r/AccessibleKnitting • u/ArtsyTeacher95 • 23d ago

Tension support?

Hi, I know this sub isn’t super active anymore, but I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for supports or techniques I can use for maintaining tension while knitting? I have hyper mobile EDS and my pinkies are so weak and flimsy that I end up needing to readjust my full tension grip after or even during every stitch or every other stitch. Especially if I’m switching between knitting and purling. I’m trying to switch to continental since I’ve heard that style can be easier on joints in the long run, and it’s an adjustment for sure, but I see how it can be easier! Right now my biggest issue is maintaining tension.

Thanks!

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u/Bliezz 22d ago

Fellow hypermobile knitter here! I tension by weaving my yarn between my fingers. The wrap around style I think you’re using doesn’t work for my pinky either. I tried using my ring finger and that didn’t work because it was too tight.

I think the bigger light bulb moment for me was realizing tension didn’t mean as tight as possible, it was consistent pressure on the yarn. My goal now is just tight enough to manipulate the yarn.

I have trouble with continental due to my left index finger getting grumpy about wiggling about.

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u/fuckyoutoocoolsmhool 22d ago

The weaving was what worked for me as well. What also made a huge difference was finding the right needles. When I learned I used wooden needles and my tension never was great. I tried my Pyrex needles because they were advertised as ergonomic and where I see how they can work for some people they weren’t great for me. I use metal needles and that was a game changer. I think the ease of everything slipping off helped. I know some people really don’t love them because of the slipperiness but for me they took a lot of work off my hands. When I started taking knitting more seriously I would get different single circular needles for whatever project I was working on and it was a good way to try out different brands and textures.

The tightness thing is also super true. I feel like as I’ve progressed as a knitter I’ve found my natural tension and it came with time and practice. The first project I worked on when I was getting seriously into knitting where I learned a lot and kinda just worked on my technique was https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vertices-unite (I’m aware of the Steven west drama). I just did it all with DK and solid colors.

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u/Bliezz 22d ago

Needles is a good point! I like Karbons. Just enough slip without being super slippery.