiency. Throughout the book, you’ll be provided with activities and guidance to improve your knitting ergonomics so you can knit more confidently and comfortably. Through instruction in stretches, exercise, and self-care, you’ll also learn how to manage the discomfort common to knitters before it becomes an injury, and how to recognize when it’s time to seek help from a health-care professional.
Join me in this unique knit-along that will help make a more comfortable, lifelong knitter out of you.
249 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
40 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 26, 2017
A seemingly first of its kind, self instruction to help knitters (and some computer workers) with ergonomic problems.
This book showed so many good ways to help the aches and pains of my knitting, especially since I do have arthritis issues. The explanations are well thought out with medical terms that were understandable and clear, problems that should have medical advice were well defined, and a method to see specific body areas impacted by ergonomic problems was brought out distinctly. (i.e./ English vs. continental knitting uses of specific fingers and varying with tension and positioning.)
The exercises were especially nice and doable.
I did look for specific problem issues and found them easy enough. Reading through the whole book was at times tedious due to length but I do have a medical background so found it worthwhile.
This book showed so many good ways to help the aches and pains of my knitting, especially since I do have arthritis issues. The explanations are well thought out with medical terms that were understandable and clear, problems that should have medical advice were well defined, and a method to see specific body areas impacted by ergonomic problems was brought out distinctly. (i.e./ English vs. continental knitting uses of specific fingers and varying with tension and positioning.)
The exercises were especially nice and doable.
I did look for specific problem issues and found them easy enough. Reading through the whole book was at times tedious due to length but I do have a medical background so found it worthwhile.
November 1, 2017
Great explanations of anatomy and how our posture and movements contribute to pain, how to fix those issues, and movements to alleviate pain from damage already done.
Meticulously written.
Of great benefit to knitters, other needlework artists, and those of us at a computer all day.
Well worth the price.
Meticulously written.
Of great benefit to knitters, other needlework artists, and those of us at a computer all day.
Well worth the price.
February 11, 2023
More like 2.5 stars. I was so excited to get this book. I’m glad I got it from the library because it’s between $50-$150 online. I was pretty disappointed.
It’s a great book if you want to dive SUPER deep and get very nerdy about how tendons, ligaments, and extremities. But I don’t. For me, it was too much. I didn’t need to learn all the ways people knit or about stitches. And I certainly wasn’t going to cast on for his “swatchortunities” 🤣🤣🤣 I have projects I want to work on! Standing and walking while knitting are nice goals but it’s not ideal for most of us.
Overall it was an over earnest book that’s heart was in the right place, but it was overwhelming with detail that I don’t need. Probably a great reference book for chiropractors and physical therapists.
I know he can’t offer advice from a medical perspective because every person is different. But I had high hopes that I’d learn tricks/best practices to help thwart my shoulder and elbow tendinitis while I knit. If you’re looking for that, book an appointment with your dr like I did.
It’s a great book if you want to dive SUPER deep and get very nerdy about how tendons, ligaments, and extremities. But I don’t. For me, it was too much. I didn’t need to learn all the ways people knit or about stitches. And I certainly wasn’t going to cast on for his “swatchortunities” 🤣🤣🤣 I have projects I want to work on! Standing and walking while knitting are nice goals but it’s not ideal for most of us.
Overall it was an over earnest book that’s heart was in the right place, but it was overwhelming with detail that I don’t need. Probably a great reference book for chiropractors and physical therapists.
I know he can’t offer advice from a medical perspective because every person is different. But I had high hopes that I’d learn tricks/best practices to help thwart my shoulder and elbow tendinitis while I knit. If you’re looking for that, book an appointment with your dr like I did.
March 13, 2023
I started this book before I started physical therapy, about 6 weeks ago. It reinforced a lot of what my therapist told me. I've been using suggestions from the book and therapist to make adjustments to my work space and knitting process that will improve my posture and support my core. The neck stretches my PT gave me are very similar to those in the book and helped eliminate the numbness and tingling in my fingers and hand (beats the heck out of having carpal tunnel) and am working on changing the way I sit and support my work to get relief from the tendinitis in my elbow. This book was a great help but don't skip the benefit of an in person PT experience.
August 20, 2018
Chapter 11 was of most interest to me but it still didn't go into enough depth for me regarding osteoarthritis in the thumbs. The ONE exercise mentioned for hands is one of several I learned from the physical therapist for arthritis in the thumbs and tendonditis.
The book is $46.95 and I think hard to find. What about a cheaper paperback for those who can't afford a $47 hardcover? I don't think it's worth more than $25-30.
The book is $46.95 and I think hard to find. What about a cheaper paperback for those who can't afford a $47 hardcover? I don't think it's worth more than $25-30.
April 23, 2020
Knitting comfortably has lots of background information on muscles, bones and ligaments and provides the knitter (in pain) with many tips, swatchortunities and exercises (especially good) with a touch of humour
January 23, 2021
Worth it for those who also find themselves a little too addicted to their new quarantine hobby
January 10, 2018
Lots of useful advice and information
June 24, 2020
Really like 3.5 stars.
Pros:
Good tips on how to fix common issues we crafty people can experience.
Good generic ergonomic tips for both crafting and offices.
Good medical-ish info on why we crafty people might feel certain kinds of pain and how our bodies work - the images are helpful.
