Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting

Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting
by Carsen Demers
249 pages, Ergo I Publishing (2016)

One of my most favorite resources to pull out when I work with new students isn’t the technique book or stitch dictionary they expect. It’s Carsen Demers’ Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting. It’s the sort of book that makes me wish for a time machine so I could give it to my younger self so I could have developed better habits early on.

First and foremost: If you are experiencing pain, get thee to a doctor for a proper evaluation. Neither the book nor this post constitute medical advice. Both are for informational and educational purposes.

This title comprises 13 chapters covering basically everything: from explaining ergonomic basics and how your body moves, to what happens when you knit, to how to think about knitting ergonomics and ways to both intervene early and provide self care. This is a massive volume (that you should read carefully; it’s heavy and physically a large book).

The information is explained in a way where you don’t need to remember biology class or draw human anatomy from memory. The pictures and illustrations are clear, and there are lots of charts to help you pinpoint what you need to know. Demers breaks down how different sitting positions affect your spine, how hand positions create tension in your forearms, and what happens in your shoulders when you hunch over your work. It’s fascinating in a “oh no, I do that” kind of way.

Chapter 9, which covers tools and materials, is one I turn to often. I most definitely appreciate his chart on needle characteristics, explaining different materials, how flexible and heavy they are, and what friction they might provide with certain yarn. Many of the knitters I work with love long straight aluminum knitting needles and traditional crochet hooks. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they can hasten overuse pain. Understanding why (weight distribution, grip diameter, material friction) helps us make better choices.

I find myself turning to this book when someone tells me they have pain when working. I ask how and where they sit as they knit or crochet. Often they’re in a comfy chair and hunched over with poor posture and lighting. The book helps me suggest practical changes: pillows or stuffed animals for support, task lighting, different needle materials, or adjusted sitting positions.

Who This Book Is For

This book is for everyone who uses their hands for fiber arts. Whether you’re a newer knitter or crocheter who wants to build good habits from the start, an experienced maker dealing with new or worsening pain, a teacher working with students of any age, or someone who thinks “I’ll deal with it later” (spoiler: later is now, and this book helps).

What I appreciate most is that Demers holds a similar philosophy to me: change doesn’t happen overnight, and ergonomics are about making things more comfortable for you. There’s no one right way; there’s the way that works for your body, your space, and your practice.

While I have read it cover to cover a few times, these days I’m more likely to pull it off my shelf to respond to a specific query. It’s become one of those books that often finds itself on my desk instead of the shelf.