Cons:
Very repetitive (oh, the irony). Some of the repetitiveness is to hammer a point home or because it’s all connected (literally, your neck is connected to your back, etc), but more just seemed like it was to make the book longer.
A little too many corny “imagine your body is like yarn” weirdness. A few were actually good images, but most were just silly.
Neither:
Much of this I already knew from my own bouts of physical therapy, which I imagine is the case for others. But I know not all have attended that, so while it wasn’t new to me it would be for them and I don’t want to judge it unfairly simply because I was exposed to that already.
I will certainly now refer back to the book and have plans to now observe my crafting setup and try many of the exercises. They are good reminders of what I learned back in PT. I hope to use the tips to become a more efficient crafter and avoid further injuries in the future, though I fear the best way to do that will be to actually meet with the author in person since the genetic tips in the book can (understandably) take me so far.
Pros:
Good tips on how to fix common issues we crafty people can experience.
Good generic ergonomic tips for both crafting and offices.
Good medical-ish info on why we crafty people might feel certain kinds of pain and how our bodies work - the images are helpful.
Cons:
Very repetitive (oh, the irony). Some of the repetitiveness is to hammer a point home or because it’s all connected (literally, your neck is connected to your back, etc), but more just seemed like it was to make the book longer.
A little too many corny “imagine your body is like yarn” weirdness. A few were actually good images, but most were just silly.
Neither:
Much of this I already knew from my own bouts of physical therapy, which I imagine is the case for others. But I know not all have attended that, so while it wasn’t new to me it would be for them and I don’t want to judge it unfairly simply because I was exposed to that already.
I will certainly now refer back to the book and have plans to now observe my crafting setup and try many of the exercises. They are good reminders of what I learned back in PT. I hope to use the tips to become a more efficient crafter and avoid further injuries in the future, though I fear the best way to do that will be to actually meet with the author in person since the genetic tips in the book can (understandably) take me so far.
April 21, 2021
Really great advice on knitting comfortably- but this is not just for knitters. The explanations of how the bones, muscles and tendons are all supposed to work together were interesting to me and showed how an issue in one area can affect the rest of the body.
Carson is a physical therapist who also knits and spins. This book clearly explains how to fix and improve our body mechanics and does not hesitate to urge you to seek professional help from doctors or physical therapists. There are stretches and easy exercises to help too.
Really enjoyed this book. I read it and often refer to it for a “tune-up”!
Carson is a physical therapist who also knits and spins. This book clearly explains how to fix and improve our body mechanics and does not hesitate to urge you to seek professional help from doctors or physical therapists. There are stretches and easy exercises to help too.
Really enjoyed this book. I read it and often refer to it for a “tune-up”!
January 13, 2018
Essential for knitters, working at a keyboard, needleworkers....
January 6, 2022
Lots of very helpful knitting-specific tips and a useful framework for thinking about repetitive stress injuries. A lot of this repeats what I learned in PT (especially the anatomical stuff) but for people who haven't had formal medical intervention it'll be helpful. Ironically for a book about RSIs, it's quite heavy and an unwieldy size– it's the standard square size for knitting books, but not helpful for people who may be dealing with arm/wrist issues! I wish it were in paperback and a bit smaller.
February 4, 2021
This book has a lot of really useful tips for figuring out what aspects of your knitting could potentially be causing you pain, and how to change those things. I also appreciate that the author connects knitting to computing because many of the postures are very similar between the two activities, and he gives advice for adjusting your desk/computer setup as well. I think it'd be very helpful for any knitter who wants to keep knitting safely and comfortably.
June 13, 2023
Extremely knowledgeable in both knitting and physical therapy, the author addresses every angle of knitting, from sitting/standing to stressed body parts to needle, yarn, and chair types--all illustrated with how-to and how-not-to photos. Highly recommend for any knitter who's experienced overuse pain, joint or arthritis issues. Very helpful!
May 24, 2020
Excellent reference for knitters. Explains the topic in great detail from every aspect. Then describes problems and solutions. Excellent self help section for when we've overdone it, or to help in our personal programs of maintaining wellness and fitness.
December 13, 2021
I learned some new ways to keep knitting from hurting my hands and shoulders. Still experimenting with chairs, pillows, and small projects. So far knitting for short amounts of time has been the best thing. I stiil can't stand up to knit and haven't tried walking while knitting.
August 5, 2023
Super informative. I got it from the library and am considering buying a copy to have for reference. Plus something about explaining muscles via a yarn metaphor is just very amusing to me. (A few copyediting errors throughout.)
June 11, 2018
A lot of good info, but the hardcover seems unnecessary.
October 9, 2019
will slowly incorporate a few techniques
November 7, 2019
An eminently helpful read if you want to optimise your posture for hand work, or if you have problems and want to be able to help correct body imbalances that contribute to problems.
December 31, 2019
This book is so well researched. It has saved my hands and made it possible for me to return to fiber crafts after two operations and battling CRPS.
January 13, 2023
Pro:extremely thorough from a health professional who is also a knitter
Con: so thorough it’s a bit overwhelming
Con: so thorough it’s a bit overwhelming
June 3, 2024
This book is life changing for me. I’m so glad it was “overly technical” per some of the reviews. I appreciate the “why” of how all the body parts can get strained and cause pain. Making some small changes to how I knit so that I can prolong the enjoyment of knitting, even with RA.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews